Job summary
North Middlesex Maternity: "A career in Midwifery, not just a job."
We are looking for a dedicated midwife who will provide support and expertise to the families in our service who have experienced pregnancy loss, and to the staff who will be taking care of them
Where will your career take you next?
Main duties of the job
With a current delivery rate of 4800 births and ambitious plans to expand, this is an exciting opportunity for you to come and join our growing maternity team at North Middlesex University Hospital NHS Trust. We believe you will find the North Middlesex an extremely rewarding place to work. We have a great track record in investing in training and development for our staff so that they can meet their full potential and provide the very best possible care to our women and their families.
About us
North Mid is part of North Central London integrated care system - consisting of the NHS and Local authority organisations in Camden, Islington, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey. As with other ICS's, we are working increasingly closely with partners and indeed many of our financial and performance objectives are measured at this system level. Whilst all organisations remain as standalone, statutory bodies we have an ICS infrastructure for making shared decisions and agreeing shared approaches.
We are proud of our staff and want to ensure their training allows them to provide excellent clinical care. We are also a training unit for medical students from UCL and St George's University Grenada, and for nursing and midwifery students from Middlesex and City Universities.
Take a tour of our hospital here
Job description
Job responsibilities
This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as an exhaustive list. The job may change over time to reflect the changing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder.
The post holder will be expected to:
- Deliver a confidential support service to women and their families following baby loss including early pregnancy loss, mid-trimester miscarriage, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), stillbirths and early neonatal death.
- Facilitate bereavement care that reflects national and local priorities for effective patient care including the National Bereavement Care Pathway.
- Deliver an excellent bereavement service by contributing to the working of the team supporting 7-day bereavement service, as required by the needs of the service.
- Be competent in all aspects of midwifery care including antenatal care to support the team in providing an antenatal continuity of carer case loading model for women in subsequent pregnancies including bookings and antenatal follow up appointments.
- To act as an effective advocate for bereaved women and families by using effective communication to ensure that an individuals care is of the highest possible standard.
Involve the women, relatives, friends and any support network in the care process.
- Liaise and communicate effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients needs are met.
- Be involved in supporting and assisting families and staff to create memories, maintaining dignity, respect and wishes of the parents, washing babies, arranging blessings and preparing babies for funeral having knowledge and understanding of religious, cultural and spiritual needs.
- Support staff in co-ordinating the transfer of deceased babies to the mortuary.
- Coordinate the releasing of deceased babies from the ward for funeral or home, in line with current policies and standard operating procedures.
- Work within the team to maintain an effective working relationship with the Chaplains, Bereavement counselling team, the Bereavement Officers, Mortuary Manager, Perinatal Pathologist and Histopathology team.
- Communicate effectively, with women and families, to provide potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information.
- With the appropriate training, be able to sensitively discuss perinatal post-mortem with newly bereaved families and gain consent on behalf of the perinatal pathologists at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
- Complete all documentation, including face to face discussions, telephone or email conversations with parents, pathways and outside referrals and agencies.
- Deal with all enquiries from staff, patients and relatives in a timely and professional manner either in writing, orally or electronically.
- Support bereaved families to help them understand clinical information they may have been given.
- Maintain accurate records and high-level documentation for women receiving bereavement support and guidance.
- Maintain accurate service databases to ensure up to date, accurate data recording for the service.
- Ensure all support literature is up to date and appropriate and all bereaved parents receive such literature.
- Act as a resource for colleagues so that expert knowledge in bereavement care is always available.
- Assist in review and auditing of the services and participate in development projects which lead to service improvements.
- When required, attend and participate in MBRRACE reporting, PMRT reviews and Child Death reviews.
- Maintain and continually develop in-depth specialist knowledge of midwifery practice and bereavement care.
- Actively contribute to service developments by attendance and participation in national workshops and additional training appropriate to the role.
- Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan
- Support staff in developing skills and knowledge within bereavement care standards allowing staff to achieve bereavement competencies.
- Always adhere to NMC Code of Professional conduct.
- Work in accordance with the Trust Policies and Procedures and Values.
- Be aware of up-to-date knowledge of current evidence-based practice.
- Have the ability to recognise and work within the limits of own competence and responsibility is crucial, seeking advice from the Specialist Bereavement Midwives or other more senior members of staff when required.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as an exhaustive list. The job may change over time to reflect the changing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as the personal development needs of the post holder.
The post holder will be expected to:
- Deliver a confidential support service to women and their families following baby loss including early pregnancy loss, mid-trimester miscarriage, termination for medical reasons (TFMR), stillbirths and early neonatal death.
- Facilitate bereavement care that reflects national and local priorities for effective patient care including the National Bereavement Care Pathway.
- Deliver an excellent bereavement service by contributing to the working of the team supporting 7-day bereavement service, as required by the needs of the service.
- Be competent in all aspects of midwifery care including antenatal care to support the team in providing an antenatal continuity of carer case loading model for women in subsequent pregnancies including bookings and antenatal follow up appointments.
- To act as an effective advocate for bereaved women and families by using effective communication to ensure that an individuals care is of the highest possible standard.
Involve the women, relatives, friends and any support network in the care process.
- Liaise and communicate effectively with all members of the MDT to ensure patients needs are met.
- Be involved in supporting and assisting families and staff to create memories, maintaining dignity, respect and wishes of the parents, washing babies, arranging blessings and preparing babies for funeral having knowledge and understanding of religious, cultural and spiritual needs.
- Support staff in co-ordinating the transfer of deceased babies to the mortuary.
- Coordinate the releasing of deceased babies from the ward for funeral or home, in line with current policies and standard operating procedures.
- Work within the team to maintain an effective working relationship with the Chaplains, Bereavement counselling team, the Bereavement Officers, Mortuary Manager, Perinatal Pathologist and Histopathology team.
- Communicate effectively, with women and families, to provide potentially complex, sensitive or distressing information.
- With the appropriate training, be able to sensitively discuss perinatal post-mortem with newly bereaved families and gain consent on behalf of the perinatal pathologists at Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH).
- Complete all documentation, including face to face discussions, telephone or email conversations with parents, pathways and outside referrals and agencies.
- Deal with all enquiries from staff, patients and relatives in a timely and professional manner either in writing, orally or electronically.
- Support bereaved families to help them understand clinical information they may have been given.
- Maintain accurate records and high-level documentation for women receiving bereavement support and guidance.
- Maintain accurate service databases to ensure up to date, accurate data recording for the service.
- Ensure all support literature is up to date and appropriate and all bereaved parents receive such literature.
- Act as a resource for colleagues so that expert knowledge in bereavement care is always available.
- Assist in review and auditing of the services and participate in development projects which lead to service improvements.
- When required, attend and participate in MBRRACE reporting, PMRT reviews and Child Death reviews.
- Maintain and continually develop in-depth specialist knowledge of midwifery practice and bereavement care.
- Actively contribute to service developments by attendance and participation in national workshops and additional training appropriate to the role.
- Maintain own continuing professional development in accordance with CPD requirements and contribute to formulation of own objectives and personal development plan
- Support staff in developing skills and knowledge within bereavement care standards allowing staff to achieve bereavement competencies.
- Always adhere to NMC Code of Professional conduct.
- Work in accordance with the Trust Policies and Procedures and Values.
- Be aware of up-to-date knowledge of current evidence-based practice.
- Have the ability to recognise and work within the limits of own competence and responsibility is crucial, seeking advice from the Specialist Bereavement Midwives or other more senior members of staff when required.
Person Specification
Education & professional Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Live Registration with NMC
Desirable
- Mentorship programme
- Perinatal post-mortem consent taking training
Values
Essential
- Reliable, Adaptable, Flexible and Dependable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a registered midwife, in different clinical settings including antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal.
- Experience of caring for bereaved families
- Experience of having difficult conversations and sharing bad news
Desirable
- Experience of assurance processes, audits and quality improvement
Skills and aptitudes
Essential
- Effective communication skills especially when having sensitive discussions with families and colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
- Able to manage patients emotional needs and demonstrate empathy and caring
- To demonstrate the ability to work alone and within a team.
- Ability to plan, organise and manage work load effectively
- Ability to solve and escalate problems and issues
- Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure
- Ability to identify and implement improvements to service
- Good IT skills
Desirable
- Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence midwifery practice relating to area of clinical practice, management, education and research.
- Demonstrates experience in quality improvement
- Proven record in teaching/mentoring/supervising others
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding and awareness of the National Bereavement Care Pathway and the Ockenden Reports and what they recommend for gold standard bereavement care.
- Has knowledge and understanding of bereavement services.
- Understanding key issues and drivers within the National maternity agenda in relation to reducing stillbirth rates
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
- Understanding the role of national audit tools used in the reporting of pregnancy losses and risk management
Desirable
- Evidence of continuous professional development and application of knowledge to practice especially in relation to bereavement care
Person Specification
Education & professional Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Midwife
- Live Registration with NMC
Desirable
- Mentorship programme
- Perinatal post-mortem consent taking training
Values
Essential
- Reliable, Adaptable, Flexible and Dependable
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as a registered midwife, in different clinical settings including antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal.
- Experience of caring for bereaved families
- Experience of having difficult conversations and sharing bad news
Desirable
- Experience of assurance processes, audits and quality improvement
Skills and aptitudes
Essential
- Effective communication skills especially when having sensitive discussions with families and colleagues
- Ability to communicate effectively (written and verbal)
- Able to manage patients emotional needs and demonstrate empathy and caring
- To demonstrate the ability to work alone and within a team.
- Ability to plan, organise and manage work load effectively
- Ability to solve and escalate problems and issues
- Able to effectively and appropriately escalate concerns to reduce risk and promote patient safety.
- Ability to function effectively under pressure
- Ability to identify and implement improvements to service
- Good IT skills
Desirable
- Demonstrates ability to keep up to date with professional issues that influence midwifery practice relating to area of clinical practice, management, education and research.
- Demonstrates experience in quality improvement
- Proven record in teaching/mentoring/supervising others
Knowledge
Essential
- Understanding and awareness of the National Bereavement Care Pathway and the Ockenden Reports and what they recommend for gold standard bereavement care.
- Has knowledge and understanding of bereavement services.
- Understanding key issues and drivers within the National maternity agenda in relation to reducing stillbirth rates
- Understanding of Information Governance and Confidentiality
- Understanding of equality and diversity issues and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
- Understanding the role of national audit tools used in the reporting of pregnancy losses and risk management
Desirable
- Evidence of continuous professional development and application of knowledge to practice especially in relation to bereavement care
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).
