Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for experienced clinical midwives to join the midwifery team at West Suffolk.

West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust is responsible for providing care to approximately 2,400 women during their childbirth experience. We offer both choice of lead professional and place of birth at home, on our co-located midwife-led birthing unit or multi-professional labour suite.

We are looking for:

Midwives with a passion for women-centred and safe care.

Midwives who would like to work within the hospital & community setting.

Midwives who want to support the provision of excellent care to the women who choose to birth at West Suffolk.

In line with NHS England requirements, WSH is currently implementing a phased programme of work to provide continuity of carer to our women to meet the national goal of a providing 100% of women with continuity of carer by 2025. All midwifery staff joining the Trust should therefore be prepared to work within this model, which represents an exciting progression in midwifery care.

There will be a Midwifery open day on 8th June 2023 in Stowmarket, Suffolk. Please contact Sarah.spall@wsh.nhs.uk for any information about the event.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to provide the full remit of Continuity of Carer midwifery care.

The post holder will be responsible for co-ordinating, planning, organising and directing activities to ensure optimum care is achieved and continued learning is created and maintained.

The post holder will work where his/her caseload requires i.e. in a variety of settings, which will include all antenatal, intrapartum, postnatal and community services, maintaining skills in all aspects of midwifery care.

The post holder is designated to take charge of all clinical areas in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.

We can offer

A robust induction programme.

A supportive multidisciplinary team in which to work.

Continuing educational opportunities.

Opportunity to gain experience through working with midwifery and nursing colleagues.

About us

#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

Were a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and childrens ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please see Supporting Documents for Full Job Description.

KEY TASKS

Management Responsibility

Assist the senior/lead midwife in the co-ordination of the clinical activities within the clinical areas of the antenatal clinic, early pregnancy unit, day assessment unit, antenatal and postnatal ward, labour suite and community.

Make suggestions for and co-operate in improvements planned for the service. Ensure resources are used effectively and efficiently in each area.

Have an awareness of the budgetary implications for the division. Maintain a responsible attitude to spending within that budget. Requisition with due economy for provision of equipment, stores, etc.

Maintain a good rapport with clients and visitors and facilitate this approach amongst all staff. Act as host to visitors to the unit or women using the service and raise positively the public profile of the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust.

Assist with orientation programmes which familiarise new members of staff with the organisation and clinical demands of the unit.

Maintain an effective communication system between all staff groups working within the maternity services in order that a positive working environment is achieved.

Report complaints, incidents, risk management issues and accidents to the senior/lead midwife, and assist in their investigation and resolution.

Ensure that working conditions are safe in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Work with the senior/lead midwives and the management team to implement a total quality approach to service provision.

Clinical Responsibility

Utilise the full skills of a midwife practitioner, both integral and extended, to encompass the scrub role in the care of women undergoing a caesarean section.

Throughout a 24-hour period, provide professional midwifery care to a defined group of women and babies.

Be conversant with safeguarding children procedures. Participate in planning meetings, conferences and pre-birth assessment and give appropriate feedback.

Assist in developing standards of midwifery practice, and in midwifery and obstetric projects and research, including evidence-based protocols.

In liaison with the senior/lead midwives, ensure that midwifery practice is in keeping with current research findings and is appropriate for each individual woman for whom care is being provided.

Take responsibility for the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with Trust policies and statutory rules and regulations.

Participate in parent education and incorporate accepted research findings into practice.

Professional Responsibility

Work as a midwife, fulfilling the role as defined by the Nursing & Midwifery Council.

Work within the Trust policies and protocols, which enable all staff members to carry out care within these guidelines, whilst maintaining confidentiality of women, and their families.

Maintain good standards of care within clinical areas, and assist the implementation of recommendations from Government and professional bodies in relation to maternity care. Work with the management team to monitor these standards of care.

Have due regard for the needs of mothers and their families. Recognise the demands placed upon professional colleagues in the pursuit of their duties and assist them as required.

Promote a professional image of midwifery and a sensitive and caring approach to women, families, visitors and all staff.

Maintain legible, accurate and contemporary records at all times, reflecting the management of care.

Educational Responsibility

Participate in the teaching of all learners and new members of staff attached to your clinical area or group practice. Participate in the mentor support system for students.

Carry out recommendations pertaining to midwifery, medical or nurse education as directed by senior midwifery staff.

Be responsible for own updating requirements.

Maintain research-based information input to the service, to promote efficient and effective clinical practice. Participate in the review of practice guidelines and midwifery protocols.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience at Band 5 for minimum of 12 months in midwifery
• Worked in a variety of settings, utilising all midwifery skills.
• Previous experience of midwifery- led care
• Evidence of multi-professional working
• Experience of supervising trained and untrained staff

Desirable

• Experience in management of midwifery wards department and of own caseload
• Able to adapt to staff and womens needs
• Experience of community working

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Mentorship qualification
• Attendance of approved midwifery study days

Desirable

• Degree in Midwifery

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Practitioner in accordance with the NMC Code.
• Proficiency in the use of IT systems in workplace following appropriate training where necessary.
• Ability to work as a team player or individually
• Good communication and interpersonal skills
• Teaching skills
• Able to demonstrate application of theory to practice
• Able to demonstrate awareness of current changes in midwifery education and practice

Desirable

• Working knowledge of safeguarding children issues

Management

Essential

• Proven leadership and organisational skills
• Able to deputise for senior or lead midwife in her absence

Desirable

• Time management
• Project management

Other Requirements

Essential

• Ability to travel to rural locations to meet the needs of the role
• Ability to work on-call commitment and undertake all shifts. Days or nights and weekend working
• Occupational Health clearance to fulfil the duties of the role.

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to demonstrate a research based holistic approach to clients needs
• Ability to work in rotation to all areas including community or group practice

Desirable

• Academically interested
• Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
  
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