Job summary
We are seeking a highly motivated and compassionate individual to join our senior maternity leadership team as Maternity Inpatient Matron on a 6-month secondment. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced Ward Manager, Senior Midwife, Labour Ward Coordinator or existing Matron looking to broaden their leadership experience within a busy and forward-thinking maternity service.

As Maternity Inpatient Matron, you will provide visible professional leadership across our inpatient maternity areas, supporting the delivery of safe, personalised and high-quality care for women, birthing people and their families. You will work closely with multidisciplinary colleagues to ensure that services meet local and national quality standards, whilst creating an environment where staff feel valued, supported and empowered to achieve their potential.

Main duties of the job

• Provide operational and professional leadership across maternity inpatient services.
• Lead on quality, safety and patient experience initiatives.
• Support workforce planning, recruitment, retention and staff wellbeing.
• Oversee governance processes, ensuring learning from incidents, complaints, audits and patient feedback is embedded into practice.
• Monitor staffing, acuity and capacity to maintain safe and effective care.
• Foster a positive, inclusive culture that promotes continuous improvement and compassionate leadership.
• Support the delivery of key national maternity priorities, quality standards and organisational objectives.

About us
Barnsley is a place of real warmth and community spirit. With a proud industrial past, the town offers affordable living, great transport links, rich culture and many green spaces. Barnsley punches above its weight and has recently seen economic growth, substantial regeneration and digital ambition, whilst leading the way in healthcare innovation and employability.

At Barnsley Hospital, we are a close-knit, ambitious team delivering outstanding care in the heart of South Yorkshire. Our aim is to be the best place to work and we have been consistently rated by our people as being amongst the very best Trusts in the country in areas such as compassionate leadership, teamwork and supporting colleague wellbeing.

We offer a friendly working environment where you will be recognised and valued for what you do, led with compassion and integrity and have your career and wellbeing supported.

Barnsley Hospital NHS FT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and fair treatment to all applicants.

For individuals who require sponsorship under the skilled worker or health & care visa route please use the link on the right hand side of the advert to check your eligibility.

The cost of the DBS (criminal records check) for Band 6 and above roles will only be met by the successful candidate(s) through salary deduction.

Please note we reserve the right to close positions early

Job responsibilities
Job Description for Maternity Matron

Please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification for full details of the role and responsibilities.

Supporting Documents

Please refer to the values-based recruitment guidance and associated documentation.

Person Specification
Skills and abilities
Essential

• Evidence of excellent managerial, leadership and organisational skills
• Ability to motivate others
• Ability to work across professional teams and organisational boundaries
• Proven track record of being able to delegate and prioritise.
• Performance management skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Leadership skills
• Problem solving skills
• Standard IT skills ability to use Microsoft Office packages and patient information systems.
• Coaching/clinical supervision skills
• Able to vary communication style to suit audience and situation
• Ability to manage difficult situations sensitively.
• Ability to co-ordinate and chair meetings
• Ability to use own initiative, and work unsupervised, managing own work load

Desirable

• Advanced computer skills

Values
Essential

• Please describe in around 100 words: What Equality & Diversity means to you and why they are important
• Please describe in around 100 words: What do you do to get the best out of people?
• Please describe in around 100 words: How do you ensure you contribute to a well functioning team?

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered midwife
• Degree in midwifery or health related subject or equivalent
• Teaching/mentorship qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Educated to masters level or equivalent (or working towards)
• Professional knowledge and experience to masters level or equivalent

Desirable

• Management or leadership qualification

Values Based Questions
Essential

• Please describe in around 100 words: What do you do to get the best out of people?, Please describe in around 100 words: How do you ensure you contribute to a well functioning team?

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience of working at a senior level
• Experience of team management
• Experience of change management
• Budget management experience/financial management

Desirable

• Experience of working with a variety of models and care delivery
• Benchmarking experience
• Experience in project management

Knowledge and Awareness
Essential

• An understanding of trust policies and procedures
• An understanding of the national midwifery and patient agendas
• An understanding of clinical governance and the application to practice
• Knowledge of current clinical and professional issues
• Awareness of safeguarding issues

Desirable

• Health and Safety

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.

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
Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address
Pogmoor Road
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S75 2EP
United Kingdom

Employer's website
https://www.barnsleyhospital.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Interim Deputy Head of Midwifery
Natasha Geldart
n.geldart@nhs.net
07845698277

Details
Date posted
18 September 2026

Pay scheme
Agenda for change

Band
Band 8a

Salary
£57,528 to £64,750 a year

Contract
Fixed term

Duration
6 months

Working pattern
Full-time,
Flexible working

Reference number
C9163-3309I-09-2026

Job locations
Pogmoor Road
Barnsley
South Yorkshire
S75 2EP
United Kingdom

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.