Job summary
North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a compassionate, clinically credible, and forward-thinking Bereavement Specialist Midwife to lead our small but developing Trust-wide bereavement service. This Band 7 post will be the lead contact for bereavement care across both Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke sites, working alongside and providing mentorship to a Band 6 rotational development Bereavement Midwife.
You will play a pivotal role in shaping and delivering high-quality, personalised bereavement care that aligns with the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) and wider national maternity priorities. As a key clinical presence within our perinatal governance and QI structure, you will contribute to ongoing service development, lead identified quality improvement initiatives, and support the implementation of national recommendations.
Main duties of the job
Provide specialist, compassionate bereavement care for women, birthing people and families experiencing pregnancy or baby loss across Peterborough and Hinchingbrooke. Act as the Trust-wide clinical lead for bereavement, offering expert advice and maintaining clinical credibility through regular practice.
Ensure the safe and consistent delivery of a 7-day bereavement service while working Monday-Friday, supporting maternity staff through guidance, training and escalation. Provide specialist support with post-mortem consent, coronial processes, registration and funeral arrangements, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.
Coordinate care for families in subsequent pregnancies, working collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team. Lead Trust implementation and ongoing development of the National Bereavement Care Pathway, ensuring alignment with national guidance and recommendations.
Oversee bereavement governance processes including guideline development, audit, data collection and specimen handling. Contribute to MBRRACE-UK and PMRT reviews, embedding learning and driving continuous improvement in bereavement care and perinatal safety.
Lead and support quality improvement initiatives, provide leadership and mentorship to the Band 6 rotational Bereavement Midwife, and deliver Trust-wide bereavement training to ensure confident, compassionate care. Act within the maternity escalation structure when required, providing senior clinical oversight and support.
About us
We are committed to supporting colleagues through organisational change. Priority will be given to staff at risk within North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust and Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Integrated Care Board.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description which gives full details of the role. Alternatively call to arrange an informal visit to meet the team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the attached job description which gives full details of the role. Alternatively call to arrange an informal visit to meet the team.
Person Specification
Education and Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with active NMC registration
- Educated to Degree level (or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience
- Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to midwifery and bereavement care
- Formal training in bereavement care, loss, or trauma-informed communication (e.g., Sands, Child Bereavement UK, or equivalent
- NMC-approved Practice Assessor and/or Practice Supervisor qualification (formerly Mentorship / SSA
- Knowledge or training relating to the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB)
- Training or willingness to undertake perinatal post-mortem consent training
Desirable
- Training or competency in perinatal post-mortem consent (or willingness to undertake)
- Teaching/mentorship qualification beyond SSA (e.g. PGCert)
- Leadership or management qualification
- Counselling or psychological support training
- Quality Improvement (QI) or governance training
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as a Band 6 Midwife or above
- Experience across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care
- Experience delivering sensitive or complex communication, including breaking bad news
- Experience working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience in governance, QI or assurance processes
- Experience of PMRT / MBRRACE-UK or perinatal mortality review processes
- Experience supervising or supporting colleagues
- Teaching or training experience
- Experience supporting national maternity safety initiatives (e.g., SBLCB
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of bereavement care, loss and trauma-informed practice
- Strong understanding of maternity governance, risk management and QI systems
- Knowledge of legal and procedural requirements relating to pregnancy loss (post-mortem consent, coronial processes, registration
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work autonomously and prioritise workload
- Ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and lead service improvements
- Competence in digital systems, audit processes and maternity data tools
- Knowledge of the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) and its role in improving the quality and consistency of bereavement care
- Understanding of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB), its components, and its role in reducing stillbirth and improving perinatal outcomes
- Ability to support implementation of national safety initiatives (NBCP, SBLCB) through governance and Quality Improvement work
Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate, calm and emotionally resilient
- Able to support families and staff during highly distressing situations
- Flexible, positive and adaptable approach
- Strong leadership presence and professional integrity
- Commitment to continual improvement and safe, high-quality care
Other requirements
Essential
- Ability to drive and has own transport to travel across Trust sites
- Willingness to work flexibly within Monday-Friday structure
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
Person Specification
Education and Professional Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife with active NMC registration
- Educated to Degree level (or able to demonstrate equivalent professional experience
- Evidence of continuous professional development relevant to midwifery and bereavement care
- Formal training in bereavement care, loss, or trauma-informed communication (e.g., Sands, Child Bereavement UK, or equivalent
- NMC-approved Practice Assessor and/or Practice Supervisor qualification (formerly Mentorship / SSA
- Knowledge or training relating to the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB)
- Training or willingness to undertake perinatal post-mortem consent training
Desirable
- Training or competency in perinatal post-mortem consent (or willingness to undertake)
- Teaching/mentorship qualification beyond SSA (e.g. PGCert)
- Leadership or management qualification
- Counselling or psychological support training
- Quality Improvement (QI) or governance training
Experience
Essential
- Significant experience as a Band 6 Midwife or above
- Experience across antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care
- Experience delivering sensitive or complex communication, including breaking bad news
- Experience working within multidisciplinary teams
- Experience in governance, QI or assurance processes
- Experience of PMRT / MBRRACE-UK or perinatal mortality review processes
- Experience supervising or supporting colleagues
- Teaching or training experience
- Experience supporting national maternity safety initiatives (e.g., SBLCB
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- In-depth knowledge of bereavement care, loss and trauma-informed practice
- Strong understanding of maternity governance, risk management and QI systems
- Knowledge of legal and procedural requirements relating to pregnancy loss (post-mortem consent, coronial processes, registration
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to work autonomously and prioritise workload
- Ability to influence multidisciplinary teams and lead service improvements
- Competence in digital systems, audit processes and maternity data tools
- Knowledge of the National Bereavement Care Pathway (NBCP) and its role in improving the quality and consistency of bereavement care
- Understanding of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCB), its components, and its role in reducing stillbirth and improving perinatal outcomes
- Ability to support implementation of national safety initiatives (NBCP, SBLCB) through governance and Quality Improvement work
Personal Qualities and Attributes
Essential
- Compassionate, calm and emotionally resilient
- Able to support families and staff during highly distressing situations
- Flexible, positive and adaptable approach
- Strong leadership presence and professional integrity
- Commitment to continual improvement and safe, high-quality care
Other requirements
Essential
- Ability to drive and has own transport to travel across Trust sites
- Willingness to work flexibly within Monday-Friday structure
- Commitment to ongoing professional development
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
