Job overview
About the Role
We are seeking an experienced and inspirational Deputy Head of Midwifery to join our senior leadership team within the Family and Clinical Support Services Division. Working under the professional direction of the Head of Midwifery, the postholder will provide strong professional, strategic and operational leadership across maternity services, ensuring the highest standards of care, safety and patient experience.
This is a key leadership role with responsibility for supporting and leading midwifery and nursing teams, driving quality improvement, and ensuring services are responsive, compassionate and safe for women and families.
About You
You will be an experienced senior midwife with a strong track record of leadership, service improvement and staff development. You will demonstrate credibility, compassion and resilience, with the ability to influence at senior level and lead teams through change while maintaining high standards of care.
Main duties of the job
Key Responsibilities
1. Act as a key member of the senior leadership team, providing visible and compassionate leadership across maternity services.
2. Be accountable for the management and leadership of midwifery and nursing teams, holding teams to account against organisational performance indicators, regulatory requirements and quality standards.
3. Provide professional, strategic and operational leadership to ensure optimal standards of care through effective management of human, financial and physical resources.
4. Lead on the strategic direction of community maternity services, education and specialist midwifery services, in line with the agreed organisational structure.
5. Champion patient safety, professional standards, service quality and excellent patient experience across all areas of maternity care.
6. Actively listen to the voices of women and people using maternity services, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, learning and innovation.
7. Work in partnership with service users, multidisciplinary teams and key stakeholders to drive quality improvement and influence the development of clinical practice.
8. Deputise for the Head of Midwifery or Director of Midwifery as required.
9. Participate in the senior midwifery on-call rota for Hampshire Hospitals maternity services.
Working for our organisation
Our vision is to provide outstanding care for every patient. Patient care is at the heart of what we do at our three sites: Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital, Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester and Andover War Memorial Hospital. Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides medical and surgical services to a population of approximately 600,000 people across Hampshire and parts of West Berkshire.
Our cultural ambition is to have a culture that places people at the heart of all we do, where we all belong, and where learning, improvement and excellence thrive.
We provide specialist services to people across the UK and internationally. We are one of only two centres in the UK treating pseudomyxoma peritonei (a rare form of abdominal cancer) and we are leaders in the field of tertiary liver cancer and colorectal cancer.
The trust employs more than 9,000 staff and has a turnover of over £500 million a year. As a Foundation Trust, we are directly accountable to our members through the governors. The Council of Governors represent the interests of their constituencies and influence the future plans of the Foundation Trust.
Your Next Career Move Made Easier – Accommodation May Be Offered
We understand relocating can be a big step. Hampshire Hospitals may be able to provide accommodation options for successful candidates, depending on availability. If this something you would like to explore please contact on 02080 360017
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
The postholder will:
10. Lead the development of maternity services through the implementation of innovative and evidence-based strategies that promote an empowered, skilled and sustainable workforce, ensuring services are fit for purpose and deliver excellence in care standards, including securing the workforce for the future.
11. Undertake a six-monthly midwifery and multidisciplinary staffing review and maintain strategic oversight of the associated workforce plan, working in partnership with the Operational Services Manager (OSM).
12. Proactively identify service needs, make recommendations, and contribute to the management of change to ensure maternity services remain patient- and family-focused, evidence-based, and aligned with national and local policy requirements.
13. departmental objectives, contributing to the Trust’s strategic priorities, commissioning intentions and CQC requirements.
14. Be responsible for the development, implementation and review of policies, demonstrating a strong commitment to equity, equality and inclusion.
15. Ensure all clinical guidelines are current, robust and benchmarked against national guidance (e.g. NICE).
16. Maintain awareness of national, regional and local developments in maternity care and ensure relevant changes are appropriately assessed and implemented within Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust.
17. Act as a visible role model, demonstrating high standards of professional, values-led behaviour and supporting the creation of a positive and inclusive culture, whilst promoting a positive image of the Trust in line with its Values.
18. Share accountability with the senior midwifery leadership team for establishing and maintaining effective cascade communication systems that ensure timely dissemination of strategic, managerial and operational information to all staff.
19. Develop and maintain strong collaborative working relationships with service user groups, clinicians and other professionals to strengthen multidisciplinary engagement and ownership of service aims, including the monitoring and reporting of clinical outcomes.
20. Establish effective working relationships with senior managers across other services and divisions to support the delivery of safe, evidence-based and cost-effective care.
21. Lead specific projects, or groups of projects, either directly or through matrons or clinicians reporting to the postholder.
22. Lead or contribute to professional, business and operational committees or projects both internally and externally to the Trust, as delegated by the Head of Midwifery.
23. Participate fully in the senior midwifery manager on-call rota, assuming full responsibilities associated with this role.
24. Respond appropriately to major incidents, internal disasters and other significant events impacting on women’s care.
25. Demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to changing service priorities within the remit of the role.
26. Undertake any other duties appropriate to the responsibility and grade of the post and in line with the needs of the service.
Person specification
Professional registration and CPD
Essential criteria
27. Evidence of CPD alongside professional registration
28. Senior Leadership experience
29. Extensive HR policy and management use
30. Demonstrable quality improvement experience
Desirable criteria
31. Masters degree or working towards
32. Leadership/management qualification
Education
Essential criteria
33. Educated to degree or relevant experience
34. evidence of CPD
Clinical experience
Essential criteria
35. Experience at 8a matron level or leadership role
36. Clinically credible
Desirable criteria
37. experience in all service areas