The closing date is 10th Mar 2026
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and dynamic Freya Ward Lead Midwife to provide senior clinical and operational leadership on our mixed antenatal and post natal ward. This is a key role within our maternity services, responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, personalised and evidence based care.
As a visible and supportive leader, you will coordinate the day to day running of the ward, oversee midwifery and support staff, and ensure high quality standards of care for women, birthing people, babies and families. You will contribute to service development, governance and quality improvement, working closely with the Maternity Matron, specialist leads, and wider multidisciplinary teams.
This role offers the opportunity to shape practice, support staff development and play an integral part in the continuing transformation and improvement of maternity services across the Trust.
Main duties, tasks & skills required
* Lead the daily operational management of the Freya Ward, ensuring safe staffing, smooth patient flow and highquality clinical care.
* Provide visible, compassionate leadership to midwives and maternity support workers, promoting teamwork, professionalism and the Trust values.
* Maintain clinical competence and work clinically at least once per week to model good practice and support staff.
* Communicate effectively with women, birthing people, families and multidisciplinary colleagues, promoting informed choice and personalised care.
* Support and oversee safeguarding, infection prevention, emergency response and escalation processes.
* Contribute to recruitment, induction, mentorship and supervision of staff, helping to build a positive learning environment.
* Lead and support clinical governance activity, including audits, incident investigations, complaints and learning from feedback.
* Oversee the safe use of equipment, resources and supplies, ensuring efficient and sustainable practice.
* Participate in maternity transformation workstreams, including national and local improvement programmes.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
* Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
* NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
* Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
* A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Clinical and Operational Leadership
* Provide senior leadership for the antenatal and postnatal ward, ensuring care is delivered in line with Trust policies, national guidance and the NMC Code.
* Maintain a strong presence on the ward, offering clinical support, decision making assistance and reassurance to staff.
* Coordinate staff and resources to ensure safe patient flow, timely escalation and effective response to changes in acuity.
* Promote high quality transitional care for neonates in partnership with neonatal teams.
* Support intrapartum services when required during periods of high acuity.
Communication and Collaboration
* Foster effective multidisciplinary collaboration with obstetricians, anaesthetists, neonatologists, maternity leadership teams and other clinical services.
* Communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy and clarity to women, families and staff.
* Engage with service users, families and the Maternity Voices Partnership to strengthen patient experience.
* Represent inpatient maternity services at internal and external meetings and forums.
Governance, Quality and Safety
* Lead and contribute to clinical audits, incident investigations, data collection and quality improvement initiatives.
* Monitor performance, KPIs and care standards, sharing learning and implementing change where needed.
* Ensure adherence to clinical guidelines, policies, safeguarding processes and risk management systems.
* Contribute to the Maternity Incentive Scheme and related national programmes.
Staff Management and Development
* Support workforce planning, rota management and safe staffing levels, responding promptly to sickness and gaps.
* Participate in recruitment, induction and continuous development of midwifery and support staff.
* Conduct appraisals, provide supervision and create a psychologically safe culture that promotes learning and improvement.
* Act as a role model for clinical excellence, professionalism and compassionate leadership.
Resource and Equipment Management
* Ensure efficient use of financial and physical resources, maintaining equipment safety and managing stock levels effectively.
* Promote sustainable working practices and reduction of waste in line with Trust objectives.
Information and Administration
* Ensure high standard record keeping, documentation and data protection in line with NMC standards and Trust policies.
* Use maternity information systems and electronic patient records to support safe, efficient care.
* Produce accurate reports relating to governance, incidents, audits and service evaluation.
Education and Professional Standards
* Support student midwife placements and act as a practice supervisor or assessor.
* Contribute to maternity emergency training, including PROMPT and related drills.
* Maintain own professional development, meeting training, mandatory and revalidation requirements.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Midwifery NMC registration
* Educated to Diploma/degree level or above
* Neonatal Life Support
* Safeguarding (level 3) adults and children's training
Desirable
* Evidence of ongoing education/master's level or equivalent
* Mentor/assessor training qualification
* Quality improvement training
Experience
Essential
* Post registration clinical practice in relevant clinical area
* Evidence of working in a leadership role/developmental leadership role
* Experience of managing staff and dealing with difficult situations in a non-confrontational manner
Desirable
* Experience of roster management
Additional Criteria
Essential
* Awareness of policies for the management of sickness and other absence and of own role in monitoring and managing this
* Knowledge of procedures for safeguarding children, vulnerable adults and those with learning difficulties
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.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
UK Professional Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.
For help with your application, contact:
Kate Beaumont
Pay scheme
Agenda for Change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£ to £ Yearly
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-Time
Reference number
184-OL-GR-4363
Job locations
Yeovil District Hospital
Higher Kingston
Yeovil
Somerset
BA21 4AT