Job summary
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking an outstanding Director of Midwifery (DoM) with a strong focus on safety, quality, and outcomes for women, birthing people, and their families. The DoM will be a visible and inspirational leader, joining a collaborative senior team within a maternity department rated 'GOOD' by the CQC in 2023.
As the most senior midwife in the Trust, the DoM will provide strategic, clinical, and professional leadership across maternity services, ensuring care is safe, personalised, and continuously improving. The postholder will be a key member of the Clinical Business Unit (CBU) Quadumvirate, offering expert midwifery leadership to the wider Care Group and acting in an advisory capacity to senior clinical leads and Trust executives.
Main duties of the job
The Director of Midwifery is responsible for leading the professional midwifery agenda across the Trust, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, and compassionate maternity services. They will provide expert advice to the Chief Nurse, Trust Board, and executive colleagues, shaping policy and strategy aligned with national priorities and local needs. The postholder will foster a culture of learning, accountability, and continuous improvement, working in close collaboration with system partners, service users, and multidisciplinary teams. A key element of the role involves championing the Professional Midwifery Advocate model, supporting staff wellbeing, and enhancing clinical supervision across the workforce.
About us
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a caring and compassionate organisation that is both ambitious and innovative. We are committed to delivering the best outcomes for our patients and providing a positive experience of our staff. We aspire to be outstanding for our patients, our communities and our staff and are committed to being a great place to receive healthcare, work and learn.
Straddling the neighbouring boroughs of Warrington and Halton we are part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care system. Our hospitals are ideally situated to meet the growing healthcare needs of the 330,000 population of these boroughs.
Warrington Hospital is home to our emergency, critical care and maternity services, Halton Hospital is focused on elective procedures and the Runcorn Urgent Treatment Centre, although many services are offered at both sites and in community hubs.
A CQC-rated 'good' organisation with 'outstanding' features, we are working towards university hospital status, having achieved teaching hospital status in 2019.
We employ nearly 5,000 people from over 80 nationalities, striving to be a diverse, inclusive employer and recognised leader in equality. We support flexible working, welcoming flexible applications. Proud of our many accreditations, we are embedding an anti-racist approach in all we do.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will be accountable for the strategic oversight and professional leadership of all midwifery staff across Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals. They will lead on implementing national maternity programmes, including the Ockenden recommendations, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards. Working closely with executive colleagues and the wider Care Group leadership, the Director of Midwifery will help shape service transformation, contribute to long-term planning, and influence the development of maternity services across the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS). They will maintain robust systems of governance, drive forward initiatives to improve patient safety and experience, and ensure the Trust meets its statutory and professional obligations. Through strong financial and workforce leadership, the DoM will oversee staffing, training, and resource planning to support a high-performing, responsive maternity service that is centred on the needs of women, birthing people, and their families.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The postholder will be accountable for the strategic oversight and professional leadership of all midwifery staff across Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals. They will lead on implementing national maternity programmes, including the Ockenden recommendations, and ensure compliance with regulatory and quality standards. Working closely with executive colleagues and the wider Care Group leadership, the Director of Midwifery will help shape service transformation, contribute to long-term planning, and influence the development of maternity services across the Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS). They will maintain robust systems of governance, drive forward initiatives to improve patient safety and experience, and ensure the Trust meets its statutory and professional obligations. Through strong financial and workforce leadership, the DoM will oversee staffing, training, and resource planning to support a high-performing, responsive maternity service that is centred on the needs of women, birthing people, and their families.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Degree level education or equivalent
- Evidence of continued personal & professional development
- Master's Degree in relevant subject or equivalent experience in a senior Midwifery role
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Leadership Experience at Senior clinical leadership level within a maternity service
- A track record of successfully leading a midwifery function in a complex organisation
- Evidence of implementing significant organisational change
- Evidence of strong and positive leadership behaviours
- Evidence of working across boundaries, influencing and developing staff and working with multiple stakeholders
- Proven experience in the implementation of corporate and professional strategies
- Demonstrable experience of improving patient experience
- Demonstrable experience of improving patient safety
Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of health and social care structures and policy at national, regional and local level
- Political awareness and ability to influence and work with stakeholders at all levels
- Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
- An understanding of audit and research based nursing/midwifery practice
- Able to build and maintain strong confidence in engagement with the Executive Directors and Trust Board and Local Maternity & Neonatal System
- Ability to effectively engage and communicate with a broad range of stakeholders
- Political awareness and ability to influence beyond line management
- Ability to work in a climate of rapid change and uncertainty
- The ability to think and act strategically, yet developing workable and practical solutions to achieve strategic outcomes
- The ability to think creatively and develop a vision for the future
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Degree level education or equivalent
- Evidence of continued personal & professional development
- Master's Degree in relevant subject or equivalent experience in a senior Midwifery role
Desirable
Experience
Essential
- Leadership Experience at Senior clinical leadership level within a maternity service
- A track record of successfully leading a midwifery function in a complex organisation
- Evidence of implementing significant organisational change
- Evidence of strong and positive leadership behaviours
- Evidence of working across boundaries, influencing and developing staff and working with multiple stakeholders
- Proven experience in the implementation of corporate and professional strategies
- Demonstrable experience of improving patient experience
- Demonstrable experience of improving patient safety
Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of health and social care structures and policy at national, regional and local level
- Political awareness and ability to influence and work with stakeholders at all levels
- Up to date knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
- An understanding of audit and research based nursing/midwifery practice
- Able to build and maintain strong confidence in engagement with the Executive Directors and Trust Board and Local Maternity & Neonatal System
- Ability to effectively engage and communicate with a broad range of stakeholders
- Political awareness and ability to influence beyond line management
- Ability to work in a climate of rapid change and uncertainty
- The ability to think and act strategically, yet developing workable and practical solutions to achieve strategic outcomes
- The ability to think creatively and develop a vision for the future
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).
Employer details
Employer name
Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT
Address
Warrington & Halton Teaching Hospitals
Lovely Lane
Warrington
WA5 1QG
Employer's website
https://whh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)
