Job summary
Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and passionate Registered Midwife to join our Integrated Safeguarding and Complex Care Team as the Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse.

This is a key statutory role within the Trust, providing professional leadership, expert advice and assurance across safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse. Working closely with colleagues across maternity, safeguarding, children's services, adult services and partner agencies, you will help ensure that some of the most vulnerable women, babies and families receive the right support at the right time.

As a senior member of the safeguarding team, you will lead on the development of policies, pathways and practice improvement initiatives, support staff managing complex safeguarding concerns, and provide assurance that the Trust continues to meet its statutory safeguarding responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safeguarding practitioner with strong leadership skills to influence practice across the organisation and make a real difference to patient outcomes.

Main duties of the job
The Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse will provide expert safeguarding leadership, advice and support across the Trust, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, national guidance and best practice. The post holder will lead on safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse agendas, supporting staff to identify, assess and respond to risk effectively.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing specialist advice and guidance on safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse.
• Leading the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, pathways and practice improvements.
• Supporting and influencing clinical teams to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care.
• Working collaboratively with partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable women, babies and families.
• Leading on safeguarding assurance, audit, reporting and performance monitoring.
• Delivering education, supervision and support to staff across the organisation.
• Representing the Trust at local, regional and national safeguarding forums.
• Leading on Domestic Homicide Reviews, safeguarding reviews and learning dissemination where required.
• Supporting the Trust to meet its statutory safeguarding responsibilities and commissioning requirements.
• Contributing to the strategic direction of safeguarding and complex care services across the organisation.

About us
The Trust's services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery.

Qualification
Essential

• Current NMC registration as a Registered Midwife
• Post Graduate Study / Masters (relevant to field of practice) or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and experience
Essential

• Safeguarding experience at Band 7.
• Understanding of working with complex family situations.

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. The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules.

Contact:
Associate Director of Nursing, Jill Cooper, jill.cooper@nhs.net, 01244363608

Closing date: 25 October 2026

Apply through our website

The Trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post. Applicants are advised to apply early as the vacancy may close prior to the advertised date.