Job overview
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate midwifery leader to head our Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) service. This role champions advocacy, restorative supervision, and the A‑EQUIP model across maternity services, ensuring a culture where staff feel psychologically safe, valued, and supported.
You will lead a team of sessional PMAs, provide trauma‑informed restorative support, and embed advocacy pathways that strengthen learning, wellbeing, and professional growth. Working closely with Education, Governance, Workforce, and senior midwifery leaders, you will feed insights from staff experience into quality improvement, safety processes, and workforce development.
This is a pivotal role for someone passionate about restorative, supportive maternity cultures and committed to continuous learning and professional development.
Main duties of the job
1. Leading and developing the PMA service across maternity areas
2. Ensuring all maternity staff have access to advocacy, restorative supervision, and wellbeing support
3. Supporting psychologically safe responses to clinical events, including AARs and reflective practice
4. Integrating learning from advocacy into education, governance, and culture‑improvement work
5. Supervising and developing PMA team members and PMA students
6. Participating in the Manager on Call rota
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
About You:
You will be a qualified PMA and registered midwife with excellent leadership, communication, and organisational skills. You will have a clear understanding of the A-EQUIP model and experience in delivering restorative clinical supervision. Experience in service development, evaluation, or strategy work is desirable but not essential—what’s key is your motivation to lead change and collaborate across teams.
Please see detailed job description and person specification for more information.
Person specification
Essential
Essential criteria
7. Registered Midwife (degree level/equivalent) with active NMC PIN
8. Significant experience as Professional Midwifery Advocate
9. Significant post reg experience in range of clinical settings/roles
10. Leadership Experience
11. Quality Improvement Experience
Desirable criteria
12. De-briefing/Coaching training or equivalent experience
13. Mater's Degree/PGCert or working towards
14. Proven track record in leading improvement projects successfully
15. Experience of audit, evaluation or research
16. Leadership qualification or working towards
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
17. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
18. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)
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