Director of Midwifery

Interim Director of Midwifery

Job Summary

Professional midwifery leadership is a key and fundamental function of the Director of Midwifery role. This role is professionally accountable to the Chief Nurse, with a focus on the operational and strategic delivery of high standards of midwifery services in the Trust. The role involves ensuring ASPH maternity services are effective, caring, responsive and well-led. This role involves working in partnership with other organisations across the ICS, and the post holder will develop and maintain a network of mutually beneficial relationships with The Local Maternity System (LMS), the Maternity Voices Partnership (MVP), UK Health Security Agency, the Regional Chief Midwife, the Royal Colleges and other key stakeholders. This is with the aim of taking forward national policies for women and translating them into innovations and improvements in care for the women and babies of our local population.

Location: Chertsey (work cross-site)

Job Type: Temporary

Duration of booking: Expected to last 3 months with possible extension.

Proposed start date: ASAP

Pay Rates:

£53.00-£61.15 paye inclusive of holiday pay per hour

Depending on skill, experience and qualifications

This payment method is due to the client’s payment process

Hours / Working Days: 37.5 hours per week / Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm

Sector: Healthcare

Based: Office / Hospital

Skills, Knowledge and experience

Master’s Degree or equivalent level of academic achievement

Must be an NMC Registered Midwife

Management Qualifications at Diploma Level

BSc in Healthcare or equivalent

Evidence of recent clinical update

Extensive experience working as a head of midwifery

Evidence of an understanding of the principles of the midwifery profile and strategic workforce planning.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Lead the development of the midwifery profession through proactive involvement in local, regional and national forums. Represent ASPH on midwifery and maternity issues when required.
• Establish and maintain excellent external relationships essential to the delivery of a safe and high-quality service, influencing public health, health visiting, safeguarding, social care, and mental health services as key partnerships.
• Interpret overall health service policy and strategy in order to establish goals and standards. Contribute as required in coordinating ASPH’s response to Maternity Transformation initiatives for midwifery and maternity services, ensuring local application.
• Ensure that all statutory requirements are met and that all nurse and midwifery practice is consistent with the NMC Code of Practice.
• Provide professional and operational advice and guidance at a senior level and expert advice to the Board.
• Contribute and provide professional advice to specific projects and lead and manage designated work streams and projects as and when required.
• Provide effective midwifery and maternity input into the development of Maternity Strategy and Policy and the service’s Business Planning Cycle.
• As the most senior midwife within ASPH, develop maternity services by leading the production of strategy documents, policies and procedures as required.
• Provide expertise to the maternity leadership teams in identifying drivers for change and opportunities for growing, improving and redesigning maternity services.
• Ensure maternity structures and processes are fit for purpose
• Lead the development and implementation of midwifery and maternity workforce monitoring through the redesign of services and roles as appropriate to provide improvements in service delivery.
• Develop strategies for effective recruitment and retention of midwives and nurses and longer-term workforce plans.
• Ensure the Ockenden and Kirkup recommendations are implemented.
• Lead the quality assurance and risk management process to ensure compliance with policy through audit and ensure there are robust governance structures for the prevention and management of complaints, clinical incidents, and serious incidents.
• Work in partnership with the leadership team to ensure risk is appropriately managed and ensure prompt investigations of serious incidents in a manner which enables lessons to be learnt, communicated and embedded in practice
• Responsible for robust systems that regularly review policies and procedures, with a particular focus on the quality of practice and management at the ward or department level.
• Establish effective, professional, multi-disciplinary relationships both within ASPH and outside the organisation
• To be highly visible and approachable in clinical areas, creating a culture where staff have the confidence to raise and discuss issues
• To develop relationships with and be available to respond to mothers, relatives and the public by maintaining open and honest communication channels
• Maintain an up-to-date understanding of developments and changes in legislation, national policy and guidance that relate to all aspects of midwifery and nursing practice, and ensure that senior ASPH personnel are kept up-to-date and informed
• To provide expert knowledge and advice to the Executive Lead and translate national policy into local action
• Promote and maintain an evidence-based practice culture for midwifery and nursing staff, ensuring the creation of effective local, regional and national networks to share good practice and be responsible for wide dissemination and implementation of evidence
• Maintain professional registration and undertake clinical practice and ensure national and regional policy is reflected in practice
• Provide professional leadership and guidance for all midwifery and nursing staff, ensuring appropriate structures support midwives and nurses at all levels, and act as a role model both internally and externally.
• Ensure compliance with policies, procedures and clinical guidelines
• Ensure that appropriately trained and competent midwives, nurses and nonregistered support staff deliver effective care
• Ensure all midwives and nurses comply with statutory mandatory training, CNST and registration requirements
• Promote and encourage the career development of colleagues through involvement in training, research and education
• Ensure that competent and capable midwives and nurse educators provide high-quality training and education
• Be instrumental in curriculum planning, working collaboratively with the providers of both pre-and post-registration education
• Lead the Senior Maternity and Nursing Team in ensuring that all midwifery and nursing staff have clear goals and objectives, regular appraisal and feedback on performance as well as personal development plans
• Develop a culture that encourages midwives and nurses to be innovative, creative and challenging in the interests of patient care and professional practice
• To support the Deputy Chief Nurse with workforce planning, professional development and clinical leadership of midwives across ASPH
• To lead on and be professionally accountable for the quality of service delivery, ensuring effective women and baby-centred care, research, training and development within the services
• To promote the development and maintenance of high standards of care based on current evidence and within commissioned service specifications, in order that the care offered is person and family-centred, sensitive and responsive to service users

Questions

Do you have experience working as a Head of Midwifery in the NHS or Healthcare?

Do you have experience working as a Head of Midwifery?

Do you have a Relevant Health / Nursing Master’s Degree or equivalent relevant experience, or a Management leadership qualification or equivalent relevant experience?

Do you have a Professional Registration with the Nursing & Midwifery Council?

Do you meet the criteria above and are available to start immediately?