Job summary
We are seeking a dedicated and experienced professional to lead and coordinate the antenatal and newborn screening services within the Trust. This pivotal role ensures that all screening programmes are delivered in accordance with National Screening Committee (NSC) guidelines, national standards, and service specifications. You will provide expert advice, support women through positive screening results, and facilitate necessary diagnostic tests and decision-making, including the continuation or termination of pregnancy.
This is an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated individual to make a significant impact on the delivery of antenatal and newborn screening services, ensuring high standards of care and compliance with national guidelines.
You will work closely with a range of specialist centres and agencies to ensure continuous care throughout pregnancy and the postnatal period. Additionally, the role involves developing and updating policies and protocols, conducting audits, and reporting on programme performance. You will also be responsible for delivering training to staff, participating in quality assurance assessments, and managing screening incidents in line with national guidance.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing all NHS Antenatal and Newborn Screening programmes within the Trust. This includes the management of Sickle Cell and Thalassaemia, Fetal Anomaly, Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy, Newborn Bloodspot, and Newborn and Infant Physical Examination. The role also involves implementing any new screening programmes introduced by the National Screening Committee, ensuring compliance with national standards, and maintaining high-quality service delivery.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead the coordination and management of all NHS Antenatal and Newborn Screening programmes across the Trust.
- Implement and oversee any new antenatal and newborn screening initiatives in line with National Screening Committee guidelines and national service specifications.
- Provide woman-centred support, including counselling and guidance for women following a positive screening result, and support informed decision-making.
- Handle sensitive situations with compassion, including delivering bad news, offering emotional support, and assisting with termination of pregnancy arrangements when necessary.
- Design and deliver training and educational programmes to ensure the multidisciplinary team remains informed and up-to-date on screening protocols.
- Monitor and ensure timely submission of national and local performance data, ensuring compliance with key performance indicators and national standards for screening.
About us
Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of more than 410,000 people living in North-West Surrey, parts of Hounslow and beyond.
Over 3,700 highly trained doctors, nurses, midwives, therapists, healthcare scientists and other support staff make up our workforce, providing a wide range of services across our two hospital sites, Ashford, Surrey and St Peter's, Chertsey, Surrey.
We also run many specialist clinics in the community and local community hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
Our vision is to be one of the best healthcare Trusts in the country. There has never been a better time to join us in the NHS at ASPH. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to shape our workforce around our patient care.
We are expanding our theatres at Ashford Hospital and moving towards this becoming our dedicated elective centre. We want to create a state-of-the-art centre for excellence for planned surgical procedures.
We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits/discounts and in addition:
- Excellent pension scheme and annual leave entitlement
- On-site Nurseries
- On-site staff cafes
- On-site parking
- Support in career development
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including wage stream, lease cars, Cycle to Work schemes and home electronics
Adverts may close early, so applicants are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
For more information about a career at ASPH please visit:www.asph-careers.org
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Professional:
- Maintain midwifery skills with at least one shift per month in the acute clinical area.
- Develop and update antenatal and newborn screening guidelines to meet national standards.
- Audit screening programmes, address gaps, and develop action plans.
- Advocate for women, empowering them to make informed health choices and liaise with the medical team.
- Provide evidence-based information to support informed decisions on screening.
- Refer clients to specialists as needed (e.g., obstetricians, paediatricians).
- Monitor women referred to specialist centres and liaise with consultants.
- Handle sensitive situations, including delivering bad news and supporting difficult decisions.
- Lead by example, fostering professional development and clinical expertise in antenatal and newborn screening.
- Ensure child protection concerns are addressed, participating in safeguarding and case conferences.
- Mentor and assess new staff, students, and midwives.
- Complete mandatory training and maintain professional development in line with NMC requirements.
Managerial and Organisational:
- Lead and coordinate the antenatal and newborn screening team.
- Contribute to recruitment, retention, and staff development.
- Review and submit quarterly KPI data, addressing gaps with action plans.
- Prepare for quality assurance assessments and implement any action plans.
- Review clinical incidents, investigate, and minimize risks.
- Ensure services are delivered effectively within available resources.
- Conduct appraisals and support staff development.
- Support orientation programmes and supervise new staff.
- Manage complaints and implement corrective actions.
- Collaborate with the Midwifery Management team to implement new practices.
Communications and Working Relationships:
- Foster positive interpersonal relationships across teams.
- Deliver difficult news (e.g., fetal/neonatal abnormalities, death) with compassion and support.
- Provide debriefing for parents after traumatic events.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills with internal and external agencies.
- Guide and support staff to build confidence and competence.
- Communicate effectively with senior management and take action on concerns.
- Maintain high standards of written and verbal communication.
- Support the development of maternity services in line with national and local initiatives.
- Participate in meetings, ensuring effective communication within the team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical and Professional:
- Maintain midwifery skills with at least one shift per month in the acute clinical area.
- Develop and update antenatal and newborn screening guidelines to meet national standards.
- Audit screening programmes, address gaps, and develop action plans.
- Advocate for women, empowering them to make informed health choices and liaise with the medical team.
- Provide evidence-based information to support informed decisions on screening.
- Refer clients to specialists as needed (e.g., obstetricians, paediatricians).
- Monitor women referred to specialist centres and liaise with consultants.
- Handle sensitive situations, including delivering bad news and supporting difficult decisions.
- Lead by example, fostering professional development and clinical expertise in antenatal and newborn screening.
- Ensure child protection concerns are addressed, participating in safeguarding and case conferences.
- Mentor and assess new staff, students, and midwives.
- Complete mandatory training and maintain professional development in line with NMC requirements.
Managerial and Organisational:
- Lead and coordinate the antenatal and newborn screening team.
- Contribute to recruitment, retention, and staff development.
- Review and submit quarterly KPI data, addressing gaps with action plans.
- Prepare for quality assurance assessments and implement any action plans.
- Review clinical incidents, investigate, and minimize risks.
- Ensure services are delivered effectively within available resources.
- Conduct appraisals and support staff development.
- Support orientation programmes and supervise new staff.
- Manage complaints and implement corrective actions.
- Collaborate with the Midwifery Management team to implement new practices.
Communications and Working Relationships:
- Foster positive interpersonal relationships across teams.
- Deliver difficult news (e.g., fetal/neonatal abnormalities, death) with compassion and support.
- Provide debriefing for parents after traumatic events.
- Demonstrate excellent communication skills with internal and external agencies.
- Guide and support staff to build confidence and competence.
- Communicate effectively with senior management and take action on concerns.
- Maintain high standards of written and verbal communication.
- Support the development of maternity services in line with national and local initiatives.
- Participate in meetings, ensuring effective communication within the team.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Further Training
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Current NMC registration
- Mentorship/Preceptorship trained
Desirable
- Genetic risk assessment and counselling module (Kings College), or Pegasus
- Professional Midwifery Advocate
Experience
Essential
- Good understanding of antenatal and newborn screening programmes
- Significant experience of all aspects of maternity care
- Ability to constantly apply analytical skills to practice
Desirable
- Participation in regional / national initiatives in relation to antenatal and newborn screening programmes
- Evidence of formal management development
Skills
Essential
- You are able to communicate effectively with clients and with staff to ensure that their care, treatment and support are not compromised.
- Be able to understand an individual's communication, physical & emotional needs; recognise their needs and preferences
- You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights and the competencies appropriate to your role to support their diverse needs and human rights.
Desirable
- Participation in incident investigation and report writing
- Experience in production of KPI data
Person Specification
Qualifications and Further Training
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Current NMC registration
- Mentorship/Preceptorship trained
Desirable
- Genetic risk assessment and counselling module (Kings College), or Pegasus
- Professional Midwifery Advocate
Experience
Essential
- Good understanding of antenatal and newborn screening programmes
- Significant experience of all aspects of maternity care
- Ability to constantly apply analytical skills to practice
Desirable
- Participation in regional / national initiatives in relation to antenatal and newborn screening programmes
- Evidence of formal management development
Skills
Essential
- You are able to communicate effectively with clients and with staff to ensure that their care, treatment and support are not compromised.
- Be able to understand an individual's communication, physical & emotional needs; recognise their needs and preferences
- You have knowledge & awareness of diversity and human rights and the competencies appropriate to your role to support their diverse needs and human rights.
Desirable
- Participation in incident investigation and report writing
- Experience in production of KPI data
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
