Job summary
Preterm Birth is a common complication of pregnancy, affecting approximately 8% of births in England and Wales. Due to its adverse impact on neonatal and infant outcomes, and the estimated cost to health services in England and Wales (approximately £3.4bn per year), it is vital that we have robust preterm birth prevention and optimisation pathways.
A Specialist Midwifery service to support and enhance the care that we provide to this vulnerable cohort of women is a vital component of this; particularly as we are striving to achieve the national target of 6%.
In our experience, women who are at increased risk of preterm birth, often have pregnancies which are additionally complicated by medical morbidities.
Main duties of the job
The Lead Midwife for Preterm Birth will need to work collaboratively as part of our Maternal Medicine and Preterm Birth Multidisciplinary team; and will play a key role in co-ordinating and overseeing the holistic care and support of these high risk women.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be one of the top performing and safest trusts in England. We have two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, plus our award-winning clinics across North West London and beyond.
We have nearly 7,000 members of staff that are PROUD to Care for nearly one million people. Both hospitals provide full clinical services, including full maternity, emergency and children's, in addition to a range of community-based services across London, such as award-winning sexual health and HIV clinics.
We're one of the best performing Trusts in the country. We're also one of the top trusts to work for - our staff says they're engaged, motivated, and would recommend us as a place to work and receive treatment.
Our Trust has been rated by the Care Quality Commission as 'Good' in all five of the main domains of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led, giving an us overall rating of 'Good'. We've also been awarded an 'Outstanding' rating for 'use of resources' by an NHS Improvement inspection.
Our facilities are some of the best in the country. We have been investing significant Capital year on year in our estate. We have recently completed a £30m expansion of our adult and neonatal critical care facilities at Chelsea and Westminster and are planning an ambitious £60m development of an Ambulatory Diagnostics Centre at West Middlesex.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To lead and develop preterm birth services, whilst working alongside the Maternal Medicine and Preterm Birth Specialist Multidisciplinary team, including the full day clinic every Thursday; ensuring consistency and continuity of care for women/birthing people at increased risk of preterm birth and/or with medically complex pregnancies.
- To have specialist knowledge and skills to support women/birthing people at increased risk of preterm birth for all reasons; throughout the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care continuum, including the optimisation targets set by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine and other relevant standards.
- To have expert knowledge of preterm birth prevention management options for women/birthing people at risk of cervical incompetence; including vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage.
- To have expert knowledge of preterm birth prevention management options for women/birthing people at risk through lifestyle, medical and fetal reasons; including optimisation of maternal health.
- To have an in-depth knowledge of current local, regional and national agendas in relation to reducing preterm birth; contributing positively to ongoing research and the continuous development of preterm birth pathways, in order to continue to progress the service.
- To have an in-depth understanding of key reports relating to preterm birth such as Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle Version 3, and the Department of Healths Safer Maternity Care report, and how such reports should inform clinical practice.
- To commit to continuing to develop and enhance their own clinical skills; including completing additional training specific to performing transvaginal ultrasound and cervical length measurement.
- To show compassionate behaviour towards women/birthing people and their families; ensuring equality and diversity differences are respected, and women/birthing people and their families are enabled to be partners in their own care.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To lead and develop preterm birth services, whilst working alongside the Maternal Medicine and Preterm Birth Specialist Multidisciplinary team, including the full day clinic every Thursday; ensuring consistency and continuity of care for women/birthing people at increased risk of preterm birth and/or with medically complex pregnancies.
- To have specialist knowledge and skills to support women/birthing people at increased risk of preterm birth for all reasons; throughout the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal care continuum, including the optimisation targets set by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine and other relevant standards.
- To have expert knowledge of preterm birth prevention management options for women/birthing people at risk of cervical incompetence; including vaginal progesterone and cervical cerclage.
- To have expert knowledge of preterm birth prevention management options for women/birthing people at risk through lifestyle, medical and fetal reasons; including optimisation of maternal health.
- To have an in-depth knowledge of current local, regional and national agendas in relation to reducing preterm birth; contributing positively to ongoing research and the continuous development of preterm birth pathways, in order to continue to progress the service.
- To have an in-depth understanding of key reports relating to preterm birth such as Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle Version 3, and the Department of Healths Safer Maternity Care report, and how such reports should inform clinical practice.
- To commit to continuing to develop and enhance their own clinical skills; including completing additional training specific to performing transvaginal ultrasound and cervical length measurement.
- To show compassionate behaviour towards women/birthing people and their families; ensuring equality and diversity differences are respected, and women/birthing people and their families are enabled to be partners in their own care.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Practising midwife with evidence of practice in all areas of midwifery
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Mentorship qualification
- Degree level or equivalent experience
- CL scanning qualification or willing to undertake training
Desirable
- NLS
- Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Communicating effectively with women, staff and other agencies
- Facilitate effective team working
- Evidence of knowledge of recent midwifery research and clinical audit
- Demonstrate an ability to apply research to practice and to support changes in practice as a result of clinical audit
- Ability to practice within the scope of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- IT Skills
- Evidence of professional development relevant to the specific role
Desirable
- Understanding of budgets and dynamics
- Evidence of previous management experience
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Previous comprehensive midwifery experience
- Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Effective time management for self and others
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Practising midwife with evidence of practice in all areas of midwifery
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Mentorship qualification
- Degree level or equivalent experience
- CL scanning qualification or willing to undertake training
Desirable
- NLS
- Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics Qualification.
Experience
Essential
- Communicating effectively with women, staff and other agencies
- Facilitate effective team working
- Evidence of knowledge of recent midwifery research and clinical audit
- Demonstrate an ability to apply research to practice and to support changes in practice as a result of clinical audit
- Ability to practice within the scope of the NMC Code of Professional Conduct
- IT Skills
- Evidence of professional development relevant to the specific role
Desirable
- Understanding of budgets and dynamics
- Evidence of previous management experience
Skills and knowledge
Essential
- Previous comprehensive midwifery experience
- Able to prioritise and meet deadlines
- Effective time management for self and others
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).