Do you have the knowledge and clinical skills to provide autonomous midwifery care in our Midwifery Led Unit?

The Spires Midwifery Led Unit is situated on the 7th floor of the John Radcliffe's Women Centre. It has 4 en-suite birthing rooms, 3 with birthing pools and adjustable lighting encouraging a relaxed environment to birth. There are numerous postnatal rooms where low-risk women can stay for up to 48 hours post birth. Each room features an en-suite and double bed allowing for partners to stay, supporting the family bond.

The Spires was introduced to the Womens Centre 2010 and now has around 60-70 births per month. It is a popular choice for women of Oxfordshire and the surrounding areas who want to birth their babies near to an obstetric unit, but in a midwifery-led setting.

Adjacent to the MLU, is a small postnatal ward which is also staffed by the Spires/ Level 7 midwives. This ward has 8 postnatal side rooms, as well as 3 bereavement suites. Some labour and postnatal care of bereaved families is included within the role but is led by our team of specialist bereavement midwives and support workers.

The applicant, with developmental support, will be responsible for the day to day running of the Midwifery Led Unit, promoting safety and excellence by being the clinical expert on shift, coordinating care and liaising with the multidisciplinary team where needed. This will require excellent communication skills and teamworking.

Main duties of the job

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• To support and advocate for women choosing physiological birth including water immersion and active birth
• Provide intrapartum and postnatal care to woman choosing to birth at the Midwifery Led Unit
• Be an autonomous practitioner including risk assessment and triage of women in labour
• Contribute to the learning environment of the practice area to enable students and new members of the team to be supported
• Be involved in quality improvement projects for the unit to improve the standards of care women receive

About us

Here in Oxfordshire, we offer women and healthcare professionals a unique set up of our Maternity Services where around 7200 babies are born annually. We have 4 stand-alone Midwifery Led Birth units within the county based at Banbury, Chipping Norton, Wantage and Wallingford as well as offering home births to all areas. There is also an integrated birth unit where around 10% of birthing people choose to go in labour. As a large Tertiary hospital, the John Radcliffe offers a large Delivery Suite with an en-suite birthing pool room, 3 Maternity theatres and a specific Maternity Recovery Ward. There are specialist services such as the Fetal and Maternal Medicine Team and Bereavement Team.

For those working with us, we have a named Maternity Psychologist 3 days a week to support all staff, as well as 15 Professional Midwifery Advocates. For those wishing to develop their careers and skills, we have a core Practice Development Team who can guide staff with their career options and development opportunities. We strive to ensure every member of our team feels valued and to have the confidence to speak up and be heard.

We truly believe that supporting our staff to feel happy and well-supported within their work environment, will ensure the best quality of care for the birthing people who access our services.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Successful candidates would be working as a clinical midwife within the John Radcliffes Spires Alongside Midwifery Led unit and Postnatal ward. Supporting choice in place of birth with opportunities to develop your clinical and leadership skills.

The applicant would be expected to work flexibly in the Intrapartum team to meet the needs of women in the most appropriate birthing area.

Interviews to be held the week commencing Monday 2nd October. Dates can be flexible and via Microsoft Teams if unable to attend in person.

*PLEASE NOTE: This job is for midwives with a current full NMC pin*. For international Educated Midwives without an NMC pin please apply via the International educated Midwife route when adverts released.

Person Specification

Education/Training

Essential

• Registered midwife with NMC Pin
• Educated to a minimum of degree level/able to demonstrate evidence that is working at degree level/commenced degree pathway

Desirable

• Additional training related to physiological birth or bereavement

Experience

Essential

• Significant recent experience in midwifery
• Minimum of 1 year at band 6
• Recent experience of physiological intrapartum care

Desirable

• Recent experience working in Midwifery Led Unit
• Supporting women experiencing pregnancy loss

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with women and their supporters
• A non-judgemental and open minded approach when supporting women choices
• Excellent personal and communication skills
• Excellent clinical knowledge
• Demonstrates ability to place women and family at centre of care
• Ability to make decisions, organise and prioritise
• Demonstrate excellent team working
• Proficient in suturing
• Proficient in cannulation
• Motivated, enthusiastic, and passionate about physiological birth

Desirable

• Computer literacy

Other

Essential

• Able to work flexibly to meet services needs

Employer details

Employer name

Oxford University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Spires Midwifery Led Unit, John Radcliffe Hospital

Headley Way

Oxford

OX39DU

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

321-SWR-5605253-B6-PUB