Job summary
We are offering an exciting 6-month secondmentfor aHead of Midwifery (HoM)or an experienced Deputy HoMwho is a compassionate, visionary leader ready to make a real impact.
This is a pivotal opportunity to join the Women's & Children's Clinical Management Group (CMG)atUniversity Hospitals of Leicester (UHL)during a period of significant transformation.
UHL is on adynamic improvement journey, underpinned by anestablished Perinatal Safety Improvement Programme, a strong commitment toaddressing health inequalities, and the complexity of delivering care acrossmultiple sites. This secondment will play a critical role in accelerating progress and embedding sustainable change.
This is a unique opportunity to influence the future of maternity and neonatal care at UHL, working alongside theDirector of Midwifery and Deputy Chief Nurseto providevisible clinical and professional leadership for nursing, midwifery, and care support teams.
What We're Looking For
- ARegistered Midwifewith proven success in a senior leadership role.
- A leader who embodiesauthentic, value-based, and compassionate leadership, with the ability to inspire and support teams through change.
- Someone who thrives in a complex, multi-site environment and is passionate aboutequity, safety, and quality improvement.
Main duties of the job
You'll Be Working Alongside the Head of Nursing and CMG Senior Leadership Team to:
- Provide strategic and professional leadershipfor maternity and neonatal services, ensuring delivery of safe, high-quality, and personalised care.
- Lead the implementation of national and regional priorities, embedding continuous improvement and quality assurance across all pathways.
- Strengthen clinical governance frameworks, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and promoting a culture of learning and accountability.
- Champion workforce planning and development, supporting recruitment, retention, and resilience to meet service demands.
- Drive cultural transformation, fostering an inclusive, compassionate environment for staff and families.
- Oversee operational performance, including demand and capacity planning, escalation processes, and safety huddles to maintain safe staffing and flow.
- Collaborate across multi-site services, ensuring consistency, equity, and alignment with UHL's improvement journey and regional strategies
About us
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Head of Midwifery will work with the Head of Nursing and Midwifery to take responsibility for line management of the deputy Heads of Midwifery, Consultant Midwives / Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Matrons. This will involve developing professional practice and enacting key human resources policies.
The Heads of Midwifery and Nursing collectively are responsible for the oversight of over 500 midwives, nurses and support staff, the post holder will support the management team and CMG leads to plan develop, monitor and review the recruitment, deployment and management of nursing and midwifery staff in the CMG. Plus ensure there is robust oversight in supporting senior nurses and midwives in the implementation of methods, processes and systems for recruiting, deploying and managing people which support the organisations vision, values, strategies and objectives
please see job description/person specification for full details on the role.
Due to current operational demands and vacancies in key roles, an immediate or swift start would be ideal; however, this is not essential for the right candidate. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential release arrangements with their line manager at the earliest opportunity.
At the conclusion of the secondment, there may be an opportunity to apply for a permanent Head of Midwifery role, subject to organisational requirements and through a competitive recruitment process.This provides a potential longer-term career opportunity for candidates considering a secondment from another organisation
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Head of Midwifery will work with the Head of Nursing and Midwifery to take responsibility for line management of the deputy Heads of Midwifery, Consultant Midwives / Nurses, Clinical Nurse Specialists, and Matrons. This will involve developing professional practice and enacting key human resources policies.
The Heads of Midwifery and Nursing collectively are responsible for the oversight of over 500 midwives, nurses and support staff, the post holder will support the management team and CMG leads to plan develop, monitor and review the recruitment, deployment and management of nursing and midwifery staff in the CMG. Plus ensure there is robust oversight in supporting senior nurses and midwives in the implementation of methods, processes and systems for recruiting, deploying and managing people which support the organisations vision, values, strategies and objectives
please see job description/person specification for full details on the role.
Due to current operational demands and vacancies in key roles, an immediate or swift start would be ideal; however, this is not essential for the right candidate. Applicants are encouraged to discuss potential release arrangements with their line manager at the earliest opportunity.
At the conclusion of the secondment, there may be an opportunity to apply for a permanent Head of Midwifery role, subject to organisational requirements and through a competitive recruitment process.This provides a potential longer-term career opportunity for candidates considering a secondment from another organisation
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- First Degree
- Master's degree (or working towards) or equivalent level of experience in a highly specialised role
- Management training or evidence of equivalent competence
- Professional training/learning which demonstrates highly developed professional knowledge / continuing professional development
Desirable
- Registered Nurse
- Educational / Mentorship qualification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive leadership and managerial experience with evidence of achievement acquired through at least 3 years' experience at a senior level.
- Broad range of clinical midwifery experience acquired through significant practice.
- Experience of staff management, able to persuade and influence and handle conflict
- Strong evidence of service development and successful change management
- Experience of risk management and quality assurance
- Management of a large and diverse team
- Public speaking
- Research awareness skills
- Leading cross boundary projects
- Clinically sound experience and knowledge.
- Knowledge of risk management strategies.
- Knowledge of relevant speciality service provision
- A sound understanding of the NHS, current legislation and national strategy.
- Knowledge of the key regulations, outcomes and assessment methods used by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in judgement of healthcare organisations
- Knowledge of NMC rules governing practice.
- An understanding of the complexity of service delivery
Service Improvement
Essential
- Multi -professional problem solving in teams.
- Strategy and policy development
- Able to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively.
- issues/problems, identify necessary action and make recommendations and follow these through
- Able to develop and maintain constructive relationships with all professional disciplines.
- Able to analyse complex clinical ? issues/problems, identify necessary action and make recommendations and follow these through
Person Specification
Training & Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- First Degree
- Master's degree (or working towards) or equivalent level of experience in a highly specialised role
- Management training or evidence of equivalent competence
- Professional training/learning which demonstrates highly developed professional knowledge / continuing professional development
Desirable
- Registered Nurse
- Educational / Mentorship qualification
Experience
Essential
- Extensive leadership and managerial experience with evidence of achievement acquired through at least 3 years' experience at a senior level.
- Broad range of clinical midwifery experience acquired through significant practice.
- Experience of staff management, able to persuade and influence and handle conflict
- Strong evidence of service development and successful change management
- Experience of risk management and quality assurance
- Management of a large and diverse team
- Public speaking
- Research awareness skills
- Leading cross boundary projects
- Clinically sound experience and knowledge.
- Knowledge of risk management strategies.
- Knowledge of relevant speciality service provision
- A sound understanding of the NHS, current legislation and national strategy.
- Knowledge of the key regulations, outcomes and assessment methods used by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in judgement of healthcare organisations
- Knowledge of NMC rules governing practice.
- An understanding of the complexity of service delivery
Service Improvement
Essential
- Multi -professional problem solving in teams.
- Strategy and policy development
- Able to think and plan strategically, tactically and creatively.
- issues/problems, identify necessary action and make recommendations and follow these through
- Able to develop and maintain constructive relationships with all professional disciplines.
- Able to analyse complex clinical ? issues/problems, identify necessary action and make recommendations and follow these through
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).
