Job Description

Are you interested in improving clinical services birthing people and their families? The maternity clinical governance team at Guys and St Thomas' hospital is looking for a dynamic patient safety manager with a clinical or non-clinical background to join the team.



The successful applicant will work closely with the Lead midwife for Governance, Quality and Risk to manage clinical audit, service user complaints and clinical guidelines. They will also support the risk midwives with patient safety investigations, circulating learning from investigations and quality improvement projects.

Closing Date:

20th August 2025

Interview Date:

09th September 2025



Coordinate audits in collaboration with the senior midwifery team and Women's Audit Lead to provide assurance that the maternity service is achieving and working towards continual improvements in clinical practice.



Coordinate maternity guidelines process; to ensure effective processes are in place for tracking, updating and implementing all relevant clinical guidelines; including dissemination and appropriate information sharing with the wider multi-disciplinary team.



Support the senior maternity team in the coordination of the maternity complaints process.



To provide leadership, quality improvement and audit management specialist advice and support to staff and students within maternity services.



Work clinically to maintain clinical practice skills and integrity, including as part of unit escalation during peaks in clinical acuity.



Support and encourage open communication about incidents, near misses and safety concerns within maternity services and a culture of learning and improvement.



To be fully informed of the risk management strategy and be responsible for reporting incidents, risk assessment and development of action plans to reduce risk.



Maintain and develop professional knowledge and competence in accordance within the NMC recommendations if holding a clinical registration



Identify areas of practice, which require further investigation and initiate and participate in both midwifery and medical research and quality improvement audit programmes.



Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with along history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.



We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.



We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities and charitable bodies and GPs.

Women's services:

As the only NHS Trust in London with women's and specialist children's services on one site we have unique opportunities to provide excellent, high-quality, integrated care for mothers, babies and children.



Our directorate provides high quality care to patients across South East London, as well as delivering a range of specialist services both nationally and internationally. We treat approximately 40,000 gynaecology patients, and deliver 6,400 NHS births and 350 private births a year.



We have one of the largest NHS IVF units in the UK, which includes our flagship Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis services. Alongside our clinical services, we are integrated with colleagues at Kings College London, delivering a significant programme of research and development.



Duties and Responsibilities

The post holder will



Work in accordance with the NMC's rules and code of conduct for midwives. Maintain and develop professional knowledge and competence in accordance within the NMC recommendations. Implement recommendations from Government and professional bodies in relation to maternity care. Act as a role model for midwifery practice to all staff within the directorate. Formulate and ensure all staff are aware and implementing the evidence-based protocols agreed for the Women's directorate. To identify areas for improvement and to take a lead role in designing, implementing and supporting new and existing initiatives e.g. group antenatal care; Identify areas of practice, which require further investigation and initiate and participate in both midwifery and medical research and audit programmes. Participate in the teaching and dissemination of professional and clinical knowledge to all learners and members of staff. Provide a mentor support system for students and midwives within the Midwifery practice. Lead, co-ordinate and manage clinical activities in relation to provision of midwifery care model in order to improve/maintain care in the hospital and/or primary care setting. Participate in appraisals of AFC Band 6 midwives, on at least an annual basis in line with Trust policies. Arrange and develop orientation programmes, which familiarise new members of staff with the organisational and clinical demands of the unit and Midwifery practice. Act on, participate in the investigation of complaints, incidents and accidents and report to your Midwifery Matron as appropriate. Ensure that working conditions are safe in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act. Deputise for the Antenatal clinic & Community Midwifery Matron as required. To be fully informed of the risk management strategy, be responsible for reporting incidents, risk assessment and development of action plans to reduce risk and complaints.

The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:



Communication



Establish a robust communication pathway with all midwifery teams.



Work closely with the teams, liaise with other departments and members of the Trust to ensure the smooth running of the maternity pathways, and assist the functioning of the team.



Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills when dealing with all levels of staff across the trust and be able to challenge senior staff around pathway performance.



Ensure women are communicated with in a sensitive and effective manner and problems are dealt with promptly and efficiently.

Play a key role in the further implementation of digital technology



Quality



Ensure that women and their families receive high quality clinical care and have a positive experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.



Actively engage service users through the facilitation of feedback.



Collect, analyse and share relevant data on midwifery services.



In conjunction with the other multidisciplinary colleagues, provide monthly reports of activity.



Facilitate a high quality, cost effective specialist service through monitoring and audit and other quality initiatives agreed by the Trust.



Play a lead role in key developments relating to the midwifery service.



Participate in the development of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines in support of the specialist service.



Set, monitor and review standards of care on a regular basis and initiate corrective action plans

Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for women and staff and to escalate as appropriate.



Management and leadership



Be a visible leader who is accessible to women, visitors and staff.



Maintain skills and knowledge in clinical midwifery practice.



Provide a leadership role model and demonstrate expert knowledge and high standards of clinical practice.



Co-ordinate the provision of midwifery services, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary and multi-agency colleagues.



Develop the role according to changing needs and research findings, within the resources available.



Maintain accurate records of the clinical service and ensure that confidentiality of information is adhered to.



Organise own work, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.



Implement new initiatives where possible to run a cost effective, timely service.



Adhere to Trust and departmental policies and procedures, ensuring that all staff do the same.



Assist the senior management team as an expert practitioner with the strategic planning for the service within the Trust



On behalf of the Chief Midwife and Head of Gynaecology Nursing, ensure performance management, and personal development of staff whom they manage, and conduct appraisals on at least an annual basis in line with Trist policy.



Contribute to the recruitment, induction, training and retention strategies for staff for whom they are responsible.



Ensure appropriate succession planning for staff is in place, supported by training and development opportunities as appropriate.

Influence, motivate and involve individuals and teams to reach necessary performance targets and expectations.



Financial responsibility



Act as an authorising signatory within agreed limits.



Education and training



Participate in the development and implementation of education and training programmes within maternity, ensuring equity of provision and consistency.



In collaboration with colleagues, be responsible for monitoring and regulating training and development of midwifery and support staff.



Be responsible for developing own skills and knowledge and contribute to the development of others.



Lead on the development of midwives in facilitating study days and monthly meetings.



The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:



Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information



Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person those staff will be liable to dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information.



Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply the



Trust's FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.



Equal Opportunities



Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust's Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.



Health and Safety



All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust's health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.



Infection Control



All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs. Post holders must be familiar with the Trust's Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.



Risk Management



All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust's use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.



Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults



Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.



Smoking Policy



It is the Trust's policy to promote health. Smoking, therefore, is actively discouraged. It is illegal within Trust buildings and vehicles.



NHS Plan



We are committed to meeting the rights and standards required by the NHS plan. We expect our staff to be aware of these rights and standards and to be fully involved and co-operative in meeting them.