Deputy Head of Midwifery

Are you ready to take the next step on your professional leadership journey and make the move into the Deputy Head of Midwifery role?

We are looking for a motivated midwifery leader to join the team on our Luton and Dunstable Hospital site. You will have experience in managing and leading maternity services and have commitment to working with service users and supporting staff to be the best they can be. You will be a compassionate leader who is able to display our THRIVE values in everything you do.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey of improvement and development. As a newly integrated organisation caring for 9000 birthing people a year you will be gain good experience of working collaboratively across both sites. A new acute services block will be opening in the Autumn of 2024 which will accommodate a modern and highly equipped Maternity and Neonatal service.

The Deputy Head of Midwifery supports and deputises for the Head of Midwifery and works alongside the clinical and operational teams in maternity and gynaecology ensuring the smooth running of the unit.

Our five year maternity strategy will be published this summer and you will take on responsibility for the delivery of key areas delegated to you, working with our Local Maternity and Neonatal system partners and our Maternity voices partnership.

**The post holder will**:

- Provide professional and managerial leadership
- Support the Head of Midwifery to take forward the maternity services transformation plan
- Be accountable for all clinical aspects of quality within delegated service areas.
- To be responsible for monitoring and reviewing service performance ensuring agreed targets are met.
- Initiating and being influential in the creation of new models of care
- Maintain a visible presence where women and families, staff and visitors can turn for assistance and upon whom they can rely.
- Be a practising midwife, and establish and maintain clinical practice pattern as Deputy Head of Midwifery Improving the Quality and Standards of Care.
- Benchmark high risk services against national and international best practice to develop and deliver evidenced based practice
- Promote and identify women and children’s health needs. Ensure the service women and babies receive are appropriate, accessible when they need them and are delivered in a manner which respects their privacy, dignity and individuality.
- Support HoM in championing user involvement in shaping the maternity service
- Deputise for and assist the Head of Midwifery
- In partnership with the HoM, prepare the vision and strategy for maternity and its alignment with business planning cycle.
- Participate fully in the activities of the Division and those of the Directorate and Trust as required.
- Represent midwifery and actively participate in Trust and external Forums.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is on an exciting journey of improvement and development. As a newly integrated organisation caring for 9000 birthing people a year you will be gain good experience of working collaboratively across both sites. A new acute services block will be opening in the Autumn of 2024 which will accommodate a modern and highly equipped Maternity and Neonatal service.

See full job description.

To work in partnership with the Head of Midwifery and Gynaecology, Senior Midwifery leadership team to provide professional and operational leadership and management of the services, delivering a safe quality service while meeting financial targets.

The deputy HoM portfolio will include the transformation and development of maternity services, working closely within a multi-disciplinary team to ensure all KPIs are met.

Together with the HoM and Director of Midwifery, the Deputy HoM will support the Chief Nurse with the delivery of the wider corporate professional agenda, including the development of innovative strategies for nursing and midwifery to enable a strong and empowered workforce at all levels that is fit for purpose and equipped to deliver excellence in care standards. This also includes securing the workforce for the future.

The post holder will be responsible for assisting the Head of Midwifery with the development and delivery of clinical services and professional standards and the development of Midwifery leadership.

The deputy HoM will lead on delegated projects within the division and assisting with shaping the Divisional Midwifery direction and strategy with a focus on recruitment and retention working.