Job overview
Would you like to develop your leadership skills while supporting the delivery of high‑quality care on the Delivery Suite?
This is a pivotal role, providing effective clinical and professional leadership to midwives, support staff, students, and the wider multidisciplinary team.
Working closely with the Inpatient Matron, Deputy and Head of Midwifery, and the Lead Obstetrician, the Ward Manager will ensure care pathways reflect best practice and remain women‑centred.
The post holder will have overall responsibility for operational management of clinical service delivery at ward level. They will act as a role model, offering strong leadership and support to the team to ensure the provision of evidence‑based, high‑quality care.
In addition, the Ward Manager will provide clinical and managerial leadership to staff up to and including Band 6 roles. As a highly skilled clinical expert with specialist knowledge in caring for women, they will work with the Inpatient Matron to further develop and enhance the service.
Main duties of the job
1. Adherence to Standards: Observe the NMC Code for nurses and midwives (NMC 2015) and promote a women‑centred service to ensure continuity of care.
2. Leadership & Professionalism: Exercise strong leadership and maintain a professional attitude, acting as an exemplary role model at all times.
3. Communication: Ensure effective communication with clients, relatives, carers, and colleagues.
4. Clinical Expertise: Provide expert advice on the referral of women requiring high‑risk care.
5. Inspiring Practice: Lead and motivate colleagues to deliver high standards of practice, based on current guidelines, policies, and protocols, to improve quality and develop professional practice.
6. Research & Innovation: Organise the dissemination of findings from local and national midwifery research. Act as a change agent in the development, implementation, and evaluation of evidence‑based guidelines, policies, protocols, and standards relating to midwifery practice.
7. Education & Development: Ensure staff remain up to date with mandatory training requirements.
Working for our organisation
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities
Provide effective clinical leadership and support to all midwives, support staff and students working on Delivery Suite, continually seeking to develop the service to reflect service and Trust objectives.
To promote excellence in practice, providing expert advice, developing and ensuring practice is evidence based and to be actively involved in research and audit.
To support clinically where indicated and to support escalation.
Demonstrate innovation through the introduction and maintenance of a quality approach to service provision by setting, implementing, monitoring and evaluating standards of care.
Collect, collate and where needed present clinical and operational data for the service and contribute to the service dashboard.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
8. Registered Midwife
9. Evidence of Degree or Masters qualification
10. Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable criteria
11. Management qualification/leadership course
12. Newborn Life Support (NLS) Course
Experience
Essential criteria
13. Relevant post-registration experience in the specialty at band 6 level or higher
14. Substantial clinical experience
15. Evidence of the application of management/leadership skills and autonomous practice
Desirable criteria
16. Previous management experience
17. Involvement in audit
18. Budget and resource management
Knowledge
Essential criteria
19. Organisational and negotiation skills
20. Leadership & motivation skills
21. Evidence of audit and change management ability
22. Ability to take managerial and professional responsibility for team and staff.
23. Ability to motivate self and others Lead and facilitate change
Desirable criteria
24. Experience with research
Personal Skills
Essential criteria
25. Effective communicator both written and verbal
26. Demonstrate good leadership and organisation skills.
27. Ability to think logically, prioritise and use initiative
28. Personal and professional maturity
29. Team focussed, Reliable, Adaptable and Dependable
Desirable criteria
30. Participation in guideline development
31. Counselling skills.
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.