Fetal Wellbeing Specialist Midwife

Job description

Job responsibilities

POST SUMMARY

The post holder will be expected to:

• Be responsible for personal and professional development of all staff and learners within Maternity team in relation to Fetal Wellbeing, specifically cardiotocographs (CTGs) and Intelligent Intermittent Auscultation. This will be in collaboration with the Lead Practice Development Midwife, Maternity Matrons, Head and Director of Midwifery.
• Lead and facilitate a programme aimed at equipping both midwives and obstetricians to increase their knowledge and competence in identifying fetal well-being, potential fetal compromise and actual fetal compromise in all clinical settings and to improve timely clinical decision making.
• Work as a change agent within the organisation wide multidisciplinary team in taking forward and shaping the future of midwifery practice in the light of the local, national and professional agenda.
• Play a pivotal role in education provision within the department. The practice development Midwife Fetal Wellbeing Specialist will be a proficient, approachable role model in addition to an expert clinician, with a proven track record of clinical achievement.
• Work with the Intrapartum Lead Consultant Obstetrician, the Fetal Wellbeing Consultant Obstetrician, Maternity Matrons, and Practice Development team to develop a comprehensive training and competency- assessment package to give assurance that all staff responsible for fetal assessment and wellbeing are competent. This must be electronically archived and directly accessible for audit or recording purposes.
• Project Lead the safe implementation of a Centralised CTG system in collaboration with the Intrapartum Lead Consultant Obstetrician, the Fetal Wellbeing Consultant Obstetrician, Maternity Matrons, and Lead Practice Development Midwife. To include staff training, guideline development and implementation.
• Continuous review of fetal monitoring training packages, assessments and educational resources to develop new ways of learning.

The role/duties of the post are outlined below. In undertaking this role, the employee will be expected to behave at all times in a way that is consistent with and actively supports the organisations I-care values.

MAIN DUTIES

Education and Staff Support

1. To continue embedding and developing the current competency assessment for fetal monitoring to assess and improve the knowledge and skills of all staff providing intrapartum and antenatal care across all maternity settings
2. To ensure that all midwives and obstetricians providing antenatal and intrapartum care undertake the competency assessment in assessing fetal wellbeing
3. Identify learning needs of staff in relation to fetal wellbeing. Responsible for addressing identified learning needs through the development of an action plan.
4. Help to deliver the training within the Maternity Unit in conjunction with the practice development team. To include preparation of subject matter and delivery through lectures, seminars and practicals of the relevant material.
5. Help to assess Preceptees, Midwives and students knowledge and understanding of fetal monitoring interpretation by partaking in practical assessments where necessary.
6. Maintain a database of all training relating to fetal monitoring undertaken by maternity staff .
7. Facilitate and encourage personal and professional development of staff
8. Provide direct clinical expertise, advice and support to staff within the clinical area in relation to Fetal Wellbeing.
9. Have a particular responsibility to support newly appointed Preceptorship Midwives.
10. Promote a positive learning environment and actively encourage innovation in clinical practice.
11. Work clinically with staff in order to facilitate the acquisition and enhancement of clinical skills and assist in the achievement of appropriate levels of competence.
12. Instrumental in the identification, development and implementation of policy, procedure, guidelines and audit in relation to local, national and professional agendas and monitor adherence taking appropriate action.
13. Propose changes to policies within own area but also organisation wide clinical and education policies.
14. In collaboration with other Practice Development Midwives integrate theory and practice and sustain effective partnerships with Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
15. Contribute to curriculum development to ensure that they respond to clinical needs.
16. Responsible for training staff in the safe use of CTG machines, fetal dopplers and a Centralised CTG system.
17. To further develop, in conjunction with the Intrapartum Lead Consultant Obstetrician, the Fetal Wellbeing Consultant Obstetrician, Maternity Matrons, and Lead Practice Development Midwife an audit form for case reviews of all emergency deliveries (i.e. instrumental and caesarean sections) in the previous twenty-four hours to review the interpretation of CTGs and subsequent management of care.
18. Work clinically in one day per week. The post-holder should rotate their clinical time between triage, birth centre, labour ward and antenatal ward.

Management

1. Assess clinical competence, capabilities and needs of staff in conjunction with the dependency of the patients and case mix.
2. Motivate staff, promote team-building, exercise and develop leadership skills in creating a suitable environment for efficient team working.
3. Promote and participate in reflective practice, clinical risk management and critical incident analysis.
4. Maintain accurate staff training records.
5. Liaise with IM and T to ensure that all relevant educational resources are posted on the intranet/appropriate drive on the computer network.
6. Actively participate in the recruitment and selection of staff.
7. Act as an educational resource providing advice and support on personal, professional and career development in order to maximize potential of staff at all levels.
8. In conjunction with the Lead Practice Development Midwife, Maternity Matrons, Head and Director of Midwifery, coordinate the Annual Training Needs Analysis.
9. Assist in supporting and contributing to staff appraisal, analyse and respond to identified training needs and develop an appropriate action plan.

Practice

1. Demonstrate expert midwifery practice when caring for patients by using research-based evidence and in accordance with agreed policies and standards.
2. Act as a credible clinical role model promoting high quality patient care.
3. Act as a resource for others requiring clinical knowledge and experience, offering advice and support to staff and others in the multi-professional team in clinical decision-making.
4. Demonstrate clinical competence when caring for patients within maternity, being aware of personal limitations.
5. Ensure patients interests are considered within the context of care by participating in ethical decision making and supporting staff through this process.
6. Establish a mechanism to ensure proficiency with new practices and new equipment.
7. Contribute to organisation-wide initiatives as appropriate, in particular, by networking and collaborative working etc.
8. Responsible for clinical decision making on a regular basis, directly influencing patient care.
9. Demonstrating excellent clinical documentation and record keeping, and acting as a role model.

Research

1. Promote evidence/research based Midwifery practice.
2. Disseminate and utilise audit and research results as appropriate.
3. Act as a change agent and support other staff in the implementation of new practices.
4. Evaluate the quality of midwifery practice through the clinical audit cycle and contribute to quality initiatives within the clinical area.

Professional

1. Identify personal objectives, reflect on progress and set a personal development plan annually.
2. Following individual performance management, liaise with the Matron and the senor practice development Midwife in agreeing how identified training and development needs are to be met.
3. Ensure that own practice is kept updated, using an acceptable model of clinical supervision.
4. Take every opportunity to expand practice in line with current guidelines.
5. Ensure that registered midwives are aware of, and practice in accordance with, all current guidelines and policies.
6. Contribute to meeting the trusts strategic objectives.
7. Develop management and leadership skills abilities under the direction of the Maternity Matrons and the Lead Practice Development Midwife and produce a strategy for problem solving.
8. Demonstrate an awareness of global issues relating to own specialist area of midwifery.
9. Undertake any other duties that may reasonably be required.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience working in range of clinical areas

Desirable

• Experience of working in a senior or leadership position in an inpatient clinical area

Skills

Essential

• Sound and proven knowledge of CTG interpretation and IIA

Desirable

• CPD in subjects relating to fetal wellbeing

Knowledge

Essential

• Experience in teaching or training

Desirable

• Teaching or education qualification

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Whittington Hospital NHS Trust

Address

Whittington Health

Magdala Avenue

London

N19 5NF

Employer's website

https://www.whittington.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)