Job overview
Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust is one of England’s largest acute teaching trusts and offers a full‐time Maternity Grade Band 6 contract of 37.5 hours per week. This role requires a committed midwife who provides compassionate support following the loss of a baby, assisting families with memorials, funeral arrangements, and subsequent pregnancies.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities and Support
* Emotional & Practical Care: Offering support in the hospital and at home, including funeral arrangements and registering the baby.
* Liaison: Liaising between a multi‑professional team and local and national charities.
* Memory Making: Creating memory boxes, taking footprints, handprints and photos, and helping with bathing or dressing the baby.
* Guidance & Advocacy: Navigating post‑mortem reports, answering questions about why the loss occurred, and acting as a liaison with other medical teams.
* Signposting: Referring families to support groups, counselling and charities.
Education & Training: Training other staff to ensure high‑quality, sensitive, and consistent care for bereaved families.
* Governance & Audit: Participating in national reporting tools such as MBRRACE‑UK and PMRT (Perinatal Mortality Review Tool).
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
This job description outlines the key tasks and responsibilities of the role. The post holder will be expected to:
* Deliver a confidential support service to women and their families following baby loss, including early pregnancy loss, mid‑trimester miscarriage, TFMR and stillbirth.
* Facilitate bereavement care that reflects national and local priorities for effective patient care, including the National Bereavement Care Pathway.
* Deliver an excellent bereavement service by contributing to the 7‑day bereavement service team.
* Be competent in all aspects of midwifery care, supporting subsequent pregnancies, booking and antenatal follow‑up appointments.
* Act as an advocate for bereaved women and families using effective communication.
* Involve family members and support networks in the care process.
* Support families through a subsequent pregnancy within the dedicated Rainbow clinic.
* Liaise and communicate with all MDT members to ensure patient needs are met.
* Assist in creating memories, maintaining dignity, respect and wishes of the parents, and preparing babies for funeral.
* Support staff with the transfer of deceased babies to the mortuary.
* Work with Chaplains, Bereavement Officers, Mortuary Manager, Perinatal Pathologist and Histopathology team.
* Communicate complex, sensitive or distressing information effectively.
* Discuss perinatal post‑mortem with families sensitively after appropriate training.
* Complete documentation including face‑to‑face discussions, telephone or email conversations, referrals and agency contacts.
* Respond to enquiries from staff, patients and relatives promptly, in writing, orally or electronically.
* Help families understand clinical information they have received.
* Maintain accurate records and high‑level documentation for bereavement support and guidance.
* Maintain accurate service databases for up‑to‑date data recording.
* Ensure all support literature is up‑to‑date and appropriate.
* Act as a resource for colleagues to provide expert knowledge in bereavement care.
* Assist in reviewing and auditing the services and participate in development projects.
* Attend and participate in MBRRACE reporting, PMRT reviews and Child Death reviews when required.
* Maintain specialist knowledge of midwifery practice and bereavement care.
* Contribute to service developments by attending national workshops and training appropriate to the role.
* Maintain CPD requirements and personal development plan.
* Support staff development within bereavement care standards.
* Adhere to the NMC Code of Professional conduct and Trust Policies and Procedures.
* Be aware of current evidence‑based practice.
* Recognise limits of competence and seek advice from senior staff when required.
Training & Qualifications
* Registered Midwife (degree level).
* Current NMC registration.
* Completion of Band 5 preceptorship programme in the UK.
Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours
* Demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust’s “We are here for you” behavioural standards.
Experience
* Recent or current experience within the specialty.
* Demonstrate ability to deliver clinical care in the specialty.
* Ability to convey sensitive information empathetically.
* Provide staff with feedback on performance.
* Evidence of teaching in practice or classroom settings.
* Bereavement support and palliative care experience.
* Rainbow clinic experience.
Communication and Relationship Skills
* Effective written and verbal communication.
* Proficiency in IT systems, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel.
* Work as part of an MDT.
* Recognise own competence limits and communicate appropriately.
* Minimise interpersonal conflict and barriers to communication.
* Negotiation and influencing skills.
* Team working and the ability to work effectively alone.
Analytical and Judgement Skills
* Ensure effective escalation.
* Assess, plan, deliver, prioritise and evaluate patient care.
* Identify learning needs.
* Respond to problem situations and implement interventions.
Planning and Organisation Skills
* Organise own work schedule and manage time effectively.
* Prioritise workload and respond to urgent situations.
* Contribute to local objectives and action plans.
* Demonstrate leadership skills and effectively lead a team.
Physical Skills
* Physically able to perform the full range of midwifery duties.
* Competent in using medical equipment.
* Capable of patient and non‑patient manual handling manoeuvres.
* Evidence of manual handling training.
Other requirements specific to the role
* Flexible and adaptable.
* Flexibility to cover a 7‑day service.
* Hold a driver’s licence and access to a car.
We particularly welcome applications from people who identify as Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, or Disabled, as we are striving to be better represented at NUH.
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