Ward Manager - Labour Ward

Job responsibilities

Quality

To provide clinical leadership, giving advice and support to staff as requiredand acting as patients advocate at all times.

To monitor and evaluate clinical standards within the department ensuring thatclinical practices are evidence based and benchmarked against best practicelocally, regionally and nationally.

Toundertake and oversee Datix reports in your department, demonstratingwhat lessons have been learnt through quality improvements made.

To ensure multi-disciplinary clinical audit is embedded at ward level, ensuring that patient care reflects the Trusts quality strategy, and that it meets clinical governance standards.

To ensure that all care programmes are accurately documented and that thestandard of record keeping reflects the NMC and Trust guidelines for recordsand record keeping.

To work with staff to resolve problems for patients and their relatives andfacilitate prompt remedial action where this is required ensuring staff developsthe required skills to manage complaints.To liaise with the Head of Midwifery and department operational managers toensure lessons learnt from complaints and feedback inform relevantgovernance processes

Management

Ensure Labour Ward Co-ordinators have adequate support to enable them tofocus on their core responsibilities.

To monitor midwifery staffing levels and discuss the impact that exceptionsmay have on the delivery of safe care with the Deputy / Head of Midwifery

To investigate and take corrective actions following untoward incidents,accidents and complaints, in accordance with Trust policies and proceduresand in collaboration with the Trust Governance Lead, and where applicable theclient.

To ensure the departments responsibility with regards to the Trusts BeingOpen and Duty of Candour Policy are met, and leading on the Duty of CandourCommunication as appropriate.

To ensure a debrief session and appropriate support is arranged for stafffollowing any serious incident.

To ensure that all staff adheres to Trust policies and procedures at all times.

This includes staff compliance of all health and safety policies and the DataProtection Act 1974, which relates to electronically stored personal data.

To participate in disciplinary cases with the Deputy / Head of Midwifery,investigating issues/concerns and taking actions as necessary.

To develop good working relationships with other ward / departments /agencies within and outside the Trust, ensuring that all stakeholdersunderstand, respect and recognise the Trusts philosophy and operationalpolicies.

To provide a visible, accessible and authoritative presence in the maternity unitto whom patients and their families can turn to for assistance, advice andsupport.

Participate in the corporate development of patient care, working with the Headof Midwifery to produce lasting and positive change.

To participate in reviewing, developing and supporting the workforce through the appraisal system.

To participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.

Research and Service Development

To participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of thematernity units strategic and business plan.

To understand new health care related developments ensuring that midwifery practice is evidence based, cost effective and regularly benchmarked against best practice.

To understand all national initiatives and assist in the implementation in orderto influence patient care and service delivery.

To be aware of and support local research projects as applicableCorporate Governance / Risk Management

To develop, implement and monitor systems to manage risk in the clinical areawhich will include the collection and analysis of statistical data.

To receive incident report forms and initiate the investigation into each incidentin line with the Trusts Incident Management Policy, using root cause analysistechniques where applicable.

To ensure the Head of Midwifery and the Trust Patient Safety Manager areinformed of all serious incidents which require investigation in line with Trust policy and report these using the systems in place.

To assist the Head of Midwifery in undertaking appropriate investigations of serious incidents and developing action plans where appropriate to support changes in practice

To ensure lessons learned from incidents and complaints, and examples ofbest practice are shared widely.

To ensure the departmental training needs are met thus ensuring compliancewith national and local standards.

To ensure that risk management and governance processes are embedded inthe department culture.

To maintain service delivery and quality standards, whilst ensuring thatequipment in service and staff practice comply with health and safety standardsat all times.

To review Confidential Enquiry Reports and other National guidance andensure recommendations are integrated into department policies andguidelines.

To participate in the development of policies and guidelines within the Womensand Childrens services.

To represent the Maternity Department at external meetings as appropriate tothe role.

Professional

To be an expert midwifery practitioner working flexibly throughout the maternityservice within the current shift system.

Accepting professional responsibility for continuity and uniformity in the provision ofmaternity care which is of the highest standard.

Keeping up to date with clinical and professional developments and enabling staffto contribute to proposals and change in practice.

Contributing professional expertise to the formulation and setting of localprocedures and practices which are evidence based.

Maintain accurate records.

Undertaking specific responsibilities relating to clinical development as defined bythe Head of Midwifery.

To act as a good role model at all times

To monitor professional and staff performance and review practices to achievehigh standards of midwifery care.

To assist in the setting of standards and to monitor systems to ensure setstandards are met.

To evaluate the impact and results of new policies, procedures and practices.

To promote evidence based midwife led care and promote safe birth

To promote a positive and supportive culture in the workplace, able to challengenegative behaviours

To promote dignity and equality and value diversity in patients and staff

To provide dynamic and visionary leadership, giving expert, professionaladvice, guidance and support to staff and service users.

To challenge traditional boundaries and introduce new ways of working ifapplicable.

To maintain responsibility for personal and professional development of self,enhancing individual performance to deliver organisational objectives,maintain valid NMC registration and practise in accordance with NMC.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered midwife
• Recognised Teaching and Assessor Qualification
• Degree

Desirable

• Undertaken a management course

Experience

Essential

• More than 3 years Post-Registration experience
• Evidence of management/ leadership skills and autonomous practice
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Recent experience in antenatal, Intrapartum and postnatal care (High risk and midwifery led)
• Expert knowledge of obstetric complications

Skills

Essential

• Teaching and Assessing Skills
• Effective communicator
• Leadership and motivation skills
• Computer literate
• Ability to motivate self and others
• Ability to supervise and demonstrate potential to lead
• Organisational and negotiation skills

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Diplomatic
• Assertive and confident
• Personal and professional maturity
• Recognition of own limitations
• Demonstrates enthusiasm

Desirable

• Counselling skills

Other

Essential

• Ability to work both on own initiative and within a team
• Flexibility

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).