Deputy Head of Midwifery

Job summary

The post holder will deputise for the Head of Midwifery (HOM) and carry corporate and professional responsibility and accountability for midwifery services across the Trust. With the HOM the post holder will contribute to the development and review of maternity services' business strategy so addressing and meeting the needs of the public, service's commissioners the Board's vision and priorities, and wider requirements.

A development Deputy Head of Midwifery role, to operationally manage the maternity unit at Liverpool Women's Hospital.Together with the HOM, the deputy HOM supports the Director of Midwifery with the delivery of wider corporate professional agenda, including the development of innovative strategies for 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 deputy HOM will be accountable for the operational management of midwifery in the maternity unit working with the HOM and Divisional General Manager.

Main duties of the job

Develop and lead a strong and effective high risk midwifery management and leadership team within the Women's & Children's Division Provide visible and up-to-date professional leadership to Midwives and support workers. Develop new and innovative models of midwifery practice in Consultation with HOM, aligned to evidenced based practice, modernising midwifery and changes to maternity services. Ensure Midwives are suitably qualified and maintain professional registration in order to deliver safe care. Ensure safe standards of midwifery care of the highest quality are delivered so that the Division's clinical governance objectives are fully met. Lead the development of strong and effective management and clinical teams within all areas of responsibility. Create an environment in which midwifery staff feel properly valued and supported in Ensure that clinical governance is given the highest profile within the sphere of Be a practicing midwife and establish and maintain own clinical practice pattern.

About us

Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust delivers the highest standards of care for women, babies and families. Each year we deliver over 7,500 babies, carry out over 49,000 gynaecological inpatient and outpatient procedures, care for over 1,000 poorly & preterm new-borns, perform around 1,000 IVF cycles and have over 4,000 genetic appointments taking place. We believe that this along with a strong dedication to research & innovation makes us the specialist health provider of choice in Europe for women, babies and families.

We have some of the leading experts in their field, which has been showcased on national TV and news, making our teams famous across the world for professionalism, skill & compassion.

The Trust is constantly innovating and evolving its services to provide the most cutting edge and modern care possible. As well as developing services on our current site we have long-term aspirations for the future. We have recently launched a number of new strategies which provide a detailed long-term plan for our services.

Check out why Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust is a great place to work using the links below:

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Job description

Job responsibilities

Take overall responsibility for ensuring that midwifery services have a robust risk management framework. Ensure all learning from risk management and clinical governance, serious incidents, patient complaints, or clinical risks are reflected in changes to clinical practice. Ensure that Operational and Divisional Boards are informed and advised regarding all aspects of maternity and risk and clinical governance. Lead and initiate a regular audit programme of midwifery and associated standards and ensure that any issues highlighted are addressed and lessons learnt are embedded within the service. Lead work on the extended scope of practice and multi-disciplinary working and evidence-based practice. Facilitate the delivery of all development projects within their scope of corporate and operational management, including initiating and evaluating patient satisfaction surveys. Promote and identify women and childrens health 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. Champion user involvement in shaping the maternity service through active membership of the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership. With the HOM network locally and regionally to share best practice and benchmark To work with the Director of Infection Prevention and Control and team to ensure that the prevention and control of infection is a top priority for the Trust and maternity services workforce. To work with Communication Teams as required representing the Trust in a variety of media settings (for example, broadcast and written media). Operational Planning Within the Family Health Division leadership team, support the delivery of the Annual Business Plan to include the corporate, financial, performance, governance and workforce targets. In partnership with the HOM, prepare the vision and strategy for maternity and its alignment with business planning cycle, taking in to account signed off service needs, workforce planning, estate issues, financial constraints, maternity specification, commissioners priorities in terms of contracts, quality targets. Ensure that there is a robust workforce plan for midwifery and support staff in maternity services which include plans for proactive recruitment (against the required midwife: birth ratio), retention of staff, succession planning. Operational Planning and Service Delivery Meet corporate targets for budget management, patient activity and quality standards required to meet NHS plan. Be accountable for effective clinical governance systems within clinical areas in the maternity unit, Provide operational day to day support to senior staff within the clinical areas and support teams. This will include the monitoring of the KPIs for E-Roster for midwifery and support staff. Accountable Operationally for the performance of KPIs in Maternity. People Management and Development Provide on-going support to the HOM, deputising at relevant meetings, internal and external to the Trust as when required. Ensure the effective use of resources within agreed expenditure targets and agree with specialist staff the appropriate use of overtime, and bank. Improve and maintain staff morale by effective communication, leadership, optimism and consultation within the Division and with other services, as appropriate. Provide effective management control of staff working within their areas of responsibility through appropriate organisational structures and reporting mechanisms, ensuring statutory obligations for health and safety and work place health are met in accordance with Trust policy. Ensure all staff meet and maintain their mandatory and professional training Ensure that specialities and departments benefit from the application of effective Human Resource policies, procedures and practices for all staff, Equal Ensure appraisal are cascaded to all staff through respective specialities and providing forums for objective setting, performance review and Continuing Professional Development working within principles of Agenda for Change and promoting development through knowledge and Skills Framework. Together with Learning and Development team and others ensure the availability of Training and development programmes in line with Divisional training needs to analysis to realise the capabilities and fullest possible contribution of all staff. Finance and performance Management Be accountable for the expenditure of the midwifery and support staffing budgets. ensuring robust budgetary management and control. Take the lead in developing ward and departmental managers/ budgetary skills, and to promote ownership of local financial responsibilities. Lead operationally in identifying financial savings which are generated from the services improved efficiency and productivity. Represent the needs of midwifery in the business and service planning cycle and to reconcile these with the needs of the service. Sign-off e-roster for all clinical areas in the Maternity unit ensuring they are robust and correct and meet Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Registered Midwife Degree in midwifery or health related subject or equivalent. ENB 998/997 or equivalent teaching.

Desirable

Supervisor of Midwives Masters Level study.

Experience

Essential

3 years' experience of managing teams at Matron level. Experience of managing complex change programmes/initiatives. Evidence of taking the lead in an area of work across more than one clinical area. Evidence of ability to work across professional teams and organisational boundaries. Highly developed communication skills with the ability to communicate on highly complex matters and difficult situations. Ability to provide and receive, convey and present highly complex, sensitive and/or contentious information to individuals and large groups. Working knowledge of financial processes and working to budget. Experience of developing, maintaining, and monitoring information systems to support innovation initiatives. Proven experience of audit, benchmarking or research and the ability to use results to inform change and development

Desirable

Teaching experience

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

Have an understanding of Clinical Governance and the application to practice. In depth knowledge of the statutory framework governing nurses, midwives and care givers. Up to date and evidenced based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues. Ability to monitor the quality of work in others, to identify their learning and development needs and devise strategies to meet those needs Proven ability to work on own initiative and organise workload allocating work as necessary, working to tight and often changing deadlines. Proven ability to make decisions autonomously when required, on difficult issues Proven ability to support staff to maintain an environment conducive to the delivery of excellence in care Able to develop short, medium and long term strategies for the development of the clinical areas. Knowledge of Essence of Care & Public Health in relation to maternity services. Computer literate, proven ability to use Word and Excel and email

Personal Attributes

Essential

Determination, perseverance and resilience. Ability to work in a fast paced, complex environment. High emotional intellect and personal integrity

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