Midwifery Matron

Job description

Job responsibilities

Within defined areas of management responsibility the post holder will:

Provide a visible and clinical presence within the clinical areas and be responsible for leading the delivery of high quality care. Ensure that the needs of women and their families are placed at the centre of care delivery, thus achieving trust and national standards for clinical quality, safety and patient experience.

Provide professional, clinical and managerial leadership to midwifery, nursing and associated staff, and ensure the provision of a high quality, responsive midwifery service.

Be accountable for all aspects of quality management related to the maternity services.

Lead the workforce and financial planning for midwifery and support services within own areas of responsibility and where appropriate, work collaboratively across the Trust to support these initiatives.

Support the development and implementation of clinical governance initiatives in conjunction with the Divisional Management Team.

Lead the implementation of midwifery standards as set out in National Service Frameworks, Essence of Care and the Trust Nursing and Midwifery Strategy.

To have a thorough understanding of safeguarding procedures and knowledgeable with respect to safeguarding triggers and risks.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Ensure all staff have access to, and act within, Trust/departmental policies and procedures.

Be responsible for overseeing and ensuring the development of all staff across areas of responsibility.

Support band 7 midwives and specialist midwives to ensure they are developed to undertake management and leadership responsibilities to enable the effective running of their clinical areas.

Using the Trust HR Policies and Procedures, manage clinical and non-clinical standards of poor performance, and the management of sickness and absence.

Demonstrate experience in the use of appropriate strategies and opportunities to share knowledge on prevention and control of infection.

Formulate and implement teaching and learning strategies for identified groups or individuals related to areas of own expertise.

Resolve complaints as they arise through face to face communication as necessary and, when appropriate, investigate complaints relevant to remit and write responses and develop actions plans.

Be user-aware and deal at all times appropriately, i.e. professionally and politely, with all users whether women, their relatives, carers, other members of staff or the general public, and ensure this is engendered within areas of responsibility.

Liaise with senior/managerial staff to bring to their attention any problems identified.

Provide cross-cover for The Matron/ Matrons for Community within own directorate.

Contribute to business, professional and strategic planning within the Division and the organisation as a whole.

Ensure with the band 7 midwives and specialist midwives that the Maternity Services Training Needs Analysis (TNA) identifies and manages education, training, and support needs of all staff within their departments in relation to service needs.

Ensure that staff support systems are in place across areas of responsibility including access to professional midwifery advocate and mentorship.

Ensure an adequate nursing/midwifery skill mix to cover the 24 hour period if the band 7 Midwife is unable to do this due to staffing constraints, e.g. re-allocate staff from other clinical areas

Utilise available resources to ensure a safe and effective service delivery e.g. periods of unplanned staff absence and / or equipment failure. This may involve reallocating staff around the maternity unit and liaising with colleagues outside of the maternity units.

Act as a role model through the provision of effective professional leadership for relevant clinical areas and demonstration of competent and accountable midwifery clinical practice.

Participate in the maternity services 24 hour manager on call cross site rota in line with service needs.

Maintain a consistent, visible, high profile in clinical areas of responsibility, ensuring accessibility for women, families, carers and staff.

Demonstrate knowledge of contemporary clinical practice, explore new ideas and introduce positive, evidence-based change in line with local and national initiatives, e.g. NSF, Essence of Care, Confidential Enquiries and NICE Guidance.

Following disruptions to service delivery to review and implement systems to manage future occurrences.

Ensure that user-centred values are fully considered in any service change or development.

Ensure that the quality of care is sensitive to the needs of a diverse population.

Actively support the Head of Midwifery in the delivery of key performance indicators e.g. Key performance indicators for maternity care and Essence of Care.

Establish links with other individuals and specialist organisations relevant to maternity service, and is practised in accessing diverse sources of information, in order to maximise exposure to a wide range of robust and reliable information.

Actively support the infection control team in the development of the Trusts infection control initiatives, and environmental audits.

Act as an expert resource relevant to maternity service in response to incidents, complaints and claims, reviewing trends and initiating practice review.

Work in collaboration with stakeholders in formulating and initiating strategies and systems to identify and manage risk.

Actively promote legislation and responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act. Be aware of, and follow, policies and procedures with regard to patients, themselves, other members of staff, equipment and the general public.

Act as an expert midwifery advisor to Trust committees, e.g. Clinical Practice Committee, Health & Safety and Clinical Risk Management, when required.

Create an environment and culture in which infection prevention and control is intrinsic to care delivery by setting and monitoring environmental standards and take action to ensure compliance to cleaning audits and PEAT inspection specifications are met.

To ensure all staff understand their role and contribution to patient safety in relation to infection prevention and control and have the knowledge and competencies to provide optimal care by utilising staff appraisals, objective setting, link midwives and champions to promote best practice and monitor compliance.

Ensure IPC and HCAI surveillance, audit and RCA data are analysed and utilised to inform priorities, actions and interventions to reduce infection.

Establish a communication framework in which members of the team work effectively internally and externally across clinical teams and across the Trust to optimise the womans journey and to improve quality outcomes.

Be responsible in collaboration with the Head of Midwifery for the budgetary management of all services across clinical areas of responsibility.

Actively manage resources including human (staffing), material and financial (budgetary). This will also include regular review of skill mix and use of temporary staff.

Ensure a high quality service is delivered within agreed budget by optimising all available resources representing value for money.

Support the Directorate team in the development and implementation of the annual cost improvement programme in accordance with the Trust targets and timetable.

Ensure all information is stored in accordance with the Data Protection Act and Caldecott guidance.

Identify educational and training requirements on information resources for all relevant staff.

Process information electronically and manually.

Ensure information is communicated through the appropriate Trust channels as required.

Oversee high standards of record keeping within areas of responsibility.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• oSignificant experience of midwifery care with a minimum of 3 years at Band 7
• oExperience of operational management
• oProven track record of leadership
• oCurrent experience of line management of staff
• oEvidence of teaching and developing junior staff both formally and informally

Desirable

• oProven experience of managing resources including budgetary control
• oEvidence of involvement with user groups to develop quality centred care

Skills and Attitudes

Essential

• oEvidence of clinical standard setting and audit within maternity services
• oExperience of managing and sustaining change
• oExperience of developing and implementing new policies and guidance
• oSkilled in staff selection and development
• oThorough understanding and knowledge of key indicators of excellent quality care

Desirable

• oEducated to Masters' level/working towards or commitment to undertaking within year of appointment

Education and Professional Qualifications

Essential

• oRegistered Midwife
• oNMC registration (in date)
• oFirst degree or working towards in relevant subject
• oRecognised teaching and assessing qualification

Desirable

• Professional Midwifery Advocate

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

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Luton and Dunstable University Hospital

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Employer's website

https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)