Job summary
The Head of Midwifery, Neonatal, and Gynaecology Services is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure the safe, high-quality, and effective delivery of maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based, family-centred care while meeting national standards, including compliance with the NHS Long Term Plan, Ockenden Report, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. Key duties include managing service performance, workforce planning, and financial resources; ensuring compliance with the Maternity Incentive Scheme and regulatory frameworks; addressing health inequalities; and fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. The post-holder collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), to co-produce services that prioritise patient safety, equity, and positive outcomes for women, babies, and families.
Main duties of the job
The Head of Midwifery plays a pivotal role in holding professional accountability and managerial responsibility for the strategic direction, delivery, and management of maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services on behalf of the Director of Midwifery. The role ensures the achievement of corporate and divisional key performance indicators while fostering a culture of respect, teamwork, and excellence in patient care. Working across hospital and community settings, the Head of Midwifery provides professional and supervisory leadership to staff across these services.
Aligned with national priorities, including the Ockenden Report, Kirkup Report, the Maternity and Neonatal Three-Year Delivery Plan, and the NHS Long Term Plan, the Head of Midwifery ensures safety, equity, and quality in service delivery. This includes addressing systemic challenges, improving outcomes for women and families, and integrating gynaecological services into holistic, patient-centred care pathways.
As a key member of the divisional leadership team, the Head of Midwifery ensures that maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services meet national safety and quality standards, including compliance with CQC regulations and the NHS Maternity Incentive Scheme.
About us
The Head of Midwifery, Neonatal and Gynaecology will be part of the Families and Integrated Community Care Division.
The maternity unit has approximately 2600 births a year, an Obstetric unit, alongside birthing centre, maternity ward, community and specialist services.
The neonatal unit is a level 2 unit with Intensive care, high dependency care and special care facilities. They also have a dedicated transitional care ward alongside the unit.
The gynaecology team cover medical, surgical and emergency care within the acute setting, a dedicated separate early pregnancy unit and many specialists gynaecology services.
This post will directly line manage the:
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Maternity matron for inpatient services
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Maternity matron for community and specialist services
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Neonatal matron
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Gynaecology matron
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Advanced Clinical practitioners
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, including inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, emergency gynaecology units, and community-based care.
- Ensure high-quality, family-centred care across these services, aligned with national frameworks such as the Ockenden Report, CQC Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs), and the NHS Long Term Plan, focusing on personalised care, improved safety, and continuity of care.
- Collaborate with the divisional leadership team to deliver safe, sustainable, and equitable services that address health inequalities and improve outcomes for women, babies, and families.
- Represent the Executive Chief Nurse and Director of Midwifery in internal and external forums, promoting best practice and exploring opportunities for service improvement, innovation, and workforce development across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services.
- Act as the professional lead for all staff in maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring compliance with professional standards and providing guidance on fitness-to-practise issues where required.
Patient Safety and Clinical Quality
- Lead the development of robust systems for monitoring quality, safety, and compliance across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with CQC regulations, safeguarding standards, and infection prevention policies.
- Embed a culture of shared learning by ensuring outcomes from incidents, audits, and reviews across these services are shared and used to drive improvement.
- Oversee the implementation of clinical standards and quality improvement initiatives for gynaecology services, including emergency gynaecology care and early pregnancy pathways, ensuring compliance with national guidance and the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated care pathways that reduce disparities, improve access, and align with the Maternity and Neonatal Three-Year Delivery Plan, the NHS Long Term Plan, and other national frameworks.
- Ensure adherence to the Human Tissue Act 2004 in all gynaecological procedures and services, safeguarding patient dignity and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Patient Experience
- Collaborate with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) and equivalent gynaecology-focused service user groups to ensure patient voices shape service planning and delivery.
- Lead the development and implementation of a Trust-wide strategy to enhance patient and service user experience across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan and national standards.
- Promote close collaboration between patient feedback processes, complaints management, and improvement initiatives, ensuring actionable outcomes that enhance patient care.
- Oversee the integration of service user feedback into operational and strategic decisions for gynaecology services, including outpatient and emergency pathways.
- Facilitate the use of volunteers and patient advocates to support service delivery, particularly in sensitive gynaecological care areas.
Managerial Responsibilities
- Provide direct line management for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology staff, ensuring clear accountability and access to professional development opportunities.
- Oversee financial and resource management across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring budgetary control and adherence to Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).
- Lead workforce planning and ensure maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services are adequately staffed, with a focus on recruitment, retention, and skills development.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements across gynaecology services, including CQC standards, employment legislation, and the Health Act (2006) Code of Practice.
- Participate in the on-call rota, providing leadership during major incidents or unexpected events affecting any of the services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Leadership
- Provide strategic and operational leadership for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, including inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, emergency gynaecology units, and community-based care.
- Ensure high-quality, family-centred care across these services, aligned with national frameworks such as the Ockenden Report, CQC Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs), and the NHS Long Term Plan, focusing on personalised care, improved safety, and continuity of care.
- Collaborate with the divisional leadership team to deliver safe, sustainable, and equitable services that address health inequalities and improve outcomes for women, babies, and families.
- Represent the Executive Chief Nurse and Director of Midwifery in internal and external forums, promoting best practice and exploring opportunities for service improvement, innovation, and workforce development across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services.
- Act as the professional lead for all staff in maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring compliance with professional standards and providing guidance on fitness-to-practise issues where required.
Patient Safety and Clinical Quality
- Lead the development of robust systems for monitoring quality, safety, and compliance across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with CQC regulations, safeguarding standards, and infection prevention policies.
- Embed a culture of shared learning by ensuring outcomes from incidents, audits, and reviews across these services are shared and used to drive improvement.
- Oversee the implementation of clinical standards and quality improvement initiatives for gynaecology services, including emergency gynaecology care and early pregnancy pathways, ensuring compliance with national guidance and the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan.
- Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated care pathways that reduce disparities, improve access, and align with the Maternity and Neonatal Three-Year Delivery Plan, the NHS Long Term Plan, and other national frameworks.
- Ensure adherence to the Human Tissue Act 2004 in all gynaecological procedures and services, safeguarding patient dignity and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.
Patient Experience
- Collaborate with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) and equivalent gynaecology-focused service user groups to ensure patient voices shape service planning and delivery.
- Lead the development and implementation of a Trust-wide strategy to enhance patient and service user experience across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan and national standards.
- Promote close collaboration between patient feedback processes, complaints management, and improvement initiatives, ensuring actionable outcomes that enhance patient care.
- Oversee the integration of service user feedback into operational and strategic decisions for gynaecology services, including outpatient and emergency pathways.
- Facilitate the use of volunteers and patient advocates to support service delivery, particularly in sensitive gynaecological care areas.
Managerial Responsibilities
- Provide direct line management for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology staff, ensuring clear accountability and access to professional development opportunities.
- Oversee financial and resource management across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring budgetary control and adherence to Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).
- Lead workforce planning and ensure maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services are adequately staffed, with a focus on recruitment, retention, and skills development.
- Ensure compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements across gynaecology services, including CQC standards, employment legislation, and the Health Act (2006) Code of Practice.
- Participate in the on-call rota, providing leadership during major incidents or unexpected events affecting any of the services.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in a related field
- Evidence of maintaining relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Leadership or management qualifications.
- Evidence of advanced leadership training or quality improvement programmes (e.g., Maternity Safety Programme).
Experience
Essential
- Senior line management experience in maternity, neonatal, or gynaecology services.
- Proven ability to manage resources effectively, including financial, workforce, and service planning.
- Experience managing clinical services, including integration of inpatient and outpatient pathways.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across hospital and community settings.
- Evidence of successfully implementing national strategies (e.g., Ockenden Review, NHS Long Term Plan).
- Detailed knowledge of acute and community healthcare operations, including maternity and gynaecology service delivery.
- Experience in managing complex organisational change within large healthcare settings.
- Understanding of regulatory frameworks, including CQC requirements and NHS standards of care.
- Evidence of audit and research application to service improvement.
- Knowledge of legal and ethical responsibilities related to maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services.
- Knowledge of health inequalities and strategies to address disparities in outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of commitment, motivation, and adaptability.
- Advanced leadership and motivation skills with proven ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams.
- Well-developed influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage relationships at all levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess complex clinical and managerial situations and make evidence-based decisions.
- Capacity to manage conflicting priorities and meet demanding deadlines while maintaining high standards.
- Highly developed written and oral communication skills, suitable for engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
- Expertise in financial management, including budget planning and monitoring.
- Proficiency in project management and quality improvement methodologies.
- Advanced IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), clinical systems, and data analysis tools.
- Ability to promote a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning
- Understanding of workforce planning tools (e.g., Birthrate Plus) and their application to service delivery.
- Demonstrated awareness of national NHS issues, including maternity and neonatal safety priorities.
- Flexibility and responsiveness to adapt work patterns in line with service needs.
- Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, including the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), regulatory bodies, and local maternity and neonatal systems
- Willingness to participate in the senior manager on-call rota and respond effectively to major incidents.
- Commitment to personal development and organisational improvement.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Master's degree or equivalent experience in a related field
- Evidence of maintaining relevant Continuing Professional Development (CPD).
- Registered Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
- Leadership or management qualifications.
- Evidence of advanced leadership training or quality improvement programmes (e.g., Maternity Safety Programme).
Experience
Essential
- Senior line management experience in maternity, neonatal, or gynaecology services.
- Proven ability to manage resources effectively, including financial, workforce, and service planning.
- Experience managing clinical services, including integration of inpatient and outpatient pathways.
- Experience leading multidisciplinary teams across hospital and community settings.
- Evidence of successfully implementing national strategies (e.g., Ockenden Review, NHS Long Term Plan).
- Detailed knowledge of acute and community healthcare operations, including maternity and gynaecology service delivery.
- Experience in managing complex organisational change within large healthcare settings.
- Understanding of regulatory frameworks, including CQC requirements and NHS standards of care.
- Evidence of audit and research application to service improvement.
- Knowledge of legal and ethical responsibilities related to maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services.
- Knowledge of health inequalities and strategies to address disparities in outcomes.
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of commitment, motivation, and adaptability.
- Advanced leadership and motivation skills with proven ability to lead and inspire multidisciplinary teams.
- Well-developed influencing and negotiation skills, with the ability to manage relationships at all levels.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, including the ability to assess complex clinical and managerial situations and make evidence-based decisions.
- Capacity to manage conflicting priorities and meet demanding deadlines while maintaining high standards.
- Highly developed written and oral communication skills, suitable for engaging with internal and external stakeholders.
- Expertise in financial management, including budget planning and monitoring.
- Proficiency in project management and quality improvement methodologies.
- Advanced IT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), clinical systems, and data analysis tools.
- Ability to promote a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous learning
- Understanding of workforce planning tools (e.g., Birthrate Plus) and their application to service delivery.
- Demonstrated awareness of national NHS issues, including maternity and neonatal safety priorities.
- Flexibility and responsiveness to adapt work patterns in line with service needs.
- Ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders, including the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), regulatory bodies, and local maternity and neonatal systems
- Willingness to participate in the senior manager on-call rota and respond effectively to major incidents.
- Commitment to personal development and organisational improvement.
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Whinney Heys Road
Blackpool
FY3 8NR
Employer's website
https://www.bfwh.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
