Job overview
1. To lead the implementation of the Stillbirth Care Bundle, improving standards of fetal heart rate monitoring, interpretation, escalation, and appropriate management of care, reporting directly to the Inpatient Matron.
2. To work collaboratively with maternity teams to develop and deliver a programme of clinically based education aimed at improving birth outcomes.
3. To enhance staff awareness of pathophysiological factors that may contribute to the misinterpretation of fetal heart rate patterns, applicable to both intermittent auscultation documented on the partogram and electronic fetal monitoring using cardiotocography (CTG).
4. To develop and extend midwives’ competence in intermittent fetal heart auscultation when caring for low-risk women, ensuring accurate technique and meaningful documentation using a Pinard stethoscope or handheld Doppler (Sonicaid).
5. To support staff in strengthening fetal monitoring skills, with a focus on early risk identification, timely escalation, and reduction of avoidable harm within clinical practice.
6. To work closely with the senior midwifery team to promote and embed a positive safety culture, recognising the challenges of resource limitations and competing clinical priorities in relation to fetal monitoring.
Main duties of the job
7. Ensure all midwives and obstetricians providing antenatal and intrapartum care complete the Trust-approved CTG competency assessment package for physiological CTG monitoring
8. Work in collaboration with the Education Team to provide enhanced teaching and additional support for staff required to repeat the competency assessment or identified through the risk management process as needing further support
9. Support staff in clinical practice to consolidate and develop clinical skills related to fetal heart rate monitoring
10. Develop, disseminate, and embed an “intelligent intermittent auscultation” training package and lead its delivery for midwives providing intrapartum care across all care settings
11. Lead weekly CTG workshops, maintaining an electronic database to evidence attendance and ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements for midwifery and obstetric staff
12. Disseminate learning and key themes identified through CTG workshops
13. Organise and deliver monthly CTG masterclass
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
14. Act as an advocate for women and their families, making appropriate referrals when necessary.
15. Promote normality while providing antenatal and intrapartum care that is evidence-based and delivered in an appropriate setting.
16. Liaise with multidisciplinary teams and external organisations to ensure effective, collaborative care.
17. Lead and support the introduction of new initiatives related to fetal monitoring, ensuring staff assess fetal well-being in the context of the woman’s individual risk, including her health, pregnancy, gestation, and stage of labour.
18. Develop midwives’ competence in performing intermittent fetal heart auscultation for low-risk women in line with NICE guidelines.
19. Support staff in enhancing their clinical skills to reduce risk and improve patient safety.
20. Provide midwifery expertise and ensure all staff, including midwives and obstetricians in training, are supported in their practice.
21. Communicate sensitive and complex information effectively, supporting the woman’s care pathway.
22. Identify and refer women and babies at high risk to appropriate services.
23. Assist the Directorate Management Team in using information from all relevant sources to inform service improvement and enhance women’s care
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
24. Registered Midwife
25. Evidence of teaching and assessing experience
26. Evidence of ongoing further professional and personal development
Desirable criteria
27. Masters level study
28. Leadership course
29. Fetal monitoring masterclass attendance
30. Teaching qualification/Mentorship/N97
Experience
Essential criteria
31. Suitable Post-Registration experience within relevant speciality at band 6 or above
32. Extensive clinical experience in intrapartum area
33. In depth specialist knowledge
Desirable criteria
34. Previous experience in practice development and facilitating learning
35. Audit and risk management experience
36. Human Factors training/attendance
Knowledge
Essential criteria
37. In depth knowledge of CTG interpretation, including intelligent intermittent auscultation
38. In depth knowledge of Fetal monitoring in relation to Saving Babies’ Lives Care Bundle
Skills
Essential criteria
39. Leadership skills, effective written and verbal communication
40. Coaching approach to developing colleagues’ knowledge and skills
41. Ability to manage own workload and delegate
42. Presentation and teaching skills
43. Report writing skills
Desirable criteria
44. Leadership course/change management course
45. Audit or research experience
46. Coaching experience/qualification
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.