Job responsibilities
KEY JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Clinical Responsibilities
Take overall responsibility for the management of the Labour Suite during the shift. Provide guidance as a role model to others and using their expertise make judgements and support the rest of the team, including other areas of the service such as the antenatal and postnatal wards and community.
Work closely and collaboratively with Ward Managers to ensure the efficient and effective running of area of responsibility and to ensure that flow is maintained throughout the maternity unit/service.
Be responsible for supporting and managing of staffing levels across the 24 hour day according to women/ babies dependency/acuity including forward planning for public holidays etc.
Working with the Ward Managers, Matrons and the eroster co-ordinator to support the effective use of e-Rostering to ensure optimum skill mix for the acuity of women and babies.
Liaise between inpatient maternity services, NICU, the community midwifery service and where necessary the Gynaecology ward to support effective communication leading and taking part in any MDT cross site safety conversations as necessary.
Monitor and report to the Matrons any issues regarding capacity or skill mix.
Lead the development, implementation and continual improvement of patient flow to optimise patient safety and experience. Including participation / leading the daily maternity safety huddles/ summits.
Have an overview of all women receiving care and as a senior Midwife contribute towards the obstetric team ward rounds as an expert in normality.
Promote, support and encourage midwife led care, enabling midwives to practice autonomously, within the parameters of guidelines/policies and sphere of professional practice and to include complementary therapies and water birth.
Be the point of contact for all staff if it is necessary to escalate concerns to a senior person.
As a leader coordinate the response in an emergency situation and support other team members.
Contribute towards the implementation of evidence based clinical guidelines.
Undertake the acuity score as requested each shift utilising this as a guide to support allocation of midwifery care to safeguard ensuring an appropriate skill mix during a shift.
Redeploy staff as necessary to cover changing workload and skill mix especially during times of peak activity.
Communicate with and support as necessary the maternity service across both sites (QMC and City) and home birth team to facilitate safe care for women at NUH accessing intrapartum care.
Ensuring timely and accurate completion of reports which feed into various site capacity and escalation meetings
Be responsible for the daily checks of emergency equipment and controlled drugs stock levels.
Assist with Root cause analysis or Serious Incidents in line with the Trust Risk Management Policy.
Participate in environmental, health and safety and infection prevention and control audits and assist the Intrapartum Matron & Clinical Lead Midwife with implementing actions to maintain compliance.
Actively contribute to the current Trust processes to obtain feedback from service users.
Support the Matron with the effective management of the department budget and use of available resources.
Support the Matron with staff management in line with Trust policies.
Undertake daily audits in relation to the delivery and evaluation of intrapartum care.
Working in partnership with women and their families, offer opportunities for them to make well informed decisions regarding their care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Provide high quality, evidence based midwifery care to women and their families throughout the maternity pathway. Recognising deviation from normality and escalating appropriately.
Work collaboratively with others to provide a seamless pathway of care for women and their families
Effectively communicate often complicated and sensitive information to women, their families and members of the multidisciplinary team.
Manage effectively the expectations of women and their families whilst in your care.
Make considered judgements about how to act to safeguard and promote a child or young persons welfare and be able to instigate measures to reduce the risk of child abuse occurring.
Be competent in the use of technology to support clinical practice. This includes Maternity Medway, electronic Early Warning Scoring (EWS) and digitalised patient records.
Work as a supportive team member to develop an environment that encourages effective team working amongst staff.
Demonstrates up to date knowledge of all equipment required to use in the clinical area.
Adhere to the uniform policy
Demonstrate an understanding of the Risk Management policy and actively contribute to improve patient care and outcomes.
Education and Training Responsibilities
Participate in the orientation and induction of newly appointed staff.
Support students during clinical placements and identify learning opportunities to enable the achievement of learning objectives.
Support junior midwives with the acquisition of clinical skills and competencies required to progress to band 6.
Undertake all mandatory training required by the Trust and specific to midwifery practice.
To undertake ad hoc audits with the aim to improve capacity and flow.
Support and actively participate in emergency skills drills.
Challenging in a positive manner, current working practices and promote a culture of continuous improvement
Encourage a culture of learning where students receive high quality clinical placements supported by effective mentorship.
Contribute to induction programmes for new staff, acting as a preceptor to assist in their orientation and integration into the team.
Actively undertake appraisals of junior staff in line with the Trusts requirements.
Contribute towards evidence based practice by participating in clinical audit, patient satisfaction surveys (including Friends and Family Test) and research trials as required to meet the needs of the service and improve care.
Leadership
Provide support and guidance for junior staff and those who are new to the department.
Promote effective team working within the multidisciplinary team throughout the shift.
Work cohesively with the medical team to facilitate best outcomes for women accessing care
Contribute towards or actively support development of the service through change. Facilitate the change process and encourage others to be open and adaptable to new initiatives
To be the point of escalation for any capacity and flow issues. Will be required to negotiate and influence others.
Have a clear understanding of Shared Governance at NUH and the model used in Maternity. Support and contribute towards our Shared Governance model.
Promote and adhere to high personal and professional standards and to challenge poor practice or behaviour.
Professional Responsibilities
Meet revalidation requirements.
Be conversant with all documentation issues by the NMC relevant to midwifery practice.
Practice within the Code of Conduct.
Practice in a safe manner in order to maintain a high standard of midwifery care for all woman and their babies.
Be guided by clinical guidelines, Policies and procedures of the Trust when delivering care.
Contribute to their development, implementation and evaluation as requested.
Ensure contemporaneous record writing and keeping.
Accept responsibility for own personal development.
WORKING CONDITIONS
The post holder will be required to work on a busy labour suite at either Queens Medical Centre or City Hospital. They may also be required to support community colleges with planned home births or rotate to other departments within maternity to meet the needs of the service.
They will be expected to support active birth and as a result may be required to work in a variety of situations requiring dexterity and flexibility such as supporting women on bean bags, on the floor or water births.
Working conditions at times can be stressful and intense. The post holder will be exposed to bodily fluids during a normal working day.
Whilst the Trust has a zero tolerance to aggression and violence towards their staff occasionally the post holder may find themselves in a threatening or potentially violent situation.