Job summary
The Kensington Wing is a leading private maternity service offering consultant-led and midwife-led care, and we are seeking an exceptional midwifery leader with strong private maternity experience to join us as our Private Maternity Matron. This senior role provides visible clinical leadership, operational oversight and professional support to ensure safe, personalised and high-quality care.
The post holder will lead the quality, safety and governance agenda across private maternity, embedding a PSIRF-aligned learning culture, ensuring compliance with CQC standards, and overseeing incidents, complaints, claims, thematic learning and Divisional reporting. Working closely with the lead nurse, ward managers, senior midwives and the wider MDT, the Matron will champion evidence-based practice, excellent patient experience and high professional standards.
They will also support pathway innovation, service development and the continued growth of private maternity care, strengthening governance structures and ensuring a consistent, seamless experience for women, birthing people and families. We are seeking an experienced senior midwife--ideally at Matron or senior Band 7/8 level--with strong communication skills, confidence and a proven track record in private maternity. If you are passionate about leading a high-performing service and shaping the future of private maternity care at Chelsea and Westminster, we would be delighted to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
* Provide visible clinical and professional leadership to ensure high-quality, compassionate, evidence-based care across the Private Maternity Unit.
* Support the Ward Manager to focus on core responsibilities, drive quality and enhance patient experience.
* Hold primary responsibility for the Private Maternity Unit while contributing to quality, governance and service development across the wider Private Patient Directorate.
* Work collaboratively with clinical, operational and corporate teams to support cross-site working and the delivery of safe, high-quality private patient services.
* Lead the implementation of Trust nursing, midwifery and corporate objectives within the service.
* Ensure consistently high standards of patient experience, safety, dignity and cleanliness in line with the Matron role.
* Provide specialist clinical expertise, manage complex care pathways and present regular governance reports to the Divisional Quality Board.
* Evaluate and improve private maternity services through audit, review, feedback and evidence-based practice.
* Coordinate investigations and provide leadership following Serious Incidents within private maternity services.
* Oversee robust reporting, investigation and follow-up of patient safety incidents, ensuring implementation and monitoring of resulting action plans.
About us
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is proud to be one of the top performing and safest trusts in England. We have two main acute hospital sites--Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital, plus our award-winning clinics across North West London and beyond.
Details
Date posted
19 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
£64,156 to £71,148 a year pro rata per annum incl. HCAS
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
Reference number
289-SC-277
Job locations
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be responsible for the clinical and professional leadership and line management of the Private Maternity Unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. They will be a valuable member of the multidisciplinary team and must have relevant midwifery experience. Demonstrating a calm, confident and assertive approach in challenging situations is essential. Excellent communication skills when liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team are essential.
The successful applicant will support the development of a culture across private maternity and the wider private patients services which is open to and empowers innovation, creativity and learning at a team and directorate level. Supporting a service which values, respects and strengthens the differing cultures and backgrounds of service users and ensuring a friendly, supportive and non-judgmental approach to staff, service users and their families.
The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership for the quality, safety and clinical governance agenda across the Private Maternity Service, ensuring care is safe, effective, responsive, well-led and person-centred, in line with CQC Key Lines of Enquiry.
They will hold lead responsibility for clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety, compliance and risk management within the Private Maternity Unit, embedding a PSIRF-aligned approach that prioritises learning, psychological safety and systems improvement over blame. This will include oversight of incident response, thematic learning, complaints and claims, assurance reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
The post holder will ensure robust performance management and assurance frameworks are in place, providing clear oversight of risks, actions and outcomes, and supporting transparent internal reporting and effective engagement with regulators, commissioners and external partners. They will play a key role in fostering a culture of openness, learning and accountability, ensuring the service consistently meets regulatory standards and delivers high-quality, safe and compassionate care.
The post holder will ensure that ward managers, senior midwives and specialist midwives/nurses are supported to ensure the delivery of evidencebased care and best practice, including establishing and implementing protocols and guidelines for the Trust. The post holder will lead on elements within the national maternity agenda with the designated Consultant Lead and the wider Maternity Service.
They will contribute to the on-going implementation of the Trusts nursing, midwifery and corporate objectives. The post holder will develop the services and nursing/midwifery roles to meet the evolving needs of service users, their families and staff.
The post holder will identify and develop opportunities to sustainably grow the Private Maternity Service, working collaboratively with clinical, operational and commercial leads to support service development, pathway innovation and capacity growth.
The post holder will work with the Lead Nurse for Private Care, Divisional Director of Midwifery and Nursing/Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Senior Management Team to develop and implement a Divisional strategy to achieve the Trusts objectives.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The successful applicant will be responsible for the clinical and professional leadership and line management of the Private Maternity Unit at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. They will be a valuable member of the multidisciplinary team and must have relevant midwifery experience. Demonstrating a calm, confident and assertive approach in challenging situations is essential. Excellent communication skills when liaising with all members of the multidisciplinary team are essential.
The successful applicant will support the development of a culture across private maternity and the wider private patients services which is open to and empowers innovation, creativity and learning at a team and directorate level. Supporting a service which values, respects and strengthens the differing cultures and backgrounds of service users and ensuring a friendly, supportive and non-judgmental approach to staff, service users and their families.
The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership for the quality, safety and clinical governance agenda across the Private Maternity Service, ensuring care is safe, effective, responsive, well-led and person-centred, in line with CQC Key Lines of Enquiry.
They will hold lead responsibility for clinical governance, quality improvement, patient safety, compliance and risk management within the Private Maternity Unit, embedding a PSIRF-aligned approach that prioritises learning, psychological safety and systems improvement over blame. This will include oversight of incident response, thematic learning, complaints and claims, assurance reporting, and continuous quality improvement.
The post holder will ensure robust performance management and assurance frameworks are in place, providing clear oversight of risks, actions and outcomes, and supporting transparent internal reporting and effective engagement with regulators, commissioners and external partners. They will play a key role in fostering a culture of openness, learning and accountability, ensuring the service consistently meets regulatory standards and delivers high-quality, safe and compassionate care.
The post holder will ensure that ward managers, senior midwives and specialist midwives/nurses are supported to ensure the delivery of evidencebased care and best practice, including establishing and implementing protocols and guidelines for the Trust. The post holder will lead on elements within the national maternity agenda with the designated Consultant Lead and the wider Maternity Service.
They will contribute to the on-going implementation of the Trusts nursing, midwifery and corporate objectives. The post holder will develop the services and nursing/midwifery roles to meet the evolving needs of service users, their families and staff.
The post holder will identify and develop opportunities to sustainably grow the Private Maternity Service, working collaboratively with clinical, operational and commercial leads to support service development, pathway innovation and capacity growth.
The post holder will work with the Lead Nurse for Private Care, Divisional Director of Midwifery and Nursing/Deputy Director of Nursing and Midwifery, and the Senior Management Team to develop and implement a Divisional strategy to achieve the Trusts objectives.
Please see attached job description and person specification to this advert for further details.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* Substantial Post registration clinical experience within the specialty
* Operational management experience in an acute hospital setting
* Experience of developing policies, protocols, clinical standards, and guidelines
* Private Care Experience
* Budgetary management experience
* Experience in people management icl performance and recruitment
* In depth understanding of CNST, Care Quality Commission, National Patient Safety Agency and NHS Litigation Authority
* Practical experience of Clinical Governance principles, systems and processes
Desirable
* Experience of national level representation regarding Risk Management and Patient Safety i.e. CEMACH, MBRACE NPSA groups
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
* Excellent customer service focus and delivery
* Knowledge of current initiatives and developments related to the specialty
* Ability to organise, plan and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
* Above average knowledge of I.T systems including data interpretation, use of Outlook, Word, Excel and relevant PAS / clinical applications
* Clear understanding of the national and local Healthcare agenda
* Knowledge of key performance measures relating to Midwifery
* Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team
* Understands the implications of equality and diversity in practice
* Clear knowledge of the private maternity sector in the UK
Desirable
* Skills in service redesign (e.g., LEAN methodology)
Education and Qualification
Essential
* Active Midwifery registration
* Midwifery degree
* Masters degree or evidence of continuing professional development towards accreditation
* Mentorship qualification
Desirable
* A risk management qualification or evidence of experience
* Management Qualification
* Registered Nurse
* Leadership qualification
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
* Substantial Post registration clinical experience within the specialty
* Operational management experience in an acute hospital setting
* Experience of developing policies, protocols, clinical standards, and guidelines
* Private Care Experience
* Budgetary management experience
* Experience in people management icl performance and recruitment
* In depth understanding of CNST, Care Quality Commission, National Patient Safety Agency and NHS Litigation Authority
* Practical experience of Clinical Governance principles, systems and processes
Desirable
* Experience of national level representation regarding Risk Management and Patient Safety i.e. CEMACH, MBRACE NPSA groups
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
* Excellent customer service focus and delivery
* Knowledge of current initiatives and developments related to the specialty
* Ability to organise, plan and prioritise workload to meet deadlines
* Above average knowledge of I.T systems including data interpretation, use of Outlook, Word, Excel and relevant PAS / clinical applications
* Clear understanding of the national and local Healthcare agenda
* Knowledge of key performance measures relating to Midwifery
* Ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team
* Understands the implications of equality and diversity in practice
* Clear knowledge of the private maternity sector in the UK
Desirable
* Skills in service redesign (e.g., LEAN methodology)
Education and Qualification
Essential
* Active Midwifery registration
* Midwifery degree
* Masters degree or evidence of continuing professional development towards accreditation
* Mentorship qualification
Desirable
* A risk management qualification or evidence of experience
* Management Qualification
* Registered Nurse
* Leadership qualification
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details
Employer name
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Chelsea & Westminster Hospital
369 Fulham Road
London
SW10 9NH
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)