Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Band 6 Day Assessment Midwife

The closing date is 24 November 2026

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Job summary
The Band 6 Midwife working within the Maternity Day Assessment Unit (DAU) is responsible for the provision of high-quality, evidence-based, woman-centred antenatal care in an inpatient setting. The post holder will work autonomously within professional boundaries to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care for women and babies attending DAU, whilst recognising deviation from normal and escalating appropriately.

The DAU Midwife will manage women requiring ongoing maternal and fetal surveillance, facilitate ambulatory pathways, and contribute to reducing unnecessary inpatient admissions. The role requires excellent clinical judgement, effective communication, and close multidisciplinary working with obstetric, neonatal and wider maternity teams.

The post holder will support service delivery within DAU as their primary base, with flexibility to support other maternity areas during escalation in line with service need.

Main duties of the job

• Demonstrate leadership within the DAU environment, contributing to safe, effective service delivery on a shift-by-shift basis.
• Take charge of the DAU area when required, supporting coordination of workload, patient flow and staffing.
• Support Band 7 Midwives and Managers in the delivery of operational and clinical objectives including support to other clinical areas during periods of high acuity.
• Contribute to effective use of resources, ensuring care is delivered safely and efficiently.
• Participate in escalation processes during periods of increased activity across maternity services.

About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Details
Date posted: 11 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year pa pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: 418-MAT81245-EH
Job locations: Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom

Job description
Job responsibilities

• Provide holistic, individualised, woman-centred midwifery care within the Maternity Day Assessment Unit in line with Trust guidelines, NICE guidance and national standards
• Undertake comprehensive antenatal and postnatal assessments, including: Maternal observations and MEWS; Urinalysis; Abdominal palpation, symphysis fundal height, fetal lie and auscultation; CTG monitoring where clinically indicated
• Independently manage women attending DAU for ongoing surveillance and care, including but not limited to: Hypertension, raised PCR and pre-eclampsia; Preterm pre-labour rupture of membranes (P-PROM); Diabetes in pregnancy; Obstetric cholestasis; Fetal growth restriction and CTG surveillance; Reduced fetal movements follow-up; Women undecided or declining induction of labour

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Midwife
• Degree or equivalent qualification
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Experience
Essential

• Experience at band 6 level
• Suitable clinical experience in all clinical areas
• Act as mentor and assessor
• Experience in taking charge of shifts

Knowledge
Essential

• Understanding of the need of confidentiality awareness at all times
• Overall knowledge and experience of the Maternity and Maternity related guidelines and policies
• Understanding and adherence to the NMC code as well as the Standards of proficiency for midwives
• Evidence based client centred care
• Knowledge of child protection issues and policies.
• Demonstrate awareness of public health agenda

Desirable

• Awareness of resource management and budget control
• Knowledge of research and audit

Skills
Essential

• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Team working skills
• Computer literacy
• High standards of clinical performance
• Ability to manage
• Leadership and Motivational skills

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address: Luton and Dunstable Hospital, Lewsey Road, Luton, LU4 0DZ, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Deputy Head of Midwifery, Michelle Vaughan, michelle.vaughan@bedsft.nhs.uk

Supporting documents
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