Lead Midwife

Band 8a

Woman and Acute Child Health
Ulster Maternity Hospital

The post holder will:

• Be the designated lead for Emergency and Day Obstetric Units and for the maternity inpatient ward in the Ulster Hospital. (this remit may be subject to change)
• Be responsible for providing strong professional and managerial leadership to Community Midwifery Services Trustwide and for the maternity inpatient ward in the Ulster Hospital to promote optimal patient outcomes.
• Be responsible for the development of midwifery services and contribute to the strategic direction of midwifery within the organisation including responsibility for the development, implementation and maintenance of professional standards of practice and safe and effective care.
• Play a key role in the development of flexible midwifery services across the Trust and maternity inpatient facilities that meets the needs of the women who utilise it whilst contributing to the strategic direction within the organisation.
• Contribute to and shape a culture that is innovative and open to change, challenge and new concepts.
• Work collaboratively to build on the current maternity services and establish the South Eastern Trust as a leader in this field.
• Deputise in the absence of the Deputy Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology.

Key Duties and Responsibilities
Professional Leadership

• Provide professional leadership, acting as a role model, supporting and developing staff employed within her/his defined area of responsibility.
• Collaborate with the Head of Midwifery and Gynaecology in the design and delivery of a reactive and flexible service by analysis and interpretation of national agendas, their implementation and evaluation at a local level, whilst mapping against the Trust's corporate agenda.
• Act as the project lead in developing and implementing services improvements directed by evidence based practice and national agenda, i.e. partnership working with other stakeholders e.g. social services, General practitioners, police, local authorities, as well as education providers for maternity services to influence educational strategy.
• In conjunction with other senior midwife managers and the Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology, formulate the Trust's midwifery strategy and through its implementation analyse and assess the service's performance using measurable performance indicators.
• Strengthen the leadership skills of Band 7 midwives through working as a skilled change agent and educator, enabling and empowering clinical staff to develop and modernise practice.
• Represent maternity services at a strategic level and in multidisciplinary settings within the Trust, the region, nationally and internationally as indicated by the Head of Midwifery and Gynaecology.
• Contribute to and shape a culture that is innovative whilst being open to new concepts and challenge.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues from different disciplines so as to develop dynamic, forward thinking relationships within a woman focussed service.
• Deliver high quality, effective and efficient care in a variety of settings so as to deliver optimal patient outcomes.
• Devise innovative ways to support, retain and expand the workforce.
• Support and maintain effective communication with the senior midwifery team ensuring relevant information is disseminated.

Clinical Management

• Be accountable for delivery of clinical care services in Emergency and Day Obstetric Units and within the Maternity Ward.
• Be directly responsible for the line management of Band 7 midwives within relevant departments.
• Maintain own personal clinical credibility.
• Protect the public by ensuring maintenance of the highest standards of care.
• Secure and assure the highest standards of clinical care by the provision of midwifery leadership, robustly monitoring standards of practice and care through clinical governance.
• Lead on the provision of support systems for each area of responsibility whilst encouraging innovation and new ways of thinking and delivering a safe service.
• Work cohesively with the Assistant Director, Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology and Royal Colleges to ensure standards for care are formulated and met.
• Lead local implementation of relevant national midwifery agendas e.g. NICE guidance, RCM/RCOG.
• Ensure midwives comply with the regulations for registration as laid down by the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
• Be accountable within the local service for the implementation of the procedures for Child Protection and Domestic Abuse.
• Actively encourage, support and participate in the practice of Clinical Supervision.
• Act as an expert and resource for information and support in clinical practice.
• Act for the Deputy Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology in her absence and support other 8A colleagues in their role.

Service & Financial Management

• Lead in the commission of post registration education in accordance with service needs of the Maternity services.
• Actively participate as a member of the senior midwifery management team.
• Manage a devolved budget on behalf of the Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology and ensure effective and efficient use of resources.
• Act as a key conduit for effective two way communication at a strategic level between managers and internal and external stakeholders.
• Lead on the day-to-day operational management of clinical services, liaising with a range of internal and external stakeholders.
• Participate in an out-of-hours on call rota for maternity, gynaecology and paediatric services.
• Under the direction of the Assistant Director, Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology promote and ensure the delivery of high quality, safe and effective care across Maternity services, in line with Regional/National strategies, evidence-based practice, research and the Trust Corporate Plan.
• Lead workforce planning within designated area of responsibility, maintaining methods of monitoring workload, clinical activity, staffing levels/skill mix ensuring action is taken to prevent compromised care.
• Be responsible for the selection, appointment and retention of staff in accordance with Trust policy.
• Participate in professional and personal development in accordance with NMC requirements.
• Promote and facilitate the implementation of the Trust Personal Performance & Development review.
• Ensure robust induction programmes are in place for all staff.
• Ensure systems are in place to monitor current registration of all professional staff.

Clinical Governance

• Lead on the development of a local SQE plan, to include RQIA, Environmental Health and Investors of People, ensuring key recommendations and lessons learned are implemented and evaluated.
• Be responsible for risk management of midwifery services within area of responsibility, with particular reference to Health & Safety legislation, ensuring risk profiles are complete for areas of responsibility.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of the Directorate Clinical Governance agenda.
• Lead on the implementation of Infection Prevention Control initiatives within maternity services, ensuring systems are in place to maintain a safe environment for women and staff within Risk Management and Governance strategy.
• Take the lead in complaint/disciplinary/incident and accident investigation, analysis and resolution, applying root cause analysis where applicable and supporting the Governance team to undertake investigations, report writing and meeting with families.
• Challenge poor performance and unacceptable behaviour.
• Ensure statutory/mandatory duties and legal requirements are upheld within areas of responsibility.
• Work with the public, women and voluntary organisations ensuring meaningful engagement and involvement in the planning and evaluation of services.
• Routinely measure and analyse standards through a range of audit activity, using a range of IT packages.
• Identify research projects and coordinate team participation in Research & Development.
• Promote and facilitate annual staff appraisals and undertake appraisal for direct reports.
• Observe for signs of ill health or stress in staff and colleagues and take appropriate action with staff or management, in accordance with Trust policy.
• Promote positive staff morale and commitment across the Directorate.

Human Resource Management Responsibilities

• Establish and promote a supportive, fair and open culture that encourages and enables all parts of the team to have clearly aligned goals and objectives, to meet the required performance standards and to achieve continuous improvement in the services they deliver.
• Ensure access to skills and personal development through appropriate training and support.
• Promote a culture of openness and honesty to enable shared learning.
• Encourage and empower others in their team to achieve their goals and reach their full potential through regular supportive conversation and shared decision making.
• Adhere to and promote Trust policy and procedure in all staffing matters, participating as appropriate in a way which underpins Trust values.

Raising Concerns Responsibilities

• Promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency.
• Ensure that all concerns raised with them are taken seriously and acted on in accordance with the Trust's 'Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• In the event of a concern being raised with them, ensure that it is managed correctly under the Trust's 'Your Right to Raise a Concern (Whistleblowing)' policy and ensure feedback/learning is communicated at individual, team and organisational level.

General Management Responsibilities

• Promote and support effective team working, fostering a culture of openness and transparency. Ensure that all concerns raised are taken seriously and acted on in accordance with the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust's Raising Concerns Policy and their professional code of conduct, where applicable.
• In the event of a concern being raised, ensure it is managed correctly under the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust's Raising Concerns Policy and ensure that feedback/learning is communicated at individual, team and organisational level regarding the concerns raised, and how they were resolved.

General Requirements

• Ensure the Trust's policy on equality of opportunity is promoted through own actions and those of any staff for whom responsible.
• Co-operate fully with the implementation of the Trust's Health and Safety arrangements, reporting any accidents/incidents/equipment defects to their manager, and maintaining a clean, uncluttered and safe environment for patients/clients, members of the public and staff.
• Adhere at all times to all Trust policies/codes of conduct, including Smoke Free policy, IT Security Policy and Code of Conduct, and standards of attendance, appearance and behaviour.
• Contribute to ensuring the highest standards of environmental cleanliness within designated area of work.
• Co-operate fully with Trust policies and procedures relating to infection prevention and control.
• Take responsibility to minimise the Trust's environmental impact wherever possible, including recycling, switching off equipment when not in use, reducing paper waste and water usage, and minimising travel.
• All employees are legally responsible for records held, created or used as part of their business, including patient/client, corporate and administrative records and emails, which are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2000, Environmental Information Regulations 2004, the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.
• Take responsibility for own ongoing learning and development, in order to maximise potential and continue to meet the demands of the post.
• Represent the Trust's commitment to providing the highest possible standard of service to patients/clients and members of the public, by treating all those with whom they come into contact in a pleasant, courteous and respectful manner.

eHealth
The South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust has invested in eHealth to deliver better, faster, safer care to our community. Staff are required to commit sufficient time to acquire and/or retain the core technology skills required to support their role.

Personal and Public Involvement (PPI)
Staff members are expected to involve patients, clients, carers and the wider community where relevant, in developing, planning and delivering services in a meaningful and effective way, as part of the Trust's ongoing commitment to Personal and Public Involvement (PPI).

Personnel Specification
Essential Criteria

• Registered midwife on the live NMC Register.
• Degree or professional qualification and worked for 5 years in a senior role (Band 7 or above) AND 2 years' experience in delivering against challenging performance objectives meeting a range of key targets and making significant improvements AND 2 years' experience working with a diverse range of stakeholders internal and external to the organisation to achieve successful outcomes AND 2 years' experience of people management, governance and organisational skills.
• Experience of Clinical Governance.
• Experience of managing complaints.
• Hold a current full driving licence which is valid for use in the UK and have access to a car on appointment. This criteria will be waived in the case of applicants whose disability prohibits driving but who have access to a form of transport approved by the Trust which will permit them to carry out the duties of the post.
• Skills and abilities: effective communication; effective people management including shift systems; leadership ability; partnership working; financial planning; presentation and IT skills; strategic ability; current midwifery clinical skills; resilience, stamina and reliability under pressure; ability to think innovatively; solution focussed; excellent organisational skills; ability to represent themselves as credible and aspirational; ability to represent the Trust professionally.
• Thorough grasp of current midwifery research and maternity service agenda and ability to articulate this to others; political awareness of current health policies; project management; teaching or experience of leading groups; experience in working with Midwifery Led Care and/or postnatal work.

Desirable Criteria

• Project management; teaching or experience of leading groups; experience in working in Emergency Obstetric Unit or inpatient ward.
• Management certificate or equivalent.

Successful applicants may be required to attend for a Health Assessment and can expect to be placed at the minimum point of the pay scale. Enhanced Disclosure Check through Access NI may be required before appointment. Applicants with a disability who require support should contact the relevant person in the organisation. The organisation is an equal opportunities employer.

Closing date: Tue, 17 November 2026 at 5:30 PM. Applications received after the closing date cannot be considered.