Job Description

The post holder will work as part of a team as an autonomous practitioner providing holistic, high quality woman centred midwifery care to women and their families in a range of settings both within hospital and community (including home birth). Expert care will be provided to women and their families throughout pregnancy, labour, the postnatal period. This may be part of a rotational, integrated or continuity of carer team as service need dictates.



The post holder is required to promote and uphold a professional image at all times and act in a professional manner in accordance with the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) regulations.



Provision of safe, effective, high quality midwifery care standards at all times covering a 24/7 rota, including night and weekend working and participation in on-call rotas supporting both hospital and/or community settings. Effective multi-disciplinary working is essential and midwives are expected to communicate effectively with all members of the team to ensure appropriate, safe care is delivered. To role model compassionate and inclusive leadership, demonstrating a consistent leadership style which engages, enables and empowers others and facilitates collaborative working within teams / departments and across organisational boundaries.

To achieve the highest possible standard of care ensuring that resources are utilised effectively and efficiently.

Essentials:

1st Level live NMC Registered Midwife



Mentorship Qualification or relevant equivalent qualification. (essential requirement or must be gained within 12 months of appointment)



Diploma or degree



Demonstrable and recent relevant experience of working in community or hospital or birth centre setting (for band 6)



Professional/Clinical knowledge acquired through midwifery training to degree/diploma level plus ongoing preceptorship



Evidence of on-going professional development in accordance with NMC standards for revalidation.



Be able to demonstrate recent experience and have the requisite level of competencies to meet the requirements of a Band 6 position.



Thorough understanding of contemporary midwifery issues



Evidence of change management in ward/dept area (for band 6 post)



Commitment to completing band 5 competency framework



Excellent interpersonal skills



Able to manage a ward/dept area in absence of Ward Manager/Senior Midwife (band 6)



Counselling & appraisal skills (band 6)

Practical skills :

NLS, BLS, Water birth, phlebotomy, episiotomy, suturing and IV cannulation (band 6)



Up to date with Level 3 safeguarding training requirements

Desirable:

Leadership Course (band 6)



Management Course (band 6)



Examination of newborn babies or working towards (NIPE)



Basic understanding or risk and governance processes.



Basic understanding of financial management



Evidence of innovation in practice



Leadership skills



Basic IT skills



Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.



Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.



We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.



Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.



We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.



The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.



Act as the woman's advocate in promoting, and delivering the highest standard of midwifery care, ensuring all fundamentals of care are addressed, and current, relevant policies and procedures are adhered to.



Responsible for managing a delegated clinical caseload throughout the antenatal /intrapartum and postnatal period which may include women with high and low risk pregnancies, liaising as necessary with the multidisciplinary team as required



Specialises in the care of women with low risk pregnancy and labour and using evidence-based practice, assess the woman's physical, emotional and psychological needs, to plan, implement and evaluate midwifery care involving the woman and her family at all times.

Implement the planned programme of care, delegating duties appropriately and teaching and co-ordinating other members of the healthcare team.



Support the Band 6 Midwife in the organisation, prioritisation and escalation of care



Write reports, record observations and maintain plans of care, including electronic data storage; and other appropriate records, accurately, legibly, concisely and contemporaneously. Monitor the woman and baby's condition, interpret observations and identify deviations from normal reporting and referring to relevant health professionals, carrying out midwifery interventions as needed.

Liaise with senior medical staff when complications arise in pregnancy and labour, transferring care to obstetric led care as appropriate. Continues to support women after referral, proceeding to liaise with senior midwifery and medical staff in relation to complicated obstetric cases.



Keep the woman and her family appropriately informed, maintaining confidentiality at all times. Ensure midwifery care is flexible to meet the diverse needs of women and their families. Ensure medicines are stored, supplied and administered in accordance with Trust Medicines Management policy and NMC Guidelines for the Administration of Medicines. Maintaining own competence in this respect, reporting any learning needs to line manager/practice development midwife.

Collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team and other service providers; to ensure care is woman centred, effective and efficient.



Examine and observe the neonate, interpreting observations and identifying deviations from normal. Report and refer to relevant health professionals, carrying out midwifery interventions as needed.



Deliver and evaluate programmes for the preparation of parenthood in response to the woman's need and Incorporate health education into the woman's care whenever possible.



Assess the suitability for and manage home birth. Including managing unplanned home births where required. Involving all relevant members of the multi-disciplinary team where the woman choses care which deviates from guidelines.



Facilitates and supports the intrapartum care of women wherever they choose to birth their baby on an on call rota basis.



Take responsibility for own development b accessing training to become skilled and competent in undertaking IV drug administration, IV cannulation, episiotomies, perineal suturing, caring for women with epidural anaesthesia, home birth, waterbirth and providing care to women in high risk labour or requiring high dependency care.



Take responsibility for own development in becoming skilled and competent in assisting Anaesthetic staff when siting epidurals and caring for women who have an epidural sited.



Takes responsibility or becoming skilled and competent in undertaking operating duties as appropriate, this can include competencies in 'scrub' practitioner role or as theatre 'floor practitioner'.



Ensure compliance of patient risk assessments, such as FGR, VTE, pressure ulcers, domestic violence, smoking cessation etc.



Provides individualised care and support to women and their families in cases of miscarriage, termination of pregnancy, intrauterine death and stillbirth. Ensuring all requirements for investigations and follow-up care are met.



Recognises and supports more senior staff in managing emergency situations where evidence based knowledge and skills are required to deal with critical events i.e. antepartum, intrapartum and postpartum emergencies requiring immediate life support.



Provides immediate care of the newborn including emergency resuscitation when required.



Cares for the high-risk neonate, liaising with other professionals as required.



Provide evidence based advice and support to all women in their chosen method of infant feeding.



Identification and management of at risk families within the child safeguarding arena, devising plans of care in conjunction with team leaders and other health care professionals/agencies.



Ensures that high standards of midwifery care are provided and maintained and act when standards are not being maintained.



Competently use clinical equipment, undertaking relevant training as required and demonstrate ability to maintain relevant competencies



Use IT Patient Information systems as necessary and in accordance with Trust policies, undertaking training as required.



Ensure appropriate and timely communication with clients and relatives/carers, advising, instructing and supporting them as needed and making use of support systems as appropriate (e.g. translators, chaplaincy).



Support the Matrons/Ward managers /Shift coordinators in ensuring the availability of relevant, up to date patient information and clinical guidelines in a user-friendly format.



Promotes women's equality taking into account diversity and rights. Assist in identifying ways of working that will help vulnerable families including those who are subject to domestic abuse, are homeless or have language barriers.



Communicate and work effectively and collaboratively with the wider team (e.g. Allied Health professionals, medical colleagues, Social Services).



If working in Community contribute to 24 hour midwifery on-call rota to ensure safe home birth provision.



If working in the hospital contribute to 24 hour midwifery on-call rota as part of the unit escalation plans, to ensure a safe and high quality service is maintained.



Engage with women and their families in avoiding and resolving complaints.



Meet annually with named Professional Midwifery Advocate