Senior Midwifery Practitioner - Labour Ward Coordinator

Job Overview

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

As part of our commitment to the ongoing professional development of the senior midwifery workforce, we are excited to offer this exceptional opportunity for an enthusiastic and experienced midwife to enhance their leadership and organisational skills as a Labour Ward Coordinator. This opportunity is fixed term.

The Labour Ward at UHS serves as the receiving area for acute intrapartum care for women and birthing individuals in Southampton, operating 24 hours a day, year-round. The ward's activity is dynamic and ever-changing, requiring the Labour Ward Coordinator to remain agile and responsive to the needs of the service. As a fast-paced clinical environment, the Labour Ward is staffed by a core team of experienced and highly skilled midwives who deliver expert care to high-risk patients. In this role, the Labour Ward Coordinator will also provide support to flexible midwives who bring a wide range of midwifery expertise across all areas of the maternity service, NEST midwives who deliver case loading care to vulnerable women, and preceptee midwives who are in the process of consolidating their training following qualification.

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to.

Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Specific to this role we are open to discussing flexibility in the hours that you work. Please talk to us at interview about the flexibility you need, and we will explore what’s possible for the role and service

Detailed Job Description And Main Responsibilities

As a dynamic and enthusiastic leader, you will be required to support and develop your team.

• You will act as a clinical expert and resource for the multi-disciplinary team.
• You will also be required to act as a professional advocate for both the staff and women and birthing individuals on Labour Ward.
• You will be proficient in maintaining a comprehensive understanding of the broader service implications for the ongoing management of effective patient flow throughout Labour Ward.
  
  

The Successful Candidate Will Be

• An excellent communicator who can adapt their communication skills according to the audience.
• Flexible and adaptable in their approach to coordinating the Labour Ward, dependent upon the changing situation across the maternity service.
• A positive role model with a good level of self-awareness and personal resilience.
• An effective negotiator with strong problem solving and influencing skills.
  
  

Person specification

Trust Values

Essential criteria

• Patient First
• Always Improving
• Working Together
  
  

Qualification/ trainng Required

Essential criteria

• Registered midwife on relevant part of the NMC Register
• Significant clinical experience
• Associate/mentorship qualification or equivalent experience
• Diploma or degree in midwifery
• Evidence of continual professional development
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Leadership training
• Examination of the newborn qualification
  
  

Previous relevant experience necassary

Essential criteria

• Relevant and recent clinical experience or with the ability to demonstrate significant experience in midwifery practice and responsibility for managing a clinical team
• Experience of setting and monitoring standards
• Demonstrate specialist expertise underpinned by evidence-based care philosophy
• Evidence of proven leadership and management skills
• Previous involvement of multi-disciplinary team working and multi-agency working across the health and social economy
• Ability to work within a broad, inter-professional team
  
  

Desirable criteria

• Experience of writing protocols, guidelines and integrated care pathways
• High dependency course
• Team leadership role
• Evidence of audit
• Experience of leading change management programmes
  
  

Aptitudes And Skills Required

Essential criteria

• Confident of own knowledge base
• Expert clinical skills relevant to speciality and achievement of all midwifery competencies
• Negotiation skills
• Synthesise information quickly and able to communicate and escalate
• Excellent communication skills, be able to communicate effectively at all levels
• Innovate approach to problem solving
• Leadership skills
• Able to manage workload autonomously
• IT skills (Microsoft systems)
• Demonstrate ability to influence and motivate others
• Skills in conflict resolution
• Have ability to network, initiate and develop sound relationships with senior colleagues within and external to the Trust
• Positive attitude
• Team player, highly motivated and enthusiastic
• Tenacity and assertiveness
• Supportive and able to listen to other views