Job overview

The post holder will work in collaboration with an extensive multidisciplinary team within Maternity services & the Divisional Management team to provide professional Midwifery leadership and support the Director of Midwifery with the strategic direction for the Maternity Services. They will work closely with the Divisional Medical Director, Divisional Director of Operations and Divisional Head of Nursing as part of the Divisional Senior Management Team, leading on the design, development, and implementation of Maternity and other strategies across the Division.

The Head of Midwifery role is a key position within the Divisional Senior Management Team, responsible to the Director of Midwifery with a prime focus on the day-to-day delivery of high standards of patient care across all care pathways and services. The post holder will be required to deputise for the Director of Midwifery during times of annual leave and will assume responsibility for the day-to-day delivery of the clinical business of the Service and any delegated functions during this time.

The post holder will lead development programmes, midwifery recruitment and retention, measuring and improving standards of care and the patient experience, in accordance with agreed objectives, targets, quality standards, controls and resource constraints.

Main duties of the job

• Advising the Trust Board via the Director of Midwifery on related subjects.
• Act as the visible designated clinical midwifery leader.
• With the Director of Midwifery design a visionary and proactive short- and long-term strategy in collaboration with the senior clinical and management team for the future direction of Maternity services within the Trust. 
• Ensure National and local quality and environmental standards are achieved in the Maternity service. 
• Participate in Trust investigation of complaints and serious untoward incidents
• Actively contribute to the implementation of the healthcare governance agenda and ensure this is embedded into directorate business.
• Act in accordance at all times within the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and ensure own and team’s preparedness for revalidation.
• Act as a change agent, developing clinically effective practice through the effective utilisation and integration of evidence-based practice, setting, implementing and monitoring evidence-based standards of care, policies, procedures and protocols.
• Ensure a culture of continuous quality improvement through the use of research, audit, patient feedback and reflection on practice by self and other members of the team.
• Ensure a high standard of record keeping in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Council, Health and Care Professions Council, national legislation, and local standards. 

Working for our organisation

We are determined to deliver safe, effective, reliable, and high-quality services to women and families, now and into the future and are nearing completion of all the actions from the Independent Review of Maternity Services by Donna Ockenden. You can read more about this in our job pack.

The Trust has made significant progress in our maternity services, with maternity services now rated as ‘good’ by the Care Quality Commission, but we must do more to build trust and engage with families in a sustained and meaningful way. We will continue to listen and learn and to make sure the changes we make are real, positive and can be sustained. We are grateful to the families who are meeting with us to share their experiences and we will continue to offer regular meetings with any families who want to be involved.

Teams in maternity services, and the wider Trust, continue to work hard to create a transparent and accountable environment at all levels, to provide safe, compassionate, bespoke care and to rebuild the confidence of the communities we serve. Our ambition is to become an Outstanding maternity service. We are seeking a compassionate and inclusive individual who is committed to delivering excellent care and a positive experience for all, providing inspirational leadership and a supportive environment to our teams on our continued improvement journey.

Join us at The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, where our passion for excellence drives everything we do.

We're on a mission to provide high quality, safe care to our patients, in an environment our incredible staff are proud to work in.

Our vision, 'To provide excellent care for the communities we serve,' is not just a statement; it's a promise we live by every day. Guided by our core Values - Partnering, Ambitious, Caring, and Trusted - we're determined to make a real difference in the lives of those who matter most: our patients and their families.

If you're ready to be part of a team that's dedicated to continuous improvement, come join us and let's make a difference together!