Consultant Midwife

Job responsibilities

Expert Midwifery Practice

1.1 Act as a role model for midwives by practising midwifery skills to the highest standard, whilst exercising a high degree of personal and professional autonomy.

1.2 Maintain a time commitment of 50% to practice with the emphasis on role modelling and expert midwifery practice in the intrapartum setting and maintaining clinical excellence within the maternity service.

1.3 Work collaboratively with obstetricians to plan, deliver and evaluate care for women.

1.4 Support the implementation of a system of referral, consultation and care planning for women with complex needs who may be declining recommended options for care within the units and at home

1.5 Use knowledge and skills of the highest order to inform practice decisions, particularly where precedents do not exist, and where appropriate, without recourse to others.

1.6 Inspire and support midwives to realise their full potential as autonomous practitioners valuing the physiology of birth whilst being able to recognise and act on the abnormal appropriately.

1.7 Lead midwives to build their confidence in evidence based practice in order to empower them to challenge and influence change positively.

1.8 Educate and inspire midwives and doctors to enhance the profile and practice of midwifery.

1.9 Support the existing the existing consultant midwife in the development of future pathways.

2. Professional leadership and consultancy

2.1 Act as the expert midwifery lead for intrapartum birth

2.2 Provide visionary, inspirational leadership and expertise to midwives promoting midwifery care.

2.3 Inspire colleagues to improve standards and quality of care and to develop professional practice in the area of intrapartum midwifery care, including the antenatal care pathways.

2.4 Work collaboratively with the ADOM, Heads of Midwifery and consultant midwifery colleague leading the development and implementation of a maternity strategy that promotes midwifery care and supports the concepts of continuity of care, acting as an expert resource for birth.

2.5 Act as a catalyst for change, leading and influencing development of policy, practice and staff in the delivery of midwifery care to women and families.

2.6 Work collaboratively with the maternity management team to develop professional practice locally to meet the needs of the local population and support the strategic direction of the service.

2.7 Provide expert midwifery advice to the Directorate of Maternity, the Division of Womens Children and Clinical Support and to the Trust Board as and when required or requested

2.8 Act as a senior member of the Maternity Directorate team ensuring midwifery input into strategic and operational decisions.

2.9 Influence the national midwifery agenda through making a significant contribution at policy level.

2.10 Act as an ambassador for the Trust representing it internally and externally and present at regional, national and international conferences

2.11 Act in an advisory capacity on national initiatives to improve midwifery practice, for example maternal death review panels, NICE guideline development

2.12 Make a significant contribution to clinical governance through membership of local risk management meetings and the directorate Critical Review meeting

3. Education, training and development

3.1 Play a key role in professional development through the identification of learning needs across the organisation, working closely with the Associate Director of Midwifery, Head of Midwifery and Lead Midwives, link teachers and practice development team.

3.2 Work closely with the midwifery and nursing education teams to develop, plan and implement education and development programmes that meet the needs of staff to address the complex midwifery agenda.

3.3 Provide key lectures to students and graduates at the HEI and be instrumental in the development and delivery of inter-professional learning.

3.4 Create a supportive learning environment for students and qualified staff and make a significant contribution to the recruitment and retention of

competent, confident and motivated staff.

3.5 Design, plan, implement and evaluate an intrapartum learning programme for midwives and obstetricians.

4. Practice and service development, research and evaluation

4.1 Work in partnership with the Associate Director of Midwifery, Head of Midwifery and Consultant Midwife colleague to develop, take forward and evaluate direction, policies and strategies.

4.2 Lead the continuing development of shared midwifery, woman focused, model of care which promotes midwifery care, and hence improves quality and meets the key objectives of national and local policy documents.

4.3 Evaluate the effectiveness of midwifery care and make necessary modifications.

4.4 Promote and lead on midwifery based audit/research within the Division supporting and advising the Associate Director of Midwifery.

4.5 Plan, develop and evaluate methods and processes for gathering, analysing, interpreting and presenting data and information on midwifery care in complex pregnancy and birth.

4.6 Lead the development, implementation and evaluation of midwifery guidelines and play a key role in the Divisional multi-disciplinary guidelines group.

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Educated to masters level
• Willing to undertake PhD/doctoral studies
• Recognised leadership qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Doctoral qualification
• Recognised teaching qualification

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Expert knowledge of midwifery and the complex birth agenda
• In-depth knowledge of health policy
• Knowledge of quality standard setting and audit
• Research skills
• Demonstrable leadership skills
• Organisation and management skills
• Ability to influence, motivate and inspire others
• Negotiating and ability to resolve conflict
• Ability to manage change
• Team building skills
• Articulate with advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Ability to network across the organisation and externally
• Project management skill
• Ability to compile, analyse and disseminate complex o Evidence of academic published work or research Application form & Assessment/Interview information
• Innovative
• Strategic thinking
• Self-motivated , positive
• adaptable and flexible approach to work

Desirable

• Evidence of academic published work or research

Experience

Essential

• changing clinical practice
• developing staff
• organisational change
• leadership
• teaching
• Evidence of innovative practice that involves research and or audit
• Evidence of research participation
• Evidence of participation in regional and national networks

Personal qualities

Essential

• Can work under pressure
• Calm
• Supportive
• Motivated
• Professional
• Sufficient to fulfil the post with any reasonable adaptations
• Ability to communicate effectively both individually and to large groups
• Excellent presentation skills
• Experience of presenting at conferences
• Evidence of publications
• Advanced IT Skills

Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).