Public Health Consultant Midwife

Job responsibilities

1. CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Function as an expert practitioner leading midwife care and working in collaboration with the appropriate multi-disciplinary groups to meet the specific needs of pregnant women.

Work for up to 50% of the time in clinical practice. This may be on a shift basis to work with different staff groups and will wholly depend on work priorities agreed with the Group Director of Midwifery/Divisional Nurse Director.

To lead on-going maternity transformation with new ways of working including quality improvement projects within maternity services.

Lead the Better Birth Strategy

Project manages service development as delegated.

Provide expert advice to staff and hands on practical care in all practice settings

Demonstrate advanced clinical skills and knowledge that informs practice decisions.

Support staff in developing their competence to enable them to keep the birth process as normal as possible.

Be prepared to make decisions about practice where precedents do not exist, and where appropriate, without recourse to others based on sound clinical evidence.

Advise and support colleagues where standard protocols do not apply demonstrating innovative and visionary practice

Develop and maintain evidence-based guidelines for holistic pregnancy practice.

Lead the development of staff to become confident in decision making through empowerment and support.

Encourage midwives to challenge traditional models of care and to facilitate changes in practice

Lead in the implementation of strategies to reduce clinical interventions, particularly the caesarean section rate

2. RESPONSIBILITY FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES

Acts as a named lead for midwifery led care within the Trust

Promote woman centred care and autonomous midwifery practice in all forums

Appropriately communicates sensitive information to women, families and midwives

Facilitate contentious discussions where there is disagreement about best practice placing the woman at the centre of care

Acts as an advocate for women and midwives

Support the risk management strategy within the service

Be competent and able to support others in investigating incidents, providing reports and implementing action plans.

Provide a visible accessible and authoritative presence within the clinical areas in whom women and their families can have confidence and to whom they can turn for assistance, advice and support

Ensure the delivery of care (including basic procedures), Identify and advise the directorate in order to meet the requirement of NICE guidelines, the National Service Framework, Essence of Care and evidence based practice and any other relevant national Maternity guidance

3. RESPONSIBILITY FOR POLICY AND SERVICE DEVELOPMENT

As a Trust representative to promote the role of Consultant Midwife and service initiatives where appropriate

Participate in service redesign with particular emphasis on developing confident and competent midwifery practitioners capable of keeping birth normal

Demonstrate a thorough understanding of local and national objectives and contribute to the strategic planning of maternity services

Be instrumental in developing midwifery practice within the Trust in line with nationally acclaimed innovation and research

To interpret and evaluate information from all sources, making informed judgements to make recommendations on improving practice

Lead in the development of clinical pathways for both high and low risk women to put in place service developments that promote normal birth

To be proactive in implementing and facilitating new ways of working to support these service developments

4. RESPONSIBLILTY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Support and work in partnership with the Consultant Midwives, the Practice Development Midwives and Clinical Practice Facilitators to deliver the objectives of educational roles

Create a supportive learning environment for all students and staff groups

Be an expert role model working alongside qualified midwives, midwifery and medical students

Prepare lectures and teach the principles of autonomous practice and other midwifery topics to all staff groups

Participate in the planning of a schedule of education and training that is geared towards relevant aspects of service development.

Work in close liaison with the clinical co-ordinators to review and develop practice standards

Work with the Consultant Midwives, clinical leads to establish the learning needs of staff groups in line with the maternity Training Needs Analysis Guideline (TNA)

Have input into development and delivery of inter-professional learning

Represent Trust and Maternity services at NCL LMNS Better Birth subgroups supporting good working relationships

5. RESPONSIBILITY FOR LEADING AND MANAGING

Lead colleagues in the improvement of standards of quality and to develop clinical practice.

Communicate effectively with all stakeholders involved in the care of pregnant women

Give advice on best practice arising from current and relevant research and facilitate the change process for new initiatives

Provide expert input across disciplines to secure improvements in quality thus improving the clients experience

Provide written reports and presentations as required for Divisional, Trust Executive and external forums

Be an active member of the Maternity Voices Partnership and any other group where the post holders input contributes to maternity service quality improvements

Be a member of the North Central London and National Consultant Midwife Network

Work with the clinical leads for obstetrics, anaesthetics and neonatology to ensure harmonious working relationships between staff groups

6. RESPONSIBILITY FOR INFORMATION RESOURCES

Work closely with the systems supervisor to ensure a robust data entry system that supports the audit process

Utilise and analyse quantitative and qualitative data and information produced by the trust to produce reports and performance indicator data as required

7. RESPONSIBILITY FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

Leads strategic practice and service development in Midwife led care.

Contribute to the evaluation of services or aspects of service against national and local benchmarks

Be responsible for the promotion of evidence-based practice in all settings

In conjunction with the risk manager, lead in the collation of evidence for the annual maternity incentive scheme (CNST)

Maintain a thorough knowledge of key drivers for change and advise the management team about practice issues

Develop a research strategy that encourages midwives to actively participate in quality improvement

Undertake relevant research and audit topics that improve health outcomes and identify future service developments

Implement changes in practice where required

Review clinical data, analyse trends and report on any clinical implications identified

Within the clinical governance undertake specific projects as agreed by the Group Director of Midwifery.

Education and qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Educated to Masters level
• Willing to undertake PhD/doctoral studies
• Recognised leadership qualification or equivalent experience

Desirable

• Doctoral qualification
• Recognised teaching qualification
• Recognised Perinatal Mental Health training/ qualification

Skills and abilities

Essential

• Expert knowledge of midwifery and the complex birth agenda
• In-depth knowledge of health policy
• Knowledge of quality standard setting and audit
• Research skills
• Demonstrable leadership skills
• Organisation and management skills
• Ability to influence, motivate and inspire others
• Negotiating and ability to resolve conflict
• Ability to manage change
• Team building skills
• Articulate with advanced written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure and to meet deadlines
• Ability to network across the organisation and externally
• Project management skills
• Ability to compile, analyse and disseminate complex information
• Project management skills
• Ability to compile, analyse and disseminate complex information
• Innovative
• Strategic thinking
• Self-motivated , positive, adaptable and flexible approach to work

Desirable

• Evidence of academic published work or research

Experience

Essential

• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in changing clinical practice
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in developing staff
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in organisational change
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in leadership
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in teaching
• Evidership with demonstrable achievements in evidence of innovative practice that involves research and/or audit
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in evidence of research participation
• Evidence of significant experience in midwifery practice and leadership with demonstrable achievements in evidence of participation in regional and national networks

Personal qualities

Essential

• Can work under pressure
• Calm
• Supportive
• Motivated
• Professional
• Sufficient to fulfil the post with any reasonable adaptations
• Ability to communicate effectively both individually and to large groups
• Excellent presentation skills
• Experience of presenting at conferences
• Evidence of publications
• Advanced IT Skills

Values

Essential

• Demonstrable ability to meet Trust values

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).