Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational Associate Director of Midwifery to join our perinatal leadership team and help shape the future of maternity and perinatal care across Gloucestershire.
Working under the professional direction of the Director of Midwifery, this senior role provides leadership and support to midwifery, nursing and support staff, ensuring high standards of safety, quality and patient experience through effective management of people, finances and resources.
The post holder will be accountable for divisional performance and compliance with all regulatory requirements, including those set by the Care Quality Commission. You will provide compassionate, visible leadership across maternity and perinatal services delivered across three hospital sites and the community, supported by a strong understanding of the national perinatal landscape.
Support delivery of the corporate midwifery agenda, take strategic leadership for allocated portfolios and deputise for the Director of Midwifery as required. This is an opportunity to contribute to an improving service and work in partnership with clinical teams, women and local communities to deliver outstanding maternity care.
We're seeking a leader who is passionate about driving quality, safety and compassionate care, someone who can inspire others, build strong partnerships and champion professional development across the maternity workforce.
Main duties of the job
You will provide senior professional, operational and strategic leadership across maternity and perinatal services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based and compassionate care. Working closely with the Director of Midwifery and the Divisional Triumvirate, you will lead on quality, governance, performance, workforce planning and financial management, ensuring services meet national standards, regulatory requirements and Trust objectives.
You will be accountable for the professional leadership of midwifery, embedding clinical initiatives and service developments into practice, promoting a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement, and ensuring staff and service users are actively involved in change. As a highly visible and approachable leader, you will support and inspire multidisciplinary teams, provide expert clinical advice, manage complex operational and workforce challenges, and ensure effective flow, safe staffing and excellent infection prevention and control.
About us
Gloucestershire Hospitals provide acute hospital services from two large district general hospitals, Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and Cheltenham General Hospital, as well as maternity services at Stroud Maternity Hospital.
With a team of over 9,000 employees, representing over 95 nationalities, we are proud to be the largest employer in Gloucestershire. Bringing together a mix of cultures and experiences to the care that we deliver. The Trust continues to work closely with partners and local communities to improve health and wellbeing to ensure access to services.
We take pride in placing people at the centre of everything we do, working together as a united team. Driven by a shared ambition to continually grow, develop, and learn, we recognise and value every contribution. By combining our experience and skills, we not only support our vibrant, diverse communities, but also support one another.
Our maternity services provide comprehensive, family-centred care for women and families across the county supporting around 6,000 births a year.
The service includes consultant-led maternity units Gloucestershire Royal Hospital alongside Stroud Maternity Unit, which offers midwife-led care and postnatal support. In addition, dedicated community midwifery teams deliver antenatal, postnatal and home birth services across a wide geographical area, ensuring continuity of care and choice for women.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role also includes responsibility for staff development, alongside a strong focus on education, research, audit and quality improvement. You will work in partnership with women, families, MNVPs, HEIs, commissioners and system partners to co-design responsive, equitable services that address health inequalities and improve outcomes. You will also represent maternity services at Trust-wide, regional and national forums, contributing to the wider corporate nursing and midwifery agenda and shaping the future of maternity care.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information on this vacancy
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role also includes responsibility for staff development, alongside a strong focus on education, research, audit and quality improvement. You will work in partnership with women, families, MNVPs, HEIs, commissioners and system partners to co-design responsive, equitable services that address health inequalities and improve outcomes. You will also represent maternity services at Trust-wide, regional and national forums, contributing to the wider corporate nursing and midwifery agenda and shaping the future of maternity care.
Please see the attached job description and person specification for more information on this vacancy
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Bachelor's degree in healthcare related subject
- Master's degree
- Leadership or management training/qualification
Desirable
- Quality Improvement training or equivalent experience.
- Professional Midwifery Advocate
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable ability in operational leadership at a senior level in maternity services (>Band 8b minimum)
- Relevant clinical and managerial experience in a variety of areas of midwifery practice including community.
- Relevant clinical and managerial experience in a variety of areas of midwifery practice including community.
- Evidence of effective management of human, financial and physical resources
- Demonstrable ability in planning service developments, implementation, delivery and evaluation of.
Knowledge
Essential
- In-depth understanding of the national perinatal transformation agenda and safety ambitions.
- Excellent working knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management processes.
- Knowledge of the wider public health agenda, ability to identify health inequalities, plan interventions and develop innovative maternity services to help reduce these.
Skills and attributes
Essential
- Able to work clinically as a Midwife
- Able to communicate complex and/or sensitive information clearly and sensitivity with compassion, with women/birthing people and their families
- Strong leadership and influencing skills
- Highly developed presentation skills to disseminate and present complex information
- Experience of preparing papers/reports at Board level
- Demonstrate ability to exercise a high degree autonomy in making effective decisions and judgements on difficult issues.
- Ability to achieve demanding tasks/objectives against tight deadlines
- Ability to network successfully across organisational and professional boundaries
Desirable
- Coaching and mentoring skills
Personal Values /Qualities
Essential
- Commitment to safe, high quality care maternity care.
- Cultural awareness and intelligence
- Highly motivated, and can motivate others
- Positive and optimistic, displaying confidence, exhibiting presence and vision.
- Leads with compassion and humility
- Resilience and stamina to deliver in a demanding role
- Values diversity and difference, operates with honesty, integrity and openness
Other
Essential
- Ability to fulfil the travel and on call requirements
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Bachelor's degree in healthcare related subject
- Master's degree
- Leadership or management training/qualification
Desirable
- Quality Improvement training or equivalent experience.
- Professional Midwifery Advocate
Experience
Essential
- Demonstrable ability in operational leadership at a senior level in maternity services (>Band 8b minimum)
- Relevant clinical and managerial experience in a variety of areas of midwifery practice including community.
- Relevant clinical and managerial experience in a variety of areas of midwifery practice including community.
- Evidence of effective management of human, financial and physical resources
- Demonstrable ability in planning service developments, implementation, delivery and evaluation of.
Knowledge
Essential
- In-depth understanding of the national perinatal transformation agenda and safety ambitions.
- Excellent working knowledge of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management processes.
- Knowledge of the wider public health agenda, ability to identify health inequalities, plan interventions and develop innovative maternity services to help reduce these.
Skills and attributes
Essential
- Able to work clinically as a Midwife
- Able to communicate complex and/or sensitive information clearly and sensitivity with compassion, with women/birthing people and their families
- Strong leadership and influencing skills
- Highly developed presentation skills to disseminate and present complex information
- Experience of preparing papers/reports at Board level
- Demonstrate ability to exercise a high degree autonomy in making effective decisions and judgements on difficult issues.
- Ability to achieve demanding tasks/objectives against tight deadlines
- Ability to network successfully across organisational and professional boundaries
Desirable
- Coaching and mentoring skills
Personal Values /Qualities
Essential
- Commitment to safe, high quality care maternity care.
- Cultural awareness and intelligence
- Highly motivated, and can motivate others
- Positive and optimistic, displaying confidence, exhibiting presence and vision.
- Leads with compassion and humility
- Resilience and stamina to deliver in a demanding role
- Values diversity and difference, operates with honesty, integrity and openness
Other
Essential
- Ability to fulfil the travel and on call requirements
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
