Deputy Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator

Job summary

The Deputy Antenatal Screening Co-ordinator for maternity services is a key role in helping to deliver the national antenatal and cross linked newborn screening programmes locally, with significant responsibility to ensure successful completion of the pathway for women and their families.

The postholder will work with the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinators (who have band 7 responsibility for all programmes) to ensure seamless care for women and their families.

The midwife provides the necessary supervision, care and advice to women during pregnancy, labour and the postpartum period, conducts deliveries on her own responsibility and cares for the newborn and the infant. The care includes preventative measures, the detection of abnormal conditions in mother and child, the procurement of medical assistance and the execution of emergency measures in the absence of medical help.

Main duties of the job

To assist the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator(s) with the provision and continuing effectiveness of women centred screening, diagnostic programmes and fetal medicine : incorporating expert clinical practice, consultation and education by:

- Providing expert specialist support for parents undergoing screening and diagnostic services, this may include clinical skills, bereavement support and counselling.

- Working with, and deputise for, the antenatal screening coordinator

- Working closely with the clinical managers and in partnership with other agencies both nationally and locally to ensure effective coordination of the antenatal screening service

- To provide specialist training and support for midwifery and medical staff across the trust, in current issues pertaining to antenatal screening and diagnosis.

- Communicating effectively with patients, carers, relatives and all members of the multidisciplinary team

About us

Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust operates hospitals on our two main sites in Cheltenham and Gloucester, and we're one of the largest NHS trusts in the country.

Our workforce of almost 8,000 staff provide high quality emergency, elective and specialist care across a range of clinical areas

Our maternity services provides exceptional choice to women and midwives offering a maternity service through a range of settings

Job description

Job responsibilities

To assist the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator(s) with the provision and continuing effectiveness of women centred screening, diagnostic programmes and fetal medicine : incorporating expert clinical practice, consultation and education by;

- Communicating effectively with patients, carers, relatives and all members of the multidisciplinary team which include:

Antenatal and Newborn Screening Operational Governance group (ANSOG).

Southwest screening network.

Regional Public Health

Clinical Commissioning Groups

Clinical midwifery managers and midwives based in all departments.

Ultra sonographers.

Multidisciplinary team.

Mother, babies and families.

Primary health care team.

External agencies.

Local and national organisations Antenatal Results and Choices, Downs Syndrome Association.

Medical and midwifery students

Directorate management team.

Human resources personnel.

Deputy screening coordinator

Newborn screening coordinator

Screening Clerical Support

Bereavement Midwife

- Maintaining and develop high standards of care

- Taking on responsibility for personal development and support the development and supervision of others by developing and maintaining specialist knowledge of screening practice

- Conduct oneself in a professional manner and be a role model to less experiences/ non registered and new staff at all times

- Work proactively to ensure that every patient attendance meets the patients expectations and needs with timely undertaking of procedure and effective communication with relatives, patients and carers.

- Take an active role in QA external visits

- Auditing of our service against KPI and National benchmarking of our service.

Patient care

- Responsibility and accountability for the care she gives to women and their babies thus maintaining autonomous contemporary practice.

- Initiate and advise directly on referral to other specialties.

- To support parents in interpreting information and making antenatal screening decisions.

- To convey complex, sensitive information regarding antenatal screening testing to parents that may cause emotional distress to all parties.

- Advise and maintain effective communication with professional and voluntary organizations, aiming to provide comprehensive and seamless care across boundaries.

- Show sensitivity and support to both clients and colleagues.

- To give support where an abnormality is detected, by working closely with other professionals including medical staff and midwives liaising with Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator(s)

- To support the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator in the provision of advice and support to staff, parents and other disciplines.

- To provide support to parents during periods of instability and crisis, at the disclosure of abnormal results or during bereavement liaising with ANSCO.

- To undertake midwifery care assessment of a mothers needs within the specialist area of Antenatal screening and evaluate direct clinical care as appropriate.

- To provide non-directive counselling and support women and their partners through the process of Antenatal screening, high-risk screening results, and decision making regarding potential invasive tests reporting to ANSCO.

- To support the Antenatal (and Newborn) Screening Co-ordinator(s) to regularly produce and review information for parents and in liaison with Practice Development team and national online literature, working towards its availability in other languages relevant to the locality and in a format suitable for the visually impaired.

- To maintain a quality midwifery care in a demanding and unpredictable working environment .

Professional practice

- Adheres to all Trust policies and procedures and Midwives Rules.

-To support the Antenatal Screening Co-ordinator for improving practice in the field of Antenatal screening, diagnostic testing and result giving.

- To support the Antenatal Screening Co-ordinator in developing and implementing local Antenatal screening programmes and guidance in line with national guidance, ensuring effective liaison with local, national and regional coordinators, the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Operational Governance Group and line manager.

-To support and maintain good communication with all staff involved in this service including consultants and relevant countywide and regional groups and networks.

- Observe the Nursing and Midwifery Council The Code and ensure personal PREP requirements are fulfilled.

- Ensure accurate records are maintained in accordance with Trust Policy and National Guidelines.

- Effective role model for all members of staff.

- To manage difficult situations and people supporting parents and their families during the bereavement process with the support and guidance of Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator

- Managing time effectively.

-Will have exposure to unpleasant working conditions and will be required to follow policies and procedures pertaining to bodily fluids, infection control and COSSH regulations.

- Ability to work where the work pattern may be unpredictable but there is also a requirement for concentration when administering and giving drugs in line with local maternity policies and guidelines.

- Will have frequent exposure to highly distressing situations involving parents, babies, relatives and staff.

Leadership and management

- To deputise for the Band 7 ANSCO in their absence

- To be a resource for midwifery team members.

- Take a keen interest in the professional development of self and junior team members.

- Will be responsible for managing challenging situations and people.

Education and training

- To support the Antenatal and Newborn Screening Co-ordinator(s) to provide initial and ongoing multi professional training in relation to Antenatal and Newborn screening programmes, assisting in the development of screening programmes in line with national and local guidance and initiatives.

- Effective liaison with appropriate members of the University staff as required.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Active registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Extensive post qualification Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of professional portfolio and registration revalidation

Desirable

Counselling course (appropriate to role)

Experience

Desirable

Experience of working with antenatal and newborn screening programmes Previous experience in a relevant speciality

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities

Essential

Able to prioritise own workload and that of others as appropriate Personally resilient and able to manage complexity and work in an ambiguous or changing environment. Excellent presentational, communication and interpersonal skills Demonstrates ability to use clinical reasoning skills and techniques to assess, diagnose, plan and offer a range of treatment options; deliver, evaluate and amend the treatment plan. Acts as a role model and are able to lead by example to ensure the Trust's values and behaviors are reinforced throughout their area of practice. Able to supervise non-registered and less experienced staff to ensure effective service and care delivery. Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety Self-motivated and able to work under own initiative and prioritise workload

Desirable

Demonstrates ability to maintain and contribute to the development of standards of practice, conduct or decision making in conjunction with team, senior clinical lead; internal and external organisations Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence Screening programmes relating to area of clinical practice, management, education and research. Able to contribute to the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies/protocols/guidelines relevant to area of practice. Demonstrates ability to question and challenge screening practice in a constructive way so that standards of patient care are continually evaluated and improved. Tenacity to pursue goals energetically and succeed despite resistance Strong, professional leadership qualities, assertive and self-confident individual Ability to lead, manage and motivate all staff within sphere of responsibility

Qualities

Essential

Enthusiastic and self-aware Creative and Flexible Resilient under pressure Team focused Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable

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