NursingNetUK

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working as a midwife the post holder will:

Professional / Clinical Practice

• Fulfil the role of a midwife as defined by the World Health Organisation and the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Midwifery Rules and Code of Practice and reflect the Trust's guidelines, policies and standards of practice.

• Manage a clinical caseload / area and be accountable for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care, responding to the individual needs of women and their babies.

• Maintain and extend clinical skills in all aspects of midwifery practice that are relevant to current developments in the maternity services.

• Participate in and support the development of evidence based clinical practice, ensuring agreed policies, guidelines and standards are implemented and monitored.

• Motivate staff to submit ideas to improve care and in collaboration with colleagues implement change, monitoring and discussing outcomes with relevant personnel.

• Act as a role model in clinical practice and be proactive to implement local, regional and national midwifery policies.

• Liaise with OUH colleagues and other professional and non-professional agencies relevant to the needs of women to ensure health and social care needs are addressed as appropriate.

• Liaise with the Clinical Governance Team on aspects of unsafe practice that do not meet agreed professional standards and take appropriate action as necessary.

• Liaise with the Transformation Midwife to implement and support changes in practice.

• Co-ordinate the day to day running of the team / area.

• Participate in the community maternity service bleep holder rota and to be available for additional clinical advice and operational decision making

• Demonstrates and respects the Trust guidelines and policies that promote equality and diversity.

• Liaise with the Maternity Voices Partnership to ensure services are improved in conjunction with service users

Quality:

• Ensure all staff are aware of and comply with the Trust’s values.

• Ensure that staff within the clinical area have access to and are aware of current national and local policies that impact upon and effect the delivery of midwifery care.

• Contribute to the clinical audit programmes.

• Ensure that clinical risk management is integral in the practice area / relevant clinical team.

• Assist with the monitoring of the quality of care in the practice area and participate in audit programmes as required.

Managerial Practice:

• Utilise available staff resources effectively ensuring the clinical area / clinical unit is safe and adequately staffed with the appropriate skill mix at all times.

• Contribute new and practical ideas to improve efficiency across the service.

• Participate in the recruitment and selection of staff.

• Co-ordinate and participate in the staff appraisal scheme to ensure all staff have an agreed personal development plan.

• Investigate defects in equipment / supplies and reporting outcomes in accordance with OUHFT Trust policies.

• Assist the Director of Midwifery / Community Matron to investigate complaints from women, visitors and staff and report the findings in accordance with the Directorate's Comments and Complaints policy.

• Collect and record statistical data for audits, research projects as required by local, regional or national bodies.

• Competently record information on the maternity data system and retrieve relevant information from the Information Technology systems.

• Take part in the maternity service bleep holder rota for community to ensure safe staffing on a day-by-day basis across community including support with clinical decision making

• To participate in flexible rostering, including an on-call roster, to provide a safe ‘woman centred’ maternity service.

• Monitor the budget for the clinical area / clinical unit and highlight any issues to the Matron for Community

• Participate as required in local, regional and national developments on behalf of the SUWON Directorate.

• Assist the Director of Midwifery / Deputy Head of Midwifery in achieving the goals and objectives of the maternity services and OUHFT NHS Trust.

Professional development, Education and research:

• Actively participate in the preceptorship of newly qualified midwives and new midwifery staff in liaison with the OBU education staff / Practice Development Midwives.

• Work with the OBU education staff to develop an effective learning environment.

• Identify own personal development needs in association with line manager via the annual appraisal process. Agree a personal develop programme congruent with personal, Directorate or Trust needs that addresses further development in managerial and leadership skills and responsibilities.

Health and Safety:

• Reports and investigate accidents / untoward incidents involving service users and / or staff following OUHFT Trust policies and inform the Deputy Head of Midwifery / Matron for Community as appropriate.

• Be responsible for Health and Safety within own practice area, ensuring that the Trust's Health and Safety Policy is adhered to, safeguarding the environment for service users, staff and visitors.

• Ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times in accordance with the OUHFT Trust's Confidentiality Policy.

This job description is not definitive or restrictive in any way and should be regarded only as a guideline to the duties required. During a time of rapid change with the NHS other responsibilities may be added as determined by the Director of Midwifery, Clinical Director or Divisional Director. The job description does not form part of the contract of employment.