Job summaryThe Bereavement Specialist Midwife will support the Bereavement Lead Midwife and wider multidisciplinary team to deliver compassionate, personalised and equitable care for women, birthing people and families experiencing pregnancy loss across University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust.
The post holder will provide specialist advice, support and education to maternity staff, promoting high quality bereavement care in line with national maternity priorities, bereavement care standards and evidence based practice. Working collaboratively with maternity, neonatal and specialist teams, they will contribute to the coordination, development and continuous improvement of bereavement services, ensuring families receive sensitive, responsive and family centred care throughout their bereavement journey.
The role will work across both St Richards Hospital (Chichester) and Worthing Hospital sites and support a culture of learning, reflection and professional development within maternity services.
Main duties of the job- To provide bereavement support for women, birthing people and families suffering pregnancy loss, stillbirth and early infant loss.
- Play a lead role in the achievement and maintenance of high standards of service, using the tools of clinical audit, environment audit, and consumer satisfaction surveys to their full effect. Delegate where appropriate.
- Be accountable for own professional practice.
- To provide clinical support for staff who are providing bereavement support for a woman/birthing person and their family
- Demonstrate a variety of effective communication skills with women/birthing people and their families in what can be emotionally demanding and distressing situations to enable them to be involved in their care
- Co-ordinate and manage the processes following a pregnancy loss / maternal or neonatal death
About usAt UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
DetailsDate posted: 16 September 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year per annum, pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Job share
Reference number: 279-8283956-SEP26
Job locations: St Richards Hospital and Worthing Hospital, Worthing/Chichester, BN11 2DH, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities- To provide bereavement support for women/birthing people and families suffering pregnancy loss, stillbirth and early infant loss.
- Play a lead role in the achievement and maintenance of high standards of service, using the tools of clinical audit, environment audit, and consumer satisfaction surveys to their full effect. Delegate where appropriate.
- Be accountable for own professional practice.
- To provide clinical support for staff who are providing bereavement support for a woman/birthing person and their family.
- Have human relation skills which enable them to understand, influence and communicate with colleagues, women, pregnant people and their families.
- Co-ordinate and manage the processes following a pregnancy loss / maternal or neonatal death
- To appropriately refer women or person for formal bereavement counselling at the request of the family or where identified by healthcare professionals.
- To liaise with all other agencies and departments involved in providing bereavement support i.e. coroner, chaplain, mortuary, cemetery, support groups, pathology departments, funeral service etc.
- To provide training for midwives on bereavement on a regular basis in accordance with the rolling education programme.
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. Sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds, and any role-specific criteria. For example, applicants for the Senior HCA role must be able to evidence a minimum of 2 years experience in the same role to qualify for sponsorship.
If you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Person SpecificationExperience/QualificationsEssential- Significant Post registration experience
- Experience in providing and coordinating bereavement care
- Strong communication skills
- ENB 997/8 or equivalent.
Desirable- Post registration education or study relevant to pregnancy loss role
- Teaching experience
- Audit and/or research experience
- Degree in midwifery or relevant subject.
- Experience of clinical audit/quality issues within the health care setting.
Professional RegistrationEssentialEquality, Diversity, and InclusionEssential- Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
- Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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 RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer detailsEmployer name: University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (279)
Address: St Richards Hospital and Worthing Hospital, Worthing/Chichester, BN11 2DH, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)
Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Perinatal Workforce Matron, Rosie Jennings, rosie.jennings@nhs.net, 01903205111
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. 
