Job summary
A new and exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic,
compassionate, forward thinking and experienced Midwife to work as the Lead
Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) for Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS
Trust.
Using the principals of the A-EQUIP model, the successful candidate will
advocate quality improvement to support
the continuous improvement process which builds upon both the personal and
professional resilience of midwives to enhance the experience and quality of care for women and
their families.
As an integral part of the Maternity service, you will collaborate and
work closely with the Governance Team, MNVP, Matrons, Recruitment and
Retention, Practice Development and Preceptorship Midwives. You will provide professional advice to drive
quality improvement, set up and facilitate restorative supervision sessions,
liaise with and coordinate our qualified PMAs and be part of the regional and
national PMA network.
The successful candidate would be accountable to the Director of
Midwifery and report directly to the Deputy Director of Midwifery.
This post will require cross site working.
Main duties of the job
The Professional Midwifery Advocate will use the A-EQUIP (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) approach to support midwives to improve system performance & the experiences of midwives & women.
The A-EQUIP model is based on four distinct functions:
- Restoration Clinical supervision
- Personal Action for Quality Improvement
- Education & Development
- Monitoring, evaluation & quality improvement
The model supports a continuous improvement process that aims to build personal & professional resilience, enhance quality of care, & improve outcomes, whilst developing leadership capability. It also aims to ensure that through staff development, action to improve quality of care becomes an intrinsic part of everyone's job, every day, in all parts of the service.
The A-EQUIP model is also designed to support women through advocating for their needs, providing direct support within a restorative approach & undertaking quality improvement in collaboration with women.
You will be pivotal in providing professional leadership to midwives by embedding the A-EQUIP model of support. You should be an enthusiastic & visionary leader, being able to influence others through education & multidisciplinary working.
You will support midwives by providing & promoting regular sessions of restorative clinical supervision & championing a culture of openness, reflection & professional resilience.
Please refer to the attached job description & person specification for further details
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester.
Our workforce is over 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The lead PMA will utilise the four key elements of the NHSE A-EQUIP (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) model to facilitate direction and coordination to the team of Trust PMAs.
Provide professional leadership and act as lead PMA within the Maternity service and act as a positive role model
The Lead PMA will build a culture of support enabling all midwives to provide high quality care and to identify opportunities to improve it.
The lead PMA will, alongside the managerial appraisal processes, offer opportunities for midwives to consider their on-going educational and professional developmental requirements
Working in conjunction with the Deputy Director of Midwifery, Governance Lead for Maternity, Recruitment and Retention Midwife and Preceptorship Lead Midwife, the Lead PMA will enable newly qualified and experienced staff to recognise and promote personal and professional accountability, gain self-awareness and encourage self-development in others.
The lead PMA will work with the wider teams to influence strategies that support midwifery recruitment and retention, enhance individual performance and support the delivery of a high standard of ethical, safe and effective midwifery care.
By offering access to Restorative Clinical Supervision and addressing the emotional and wellbeing needs of individuals and groups the Lead PMA will develop and support opportunities for the PMA team to create thinking space through a process of discussion, reflective conversation, supportive challenge and open and honest feedback.
To assess and provide the full range of care needs to develop, implement and evaluate the PMA role/service within the Trust
Develop, deliver, implement, evaluate, audit and adapt the PMA service ensuring that appropriate guidelines are adhered to
Recognise the need for referral to other agencies and/or services (both internal and external) as required
To design, implement and evaluate restorative supervision sessions for staff providing advice and support as necessary
Work autonomously within guidelines and spheres of professional practice
Evaluate local services against national standards
Comply with statutory requirements of NMC registration
Key Duties:
- The Lead PMA will provide visible leadership, evidence based information and education to their Midwifery colleagues, in line with WAHT, the NMC Midwives Rules and Standards, the NMC Code and the most up to date guidance.
- Ensure that there is a strong interface between the Lead PMA and quality improvement in maternity and the wider organisation.
- The successful applicant will work with service users (including the MNVP), the multi-disciplinary team and local stakeholders to advance and protect health and wellbeing of those in our care
- Use their expert knowledge in midwifery practice to support the Head of Midwifery and the Senior Midwifery team in implementing and monitoring midwifery practice ensuring that there are robust clinical governance assurance systems in place relating to midwifery practice
- Use their expert knowledge in midwifery practice to support the Head of Midwifery and the Senior Midwifery team in implementing and monitoring midwifery practice ensuring that there are robust clinical governance assurance systems in place relating to midwifery practice
- Organise and lead regular meetings with the PMAs within maternity
- Demonstrate understanding of the role of the PMA within the context of national governance policies and procedures
- Attend governance meetings, take part in Serious Incident reviews and attend the Perinatal Mortality Review (PMRT) meetings
- Be involved in continuous monitoring and maintaining quality standards of clinical practice through a variety of ways for example audit, working clinically with midwives for those who require additional support and development
- To assist in implementing the Trusts Maternity Transformation Programme (Better Births) and NHS Long Term Plan
Clinical
- Provide visible leadership and accessible support to the Midwifery and Multidisciplinary Teams
- Act as a professional role model
- Promote woman centred care and autonomous midwifery practice in all clinical areas
- Promote the highest standards of evidence based and audited clinical care
- Actively encourage service user feedback
- Work closely with the Risk and Governance, Education and Learning and Development Teams to design and deliver a comprehensive care package for service users which can be rolled out to all staff across the county
- Undertake all such reasonable other duties as may be required as part of the role
- Escalate and report incidents any issues which may have a negative impact on the provision of the service by adhering to the relevant policies
- Disseminate contentious, complex and sensitive information appropriately
- Undertaking quality improvement in collaboration with women
- Promote integrated working across the service, liaising with the multi-disciplinary team to promote the service and collaborative working relationships, thus improving the experience of those we care for
- Maintain own clinical competency in respect of health promotion and wider midwifery practice, utilising opportunities for professional development.
- To maintain a visible and predictable input to all areas.
Professional
- Plan, organise and deliver in house training and education, through a variety of formats that meet the needs of different health professionals working with mothers and babies.
- Act as a resource to Midwives, Doctors and students to enable them to develop knowledge and skills
- Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model, providing both practical and theoretical leadership, guidance and advice to staff on public health issues, promoting the Trusts 4Ward behaviours
- Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement clinical guidelines and pathways of care in relation to public health
- Maintain an awareness of professional developments in Midwifery and public health outcomes to facilitate the maintenance of appropriate evidence based care
- Liaise with the multidisciplinary / multiagency team referring to and accepting referrals from medical staff and other health care professionals, internal and external, as and when appropriate
- Participate in orientation of new staff and students
- Work within the NMC Code of professional practice, Midwives rules and standards
- Respect womens equality, taking into account diversity and rights, ensuring that vulnerable women and families receive equitable care including those who are subject to domestic abuse, homelessness and/or language barriers. Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model; promote an open, honest and transparent culture demonstrating excellent leadership skills
- Provide and maintain an environment in which individuals can develop their skills and knowledge to their full potential. Provide excellent support for students on clinical placements
- Support staff in actively participating in personal development through mentorship, preceptorship, mandatory training and appraisal
- Maintain and promote an environment conducive to learning. Link with networks beyond maternity services to share good practice and information
- Management and Leadership
- To work collaboratively with Clinical Audit department to collect, analyse and report on statistical information in line with Care Group, Trust and National requirements.
- Ensure that high standards of care in relation to public health are provided and maintained and act when standards are not being maintained
- Be proactive in the development of practice/ services within area of expertise, through business planning process / service development, in conjunction with Senior Managers.
- The post holder will may be requested to participate in the on-call management rota for Maternity and Neonates
- Communicate effectively, throughout the multidisciplinary team and liaising with outside agencies, especially where the women's and families ability to do so is compromised by acting as the patients advocate.
- Action where appropriate clinical incident reports, complaints and monitoring of risks
- Formulate, review and implement clinical policies and guidelines within the area of responsibility.
- Promote best practice in relation to clinical risk and governance issues and identify areas for improvement
- Provide regular, clear written reports on project progress
- Work closely with existing diabetes, obstetric, midwifery and anaesthetic colleagues to ensure that communication links are clear and effective
- To work in accordance with Trust, Directorate and Divisional management guidelines and develop these where necessary
- Work with the senior nursing team to support the development of professional Nursing advocates.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The lead PMA will utilise the four key elements of the NHSE A-EQUIP (Advocating for Education and Quality Improvement) model to facilitate direction and coordination to the team of Trust PMAs.
Provide professional leadership and act as lead PMA within the Maternity service and act as a positive role model
The Lead PMA will build a culture of support enabling all midwives to provide high quality care and to identify opportunities to improve it.
The lead PMA will, alongside the managerial appraisal processes, offer opportunities for midwives to consider their on-going educational and professional developmental requirements
Working in conjunction with the Deputy Director of Midwifery, Governance Lead for Maternity, Recruitment and Retention Midwife and Preceptorship Lead Midwife, the Lead PMA will enable newly qualified and experienced staff to recognise and promote personal and professional accountability, gain self-awareness and encourage self-development in others.
The lead PMA will work with the wider teams to influence strategies that support midwifery recruitment and retention, enhance individual performance and support the delivery of a high standard of ethical, safe and effective midwifery care.
By offering access to Restorative Clinical Supervision and addressing the emotional and wellbeing needs of individuals and groups the Lead PMA will develop and support opportunities for the PMA team to create thinking space through a process of discussion, reflective conversation, supportive challenge and open and honest feedback.
To assess and provide the full range of care needs to develop, implement and evaluate the PMA role/service within the Trust
Develop, deliver, implement, evaluate, audit and adapt the PMA service ensuring that appropriate guidelines are adhered to
Recognise the need for referral to other agencies and/or services (both internal and external) as required
To design, implement and evaluate restorative supervision sessions for staff providing advice and support as necessary
Work autonomously within guidelines and spheres of professional practice
Evaluate local services against national standards
Comply with statutory requirements of NMC registration
Key Duties:
- The Lead PMA will provide visible leadership, evidence based information and education to their Midwifery colleagues, in line with WAHT, the NMC Midwives Rules and Standards, the NMC Code and the most up to date guidance.
- Ensure that there is a strong interface between the Lead PMA and quality improvement in maternity and the wider organisation.
- The successful applicant will work with service users (including the MNVP), the multi-disciplinary team and local stakeholders to advance and protect health and wellbeing of those in our care
- Use their expert knowledge in midwifery practice to support the Head of Midwifery and the Senior Midwifery team in implementing and monitoring midwifery practice ensuring that there are robust clinical governance assurance systems in place relating to midwifery practice
- Use their expert knowledge in midwifery practice to support the Head of Midwifery and the Senior Midwifery team in implementing and monitoring midwifery practice ensuring that there are robust clinical governance assurance systems in place relating to midwifery practice
- Organise and lead regular meetings with the PMAs within maternity
- Demonstrate understanding of the role of the PMA within the context of national governance policies and procedures
- Attend governance meetings, take part in Serious Incident reviews and attend the Perinatal Mortality Review (PMRT) meetings
- Be involved in continuous monitoring and maintaining quality standards of clinical practice through a variety of ways for example audit, working clinically with midwives for those who require additional support and development
- To assist in implementing the Trusts Maternity Transformation Programme (Better Births) and NHS Long Term Plan
Clinical
- Provide visible leadership and accessible support to the Midwifery and Multidisciplinary Teams
- Act as a professional role model
- Promote woman centred care and autonomous midwifery practice in all clinical areas
- Promote the highest standards of evidence based and audited clinical care
- Actively encourage service user feedback
- Work closely with the Risk and Governance, Education and Learning and Development Teams to design and deliver a comprehensive care package for service users which can be rolled out to all staff across the county
- Undertake all such reasonable other duties as may be required as part of the role
- Escalate and report incidents any issues which may have a negative impact on the provision of the service by adhering to the relevant policies
- Disseminate contentious, complex and sensitive information appropriately
- Undertaking quality improvement in collaboration with women
- Promote integrated working across the service, liaising with the multi-disciplinary team to promote the service and collaborative working relationships, thus improving the experience of those we care for
- Maintain own clinical competency in respect of health promotion and wider midwifery practice, utilising opportunities for professional development.
- To maintain a visible and predictable input to all areas.
Professional
- Plan, organise and deliver in house training and education, through a variety of formats that meet the needs of different health professionals working with mothers and babies.
- Act as a resource to Midwives, Doctors and students to enable them to develop knowledge and skills
- Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model, providing both practical and theoretical leadership, guidance and advice to staff on public health issues, promoting the Trusts 4Ward behaviours
- Work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to develop and implement clinical guidelines and pathways of care in relation to public health
- Maintain an awareness of professional developments in Midwifery and public health outcomes to facilitate the maintenance of appropriate evidence based care
- Liaise with the multidisciplinary / multiagency team referring to and accepting referrals from medical staff and other health care professionals, internal and external, as and when appropriate
- Participate in orientation of new staff and students
- Work within the NMC Code of professional practice, Midwives rules and standards
- Respect womens equality, taking into account diversity and rights, ensuring that vulnerable women and families receive equitable care including those who are subject to domestic abuse, homelessness and/or language barriers. Act as an innovative and enthusiastic role model; promote an open, honest and transparent culture demonstrating excellent leadership skills
- Provide and maintain an environment in which individuals can develop their skills and knowledge to their full potential. Provide excellent support for students on clinical placements
- Support staff in actively participating in personal development through mentorship, preceptorship, mandatory training and appraisal
- Maintain and promote an environment conducive to learning. Link with networks beyond maternity services to share good practice and information
- Management and Leadership
- To work collaboratively with Clinical Audit department to collect, analyse and report on statistical information in line with Care Group, Trust and National requirements.
- Ensure that high standards of care in relation to public health are provided and maintained and act when standards are not being maintained
- Be proactive in the development of practice/ services within area of expertise, through business planning process / service development, in conjunction with Senior Managers.
- The post holder will may be requested to participate in the on-call management rota for Maternity and Neonates
- Communicate effectively, throughout the multidisciplinary team and liaising with outside agencies, especially where the women's and families ability to do so is compromised by acting as the patients advocate.
- Action where appropriate clinical incident reports, complaints and monitoring of risks
- Formulate, review and implement clinical policies and guidelines within the area of responsibility.
- Promote best practice in relation to clinical risk and governance issues and identify areas for improvement
- Provide regular, clear written reports on project progress
- Work closely with existing diabetes, obstetric, midwifery and anaesthetic colleagues to ensure that communication links are clear and effective
- To work in accordance with Trust, Directorate and Divisional management guidelines and develop these where necessary
- Work with the senior nursing team to support the development of professional Nursing advocates.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Evidence of further professional development.
- Qualified PMA
Desirable
- Evidence of advanced midwifery studies.
- Mentorship training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Demonstrate evidence based practice
- Can demonstrate autonomy
- Ability to formulate, review and update guidelines, protocols and standards
- Leadership skills
- Computer literate
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to make informed decisions
- Time management skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Able to work collaboratively
- Application of the A-EQUIP model
Desirable
- Knowledge of computerised maternity systems including BadgerNet
- Knowledge and understanding of Saving Babies Lives care bundle
- Experience of working/liaising with external agencies
- Formulation and implementation of guidelines and policies
Experience
Essential
- Proven Midwifery experience
Desirable
- Management skills
- Previous experience of working in more than one area of Maternity/Midwifery
- Quality Improvement work
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Evidence of further professional development.
- Qualified PMA
Desirable
- Evidence of advanced midwifery studies.
- Mentorship training
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuous professional development
- Demonstrate evidence based practice
- Can demonstrate autonomy
- Ability to formulate, review and update guidelines, protocols and standards
- Leadership skills
- Computer literate
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to make informed decisions
- Time management skills
- Ability to prioritise workload
- Able to work collaboratively
- Application of the A-EQUIP model
Desirable
- Knowledge of computerised maternity systems including BadgerNet
- Knowledge and understanding of Saving Babies Lives care bundle
- Experience of working/liaising with external agencies
- Formulation and implementation of guidelines and policies
Experience
Essential
- Proven Midwifery experience
Desirable
- Management skills
- Previous experience of working in more than one area of Maternity/Midwifery
- Quality Improvement work
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).
