Job overview
****** THIS POSITION IS ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST EMPLOYEES ******
The post holder will play a key role in supporting the Maternity Screening Leads in the coordination and delivery of the Antenatal and Newborn Screening (ANNB) Programmes across University Hospitals Sussex. This includes providing accurate, evidence-based information and counselling to pregnant people considering or undergoing prenatal screening, in line with national screening standards and local policies.
As part of the wider multidisciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to the provision of high-quality care within the fetal medicine service, supporting families through complex decision-making processes related to fetal anomaly diagnoses, pregnancy management, and potential outcomes. This may involve support with planning for birth, decisions regarding prenatal intervention, or end-of-pregnancy care, including bereavement support where appropriate.
The post holder will also assist in the day-to-day clinical activities within the maternity unit, undertake delegated responsibilities as appropriate to their level of competence, and may be required to represent the ANNB Screening Coordinator in their absence.
Main duties of the job
1. Information and Counselling
Provide accurate, clear, and evidence-based information to women regarding the purpose, process, benefits, and implications of antenatal screening tests. Deliver sensitive and personalised counselling to support informed decision-making.
2. Emotional Support
Offer compassionate emotional support to women undergoing screening, particularly those receiving high-risk or positive screening results, ensuring their concerns and needs are acknowledged and addressed.
3. Informed Decision-Making and Referral
Empower women to make choices aligned with their values and personal circumstances. Facilitate timely referral to specialist services, including tertiary fetal medicine centres, for further assessment, diagnosis, and management where screening results are positive or high-risk.
4. Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Liaise effectively with tertiary fetal medicine centres and multidisciplinary teams to plan and coordinate appropriate care pathways for women and their babies.
5. Cross-Site Support
Provide cross-site antenatal screening support within University Hospitals Sussex, contributing to consistent and high-quality service delivery across the trust.
6. Sonography Collaboration
Work in close partnership with sonography teams to ensure effective communication and coordination of all antenatal screening activities.
7. Documentation and Data Management
Ensure accurate, timely, and confidential documentation of all screening-related information in the Maternity Information System (MIS). Maintain and update relevant databases to support effective and safe screening service delivery.
8. National Reporting
Contribute to national antenatal screening and surveillance programmes by submitting required data to NCARDRS (National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service) and ISOSS (Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening).
9. Audit and Quality Assurance
Support the Screening Coordinator in compiling and reporting on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Participate in audit and continuous improvement initiatives to maintain service standards.
10. Governance and Incident Reporting
Promptly report and escalate any screening-related incidents in line with local maternity governance procedures and trust policies.
11. Fetal Medicine Clinics
Provide support to the Consultant during weekly fetal medicine clinics,
12. Equity and Inclusivity
Promote equitable access to antenatal screening services for all women and families. Ensure all care is inclusive, culturally sensitive, and addresses barriers to participation.
Working for our organisation
At 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.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
13. Provide accurate, clear information and counselling to women on the purpose, process, and implications of antenatal screening tests.
14. Offer emotional support to women undergoing screening, particularly in cases of high-risk or positive screening results.
15. Support women through informed decision-making, facilitating timely referral of those with high-risk or positive screening results to appropriate specialist services for further assessment and management.
16. Ensure women are empowered to make choices aligned with their values and circumstances.
17. Liaison with to tertiary fetal medicine centres to plan care of women and babies.
18. Provide cross-site screening support within University Hospitals Sussex.
19. Work closely with sonography teams to ensure seamless communication and coordination of antenatal screening activities.
20. Ensure accurate and timely documentation of screening information on the Maternity Information System (MIS).
21. Maintain and update all relevant databases accurately and promptly to support effective screening delivery.
22. Participate in national reporting by submitting data to NCARDRS (National Congenital Anomaly and Rare Disease Registration Service) and ISOSS (Infectious Diseases in Pregnancy Screening) systems.
23. Support the screening coordinator in compiling and reporting Key Performance Indicator (KPI) data.
24. Promptly report and escalate any screening-related incidents to the screening coordinator and through established maternity governance processes.
25. Provide support to consultant with weekly fetal medicine clinics.
26. Promote equity and equal access to screening services for all women and families, ensuring inclusivity, cultural sensitivity, and the removal of barriers to participation.
Person specification
Experience/ Qualifications
Essential criteria
27. Educated to Degree Level or equivalent
28. Band 6 Midwife
29. Confident and assertive communicator, able to take charge of challenging situations.
30. Excellent written and spoken English, with polished presentation skills
31. Resilient, energetic and self-motivated with a strong work ethic
32. Willingness to work across site at short notice to meet operational needs.
33. Insight into antenatal and newborn screening pathways
Desirable criteria
34. Demonstrated track record of working independently with minimal supervision
35. Experience with audit processes and guidelines writing
36. Working knowledge of maternity information systems
37. Evidence of related courses eg counselling/bereavement
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
38. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
39. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications