Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for band 6 midwives to join our Community Midwifery Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT).

We are looking for enthusiastic individuals who are self-motivated and passionate about Midwifery. You need to be dedicated and possess excellent interpersonal skills and team work. Band 6 applicants should have or be working towards a mentor qualification. It is expected that you will have completed PROMPT or the equivalent training in obstetric emergencies.

We reserve the right to close any vacancies from further applications when we have received sufficient applications from which to make a short list. Please ensure you apply without delay if you wish to be considered.

Full and part-time hours considered.

Main duties of the job

You will be part of a busy multi-disciplinary team working out of GP surgeries, Children Centres or local Health and Wellbeing hubs who are dedicated to providing individualised care to the woman and families that access our service.

You will need a minimum of 18 months experience and be competent to take charge or work independently with responsibility for your own caseload in community.

Our service is continually developing to meet the needs of our diverse population in Leeds and we welcome midwives with innovative ideas and ways of working.

Successful candidates should have an awareness of the 5 year Maternity Strategy for Leeds.

About us

In Leeds we provide maternity care to around 10,000 women a year currently across 2 hospitals sites and within the community. We pride ourselves in being experts in both low risk maternity care with a designated home birth team to very high risk cases.

Every day we support women and their families in bringing 29 new babies into the world, and (we think) the best place to be born, Yorkshire!

Working with the Leeds Childrens Hospital, our team of foetal medicine experts care for babies with complex heart conditions even before they are born. New parents have the knowledge their baby will be safely looked after under one roof, by one team of experts, all the way to adulthood and beyond.

Were really proud of what we do, and we know other people are too, nominating us for the RCM Midwifery Team of the Year and the National Patient Safety Awards in 2017-18 to name a few!

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying ‘at risk’ members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Date posted

12 April 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£33,706 to £40,588 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

C9298-WOM-052

Job locations

St. James’s University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The postholder is responsible for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, and may be required to teach other midwives and non-midwifery staff. S/he takes responsibility as the prime care provider for a group of women.

The postholder is a prime care provider who is required to practice clinical skills developed through experience but at a more advanced level than required for those who have just qualified as midwives.

The postholder is designated to take charge of a ward in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

The maternity unit has approximately 10,000 births a year. LTHT is a tertiary referral centre for both obstetrics and neonatology. Other specialities within the hospital that impact on maternity unit are feto-maternal medicine, adult and neonatal cardiology, neonatal surgery and a reproductive medicine unit.

The postholder will work within the community, caring for women and their babies before, during and after pregnancy depending on the area.

S/he participates in internal rotation throughout the maternity units and covers both day and night shifts.

The midwife maintains personal contact with women and meets their needs on an individual basis by listening, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care. The midwife is aware of the anxieties of women and their families and the support they may need.

The midwife ensures that the appropriate practitioner is informed promptly of a complication or change in the mother’s or baby’s condition.

S/he ensures effective communication with health care professionals and other personnel to ensure continued care to the patient and assists in the smooth running of the ward/area.

Reports on the changes occurring in treatment and client needs during the shift and is prepared to work in areas of the midwifery service other than where based in order to meet the requirements of the service.

5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent

Registered Midwife

Experience

At least 18 months experience as a midwife or equivalent within speciality

Working with a wide range of professionals including medical and management colleagues

Teaching/assessing qualification (Desirable)

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team

Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified and unqualified staff

Time management skills

Clinical leadership

Teaching skills

IT skills

Knowledge

Insight into clinical speciality

Insight into current issues in midwifery/professional issues

Standards of professional practice

Personal Attributes

Professional and patient focused

Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking

Excellent interpersonal skills

6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

The beliefs and attitudes that underpin effective performance within the job role. Emphasis should be on the requirements of the role not the individual when completing this section. Examples might include: quality focus, mistakes are used as a continual learning experience, honesty, integrity etc.

7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Teaching and assessing skills

Communication skills

Time management skills

Preceptorship skills

Understanding of research based practice

Team player

Professional at all times

Understanding of the process of change

8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation

Understanding of the local and national midwifery agenda

Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

Maintain a high standard of women centred care in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Act as a referral agent and co-ordinator of care provision. Establishes effective multi-agency collaboration across the primary/secondary interface to meet the needs of the patients.

Act as a role model for the development of clinical skills and knowledge within the department team

Maintain a safe working environment

Support the Senior Midwife in setting and monitoring standards and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including national standards

– Promote evidence based practice.

– Participate in the audit and evaluation of clinical practice in the interests of promoting quality care

– Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of midwifery care for women and their babies, ensuring written records are kept to NMC standards

– Communicate with women and carers to ensure they have access to appropriate information

– Promote and maintain positive relationships between all staff involved in the care of women.

– Undertake duties on different wards/depts as and when required by service demands

Education and Training

Contribute to the promotion of a positive learning environment within the clinical area

In conjunction with the Senior Midwife ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan

Ensure both self and team members achieve annual mandatory training requirements

Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes

Undertake continuous professional and clinical development, seeking opportunities to enhance skills

Managerial

Working with Senior Midwife to provide leadership to the clinical team, developing new ways of working

Support Senior Midwife in staff rostering, ensuring adequate skill mix

In conjunction with Senior Midwife closely monitor bank and agency usage

Support Senior Midwife in investigating and responding to complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events

Work with Matron/Senior Midwife to promote the development of midwives as considered appropriate

Deputise for Senior Midwife in his/her absence.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

Infection Control

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

Equality and Diversity

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Patient and Public Involvement

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback.

Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

10. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

All grades midwifery and support staff

Allied Health Professionals

All grades of Medical staff

Facilities staff

Matron

11. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:

1. The post holder is required to have highly developed physical skills manual dexterity to perform abdominal palpation, vaginal examinations, taking blood samples, applying fetal scalp electrodes, performing episiotomies and suturing. Responding rapidly to emergency situations haemorrhage, neo-natal resuscitation, where the ability to run to scene is required and bring appropriate equipment.

2 There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity for several short periods less than 20 minutes at a time transferring the mothers from bed to wheelchair/ operating table to bed (using a pat slide). Assisting women into the lithotomy position for instrumental deliveries and perineal suturing. Daily requirement to maintain awkward positions for less than 20 minutes at a time when women giving birth in standing, squatting, all fours and in a waterbirth pool.

ii) MENTAL EFFORT:

Supporting women in labour requires mental effort providing psychological support, this occurs on every shift. When caring for a woman in labour who is high risk and requires continuous CTG monitoring, the midwife is exposed to long periods of concentration 2-3 hours continuous times vary from every shift to once a week. Daily concentration when checking and calculating drugs, imputing data into the computer.

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

The postholder is responsible for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care, and may be required to teach other midwives and non-midwifery staff. S/he takes responsibility as the prime care provider for a group of women.

The postholder is a prime care provider who is required to practice clinical skills developed through experience but at a more advanced level than required for those who have just qualified as midwives.

The postholder is designated to take charge of a ward in the absence of the person who has continuing responsibility.

3. JOB DIMENSIONS

The maternity unit has approximately 10,000 births a year. LTHT is a tertiary referral centre for both obstetrics and neonatology. Other specialities within the hospital that impact on maternity unit are feto-maternal medicine, adult and neonatal cardiology, neonatal surgery and a reproductive medicine unit.

The postholder will work within the community, caring for women and their babies before, during and after pregnancy depending on the area.

S/he participates in internal rotation throughout the maternity units and covers both day and night shifts.

The midwife maintains personal contact with women and meets their needs on an individual basis by listening, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care. The midwife is aware of the anxieties of women and their families and the support they may need.

The midwife ensures that the appropriate practitioner is informed promptly of a complication or change in the mother’s or baby’s condition.

S/he ensures effective communication with health care professionals and other personnel to ensure continued care to the patient and assists in the smooth running of the ward/area.

Reports on the changes occurring in treatment and client needs during the shift and is prepared to work in areas of the midwifery service other than where based in order to meet the requirements of the service.

5. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Qualifications

Degree or equivalent

Registered Midwife

Experience

At least 18 months experience as a midwife or equivalent within speciality

Working with a wide range of professionals including medical and management colleagues

Teaching/assessing qualification (Desirable)

Skills

Ability to communicate effectively within a multi-disciplinary team

Ability to teach, supervise and assess qualified and unqualified staff

Time management skills

Clinical leadership

Teaching skills

IT skills

Knowledge

Insight into clinical speciality

Insight into current issues in midwifery/professional issues

Standards of professional practice

Personal Attributes

Professional and patient focused

Flexible, adaptable, capable of lateral thinking

Excellent interpersonal skills

6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

The beliefs and attitudes that underpin effective performance within the job role. Emphasis should be on the requirements of the role not the individual when completing this section. Examples might include: quality focus, mistakes are used as a continual learning experience, honesty, integrity etc.

7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Teaching and assessing skills

Communication skills

Time management skills

Preceptorship skills

Understanding of research based practice

Team player

Professional at all times

Understanding of the process of change

8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation

Understanding of the local and national midwifery agenda

Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

Maintain a high standard of women centred care in accordance with Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Act as a referral agent and co-ordinator of care provision. Establishes effective multi-agency collaboration across the primary/secondary interface to meet the needs of the patients.

Act as a role model for the development of clinical skills and knowledge within the department team

Maintain a safe working environment

Support the Senior Midwife in setting and monitoring standards and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care, including national standards

– Promote evidence based practice.

– Participate in the audit and evaluation of clinical practice in the interests of promoting quality care

– Provide assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of midwifery care for women and their babies, ensuring written records are kept to NMC standards

– Communicate with women and carers to ensure they have access to appropriate information

– Promote and maintain positive relationships between all staff involved in the care of women.

– Undertake duties on different wards/depts as and when required by service demands

Education and Training

Contribute to the promotion of a positive learning environment within the clinical area

In conjunction with the Senior Midwife ensure all staff have an individual performance development plan

Ensure both self and team members achieve annual mandatory training requirements

Participate in preceptorship and mentorship programmes

Undertake continuous professional and clinical development, seeking opportunities to enhance skills

Managerial

Working with Senior Midwife to provide leadership to the clinical team, developing new ways of working

Support Senior Midwife in staff rostering, ensuring adequate skill mix

In conjunction with Senior Midwife closely monitor bank and agency usage

Support Senior Midwife in investigating and responding to complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events

Work with Matron/Senior Midwife to promote the development of midwives as considered appropriate

Deputise for Senior Midwife in his/her absence.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

All staff are responsible for working with their colleagues to maintain and improve the quality of services provided to our patients and other service users. This includes complying at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Policies, including Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures, and reporting incidents using the Trust Incident Reporting system.

Infection Control

The jobholder must comply at all times with the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Infection Control policies, in particular by practising Universal Infection Control Precautions. Hand hygiene must be performed before and after contact with patients and their environment.

Equality and Diversity

The jobholder must comply with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment and that services are delivered in ways that meet the individual needs of patients and their families. No person whether they are staff, patient or visitor should receive less favourable treatment because of their gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Patient and Public Involvement

The Trust has a statutory duty to involve patients and public in evaluating and planning services. All staff have a responsibility to listen to the views of patients and to contribute to service improvements based on patient feedback.

Training and Personal Development Continuous Professional Development

The jobholder must take responsibility in agreement with his/her line manager for his/her own personal development by ensuring that Continuous Professional Development remains a priority. The jobholder will undertake all mandatory training required for the role.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

10. COMMUNICATION & WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

All grades midwifery and support staff

Allied Health Professionals

All grades of Medical staff

Facilities staff

Matron

11. SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

i) PHYSICAL EFFORT:

1. The post holder is required to have highly developed physical skills manual dexterity to perform abdominal palpation, vaginal examinations, taking blood samples, applying fetal scalp electrodes, performing episiotomies and suturing. Responding rapidly to emergency situations haemorrhage, neo-natal resuscitation, where the ability to run to scene is required and bring appropriate equipment.

2 There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity for several short periods less than 20 minutes at a time transferring the mothers from bed to wheelchair/ operating table to bed (using a pat slide). Assisting women into the lithotomy position for instrumental deliveries and perineal suturing. Daily requirement to maintain awkward positions for less than 20 minutes at a time when women giving birth in standing, squatting, all fours and in a waterbirth pool.

ii) MENTAL EFFORT:

Supporting women in labour requires mental effort providing psychological support, this occurs on every shift. When caring for a woman in labour who is high risk and requires continuous CTG monitoring, the midwife is exposed to long periods of concentration 2-3 hours continuous times vary from every shift to once a week. Daily concentration when checking and calculating drugs, imputing data into the computer.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent
  • Registered Midwife
  • Evidence of continued professional development and implementation in clinical practice within the last 12 months

Desirable

  • Understanding of training needs in relation to post
  • Recruitment and selection

Experience

Essential

  • At least 18 months experience as a midwife or within the speciality Insight into clinical speciality
  • Knowledge of evidence based practice
  • Insight into current issues in midwifery/ professional issues
  • Standards of professional practice

Desirable

  • Teaching/assessing qualification

Skills and Behaviours

Essential

  • IT skills
  • Time management skills
  • Preceptorship skills
  • Research/audit skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for post
  • Car Driver
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Degree or equivalent
  • Registered Midwife
  • Evidence of continued professional development and implementation in clinical practice within the last 12 months

Desirable

  • Understanding of training needs in relation to post
  • Recruitment and selection

Experience

Essential

  • At least 18 months experience as a midwife or within the speciality Insight into clinical speciality
  • Knowledge of evidence based practice
  • Insight into current issues in midwifery/ professional issues
  • Standards of professional practice

Desirable

  • Teaching/assessing qualification

Skills and Behaviours

Essential

  • IT skills
  • Time management skills
  • Preceptorship skills
  • Research/audit skills

Additional Requirements

Essential

  • Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for post
  • Car Driver

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).