Director of Midwifery & Neonatal Services

The duties and responsibilities listed below are representative of the Director of Midwifery and Neonatal Services role and its purpose within the service; they are not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional or alternative duties and responsibilities commensurate with the level of the post, to support the smooth running of the services. Strategic Leadership and Development Corporate leadership of and contribution to the strategic and clinical direction of midwifery and neonatal services across GEH and SWFT. To work with system and strategic partners, and the Executive Boards, within the context of an Integrated Care System to create a compelling vision for safe and high-quality maternity and neonatal services for the population of Warwickshire, ensuring this improves outcomes and reduces inequalities. This includes identifying and implementing opportunities to redesign, grow and improve maternity and neonatal services and care to ensure they are safe, personalised, modern, adaptable and responsive. Play a key role in linking and supporting providers of maternity and neonatal services across Warwickshire and influencing, leading and responding to the strategic maternity and neonatal agenda regionally and nationally. As the most senior lead for midwifery and neonatal services in both Trusts, lead the midwifery and neonatal services workforce strategies to ensure they are inclusive and fit for purpose and for the future. Establish and maintain professional relationships with all internal and external stakeholders essential to the delivery of a safe and high-quality service provision, including services users. Work effectively with the Divisional and Directorate Leadership Teams who oversee maternity and neonatal services across both SWFT and GEH to provide objective professional challenge and support to service strategy and plans, governance and assurance. Represent the Trusts strategically, nationally and locally on maternity and paediatric issues, as required, including attending external meetings and forums. Foster an open and inclusive style of management and communication and encourage team working and good working relationships. Agree a system of delegated responsibility across the Directorates within GEH and SWFT, have oversight and provide supportive challenge to ensure their effective functioning with regards to midwifery and neonatal practise. Be responsible for interpreting and ensuing effective implementation of national, regional and local health policy and professional/national standards and guidance to ensure and assure safe, effective and high-quality care and service provision. On behalf of the Chief Nurse, support the delivery of wider functions within their portfolio and deputise in areas aligned to the Chief Nurse portfolio. Participate in the Directors on call rota. Clinical and Professional Leadership Responsible for the professional leadership across midwifery and neonatal nursing, including ensuring strategies are developed for continuous quality improvement. Ensure that self and others practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code and all other relevant professional, regulatory, national, regional and local professional standards Promote and maintain an evidence-based practice culture for midwifery and nursing staff, ensuring the creation of effective local, regional and national networks to share good practice, and be responsible for wide dissemination and implementation of evidence. Act as a strong patient advocate ensuring that a culture of continuous improvement and learning is supported in order to drive quality care delivery across maternity and neonatal services and facilitate the development of clinical practice, to ensure excellent care. Service User Experience and Involvement To be highly visible and approachable in all areas of responsibility, and available to respond to women, relatives and the public by maintaining open and honest communication channels. Working with service users and carers across Warwickshire to recognise lived experience in the strategic direction of the services and ensuring forums and governance structures to enable meaningful engagement. Initiate and implement a range of ways for users of the service across Warwickshire to actively feedback on their experience and use this to continually improve service. Create opportunities for co-design, collaborating with staff, service users and the wider community across Warwickshire to support and/or lead activities aimed at improving experiences of service users. Demonstrate public confidence in engaging with the public on any issues relating to the development or delivery of Trust services. Workforce Inspire the teams and encourage them to seek advice and identify solutions to problems through the promotion of an open-learning culture. Motivate and develop staff so as to maintain staff morale and to create a climate within the clinical areas of responsibility characterised by high standards of openness, where they are able to speak up and raise concerns. Work to create a culture which engages staff and maximises potential to ensure staff are motivated to consistently deliver optimum care and promote effective team working to ensure a positive working environment. Ensure close and effective relationships with local and higher education institutes to ensure the provision of attractive, flexible and dynamic education programmes and recruitment supply routes into the organisations. Ensure that there is an effective system of individual performance review, professional development and support in place across all areas of responsibility. Research and education Work closely with research leaders to create a vibrant research focused environment that promotes evidence-based practice and clinical academic careers. Lead, develop and implement education and research strategies to support innovation to and encourage research-based activity across services.Raise the profile of research opportunities for nursing, midwifery and AHP staff within midwifery and neonatal serviceAs a credible leader for the midwifery and neonatal services, influence and shape the development and delivery of clinical and professional standards and policy in order to impact the quality of care and education delivery across GEH and SWFT. Lead on the non-medical education commissioning for workforce. Provide professional leadership and oversight to ensure that education commissioning address key national and strategic priorities and meets the needs of women, children and families. Ensure that opportunities for research and audit are maximised to support the improvement of clinical outcomes and patient experience. Governance Accountable and responsible for ensuring the quality governance and assurance functions, systems and processes across maternity and neonatal services within GEH and SWFT are robust and fit for purpose. Be responsible and provide a high degree of assurance to the Chief Nursing Officer regarding effective risk management in maternity and neonatal services that enables learning and improvement. Have oversight and leadership across GEH and SWFT for quality assurance of required reporting to external bodies, such as HSIB, NHS Resolution, Commissioners and the Care Quality Commission and, also, compliance with all aspects of Duty of Candour legislation and all other regulatory requirements. Provide leadership and support for the maternity and neonatal services planning processes and compliance with all regulatory standards and initiatives, including The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts Maternity Standards/Incentive schemes. Responsible for robust systems that review maternity and childrens policies and procedures in a timely manner, with a particular focus on the quality of practice and management at local level. Lead the completion of reports, relevant to portfolio, to the Board of Directors, commissioners and external bodies, as required. Lead on the development, implementation and effective measurement and reporting of agreed/required performance and clinical and quality governance measures at Executive/Board level, and externally. Support the clinical leadership of maternity and neonatal services in the delivery of high quality and outstanding services, working effectively with the multi professional team to deliver the best care for everyone in line with the Trusts vision and strategic objectives and compliant with national standards and external regulations i.e. CQC, NICE. Financial & Operational Performance Responsible for ensuring that clinical initiatives and service developments become embedded practice and that staff have a clear understanding and opportunity to contribute to the change process. Work with the Divisional/Directorate Medical and Clinical Directors, managers and senior clinicians of all disciplines and service users, to develop the annual service objectives and support their assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and reporting. Ensure all resources are deployed to achieve the best outcomes, with reference to the Trusts and Service Business Plans and objectives. Work together with the Divisional/Directorate Clinical Directors and General Managers ensure that business cases are robust and justifiable. This includes identifying the operational and financial implications of options, their expected benefits realisation, and the management of any associated risks and impacts on relevant stakeholders. Ensure financial efficiency and effectiveness in use of resources and in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions. Manage the use and efficiency of any variable pay within allocated resource limits, including any bank and agency staff. In partnership with the Divisional/Directorate Leadership team, ensure that there is a robust communication framework within the services that engages staff at all levels. Job description Job responsibilities The duties and responsibilities listed below are representative of the Director of Midwifery and Neonatal Services role and its purpose within the service; they are not exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake additional or alternative duties and responsibilities commensurate with the level of the post, to support the smooth running of the services. Strategic Leadership and Development Corporate leadership of and contribution to the strategic and clinical direction of midwifery and neonatal services across GEH and SWFT. To work with system and strategic partners, and the Executive Boards, within the context of an Integrated Care System to create a compelling vision for safe and high-quality maternity and neonatal services for the population of Warwickshire, ensuring this improves outcomes and reduces inequalities. This includes identifying and implementing opportunities to redesign, grow and improve maternity and neonatal services and care to ensure they are safe, personalised, modern, adaptable and responsive. Play a key role in linking and supporting providers of maternity and neonatal services across Warwickshire and influencing, leading and responding to the strategic maternity and neonatal agenda regionally and nationally. As the most senior lead for midwifery and neonatal services in both Trusts, lead the midwifery and neonatal services workforce strategies to ensure they are inclusive and fit for purpose and for the future. Establish and maintain professional relationships with all internal and external stakeholders essential to the delivery of a safe and high-quality service provision, including services users. Work effectively with the Divisional and Directorate Leadership Teams who oversee maternity and neonatal services across both SWFT and GEH to provide objective professional challenge and support to service strategy and plans, governance and assurance. Represent the Trusts strategically, nationally and locally on maternity and paediatric issues, as required, including attending external meetings and forums. Foster an open and inclusive style of management and communication and encourage team working and good working relationships. Agree a system of delegated responsibility across the Directorates within GEH and SWFT, have oversight and provide supportive challenge to ensure their effective functioning with regards to midwifery and neonatal practise. Be responsible for interpreting and ensuing effective implementation of national, regional and local health policy and professional/national standards and guidance to ensure and assure safe, effective and high-quality care and service provision. On behalf of the Chief Nurse, support the delivery of wider functions within their portfolio and deputise in areas aligned to the Chief Nurse portfolio. Participate in the Directors on call rota. Clinical and Professional Leadership Responsible for the professional leadership across midwifery and neonatal nursing, including ensuring strategies are developed for continuous quality improvement. Ensure that self and others practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Councils Code and all other relevant professional, regulatory, national, regional and local professional standards Promote and maintain an evidence-based practice culture for midwifery and nursing staff, ensuring the creation of effective local, regional and national networks to share good practice, and be responsible for wide dissemination and implementation of evidence. Act as a strong patient advocate ensuring that a culture of continuous improvement and learning is supported in order to drive quality care delivery across maternity and neonatal services and facilitate the development of clinical practice, to ensure excellent care. Service User Experience and Involvement To be highly visible and approachable in all areas of responsibility, and available to respond to women, relatives and the public by maintaining open and honest communication channels. Working with service users and carers across Warwickshire to recognise lived experience in the strategic direction of the services and ensuring forums and governance structures to enable meaningful engagement. Initiate and implement a range of ways for users of the service across Warwickshire to actively feedback on their experience and use this to continually improve service. Create opportunities for co-design, collaborating with staff, service users and the wider community across Warwickshire to support and/or lead activities aimed at improving experiences of service users. Demonstrate public confidence in engaging with the public on any issues relating to the development or delivery of Trust services. Workforce Inspire the teams and encourage them to seek advice and identify solutions to problems through the promotion of an open-learning culture. Motivate and develop staff so as to maintain staff morale and to create a climate within the clinical areas of responsibility characterised by high standards of openness, where they are able to speak up and raise concerns. Work to create a culture which engages staff and maximises potential to ensure staff are motivated to consistently deliver optimum care and promote effective team working to ensure a positive working environment. Ensure close and effective relationships with local and higher education institutes to ensure the provision of attractive, flexible and dynamic education programmes and recruitment supply routes into the organisations. Ensure that there is an effective system of individual performance review, professional development and support in place across all areas of responsibility. Research and education Work closely with research leaders to create a vibrant research focused environment that promotes evidence-based practice and clinical academic careers. Lead, develop and implement education and research strategies to support innovation to and encourage research-based activity across services.Raise the profile of research opportunities for nursing, midwifery and AHP staff within midwifery and neonatal serviceAs a credible leader for the midwifery and neonatal services, influence and shape the development and delivery of clinical and professional standards and policy in order to impact the quality of care and education delivery across GEH and SWFT. Lead on the non-medical education commissioning for workforce. Provide professional leadership and oversight to ensure that education commissioning address key national and strategic priorities and meets the needs of women, children and families. Ensure that opportunities for research and audit are maximised to support the improvement of clinical outcomes and patient experience. Governance Accountable and responsible for ensuring the quality governance and assurance functions, systems and processes across maternity and neonatal services within GEH and SWFT are robust and fit for purpose. Be responsible and provide a high degree of assurance to the Chief Nursing Officer regarding effective risk management in maternity and neonatal services that enables learning and improvement. Have oversight and leadership across GEH and SWFT for quality assurance of required reporting to external bodies, such as HSIB, NHS Resolution, Commissioners and the Care Quality Commission and, also, compliance with all aspects of Duty of Candour legislation and all other regulatory requirements. Provide leadership and support for the maternity and neonatal services planning processes and compliance with all regulatory standards and initiatives, including The Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts Maternity Standards/Incentive schemes. Responsible for robust systems that review maternity and childrens policies and procedures in a timely manner, with a particular focus on the quality of practice and management at local level. Lead the completion of reports, relevant to portfolio, to the Board of Directors, commissioners and external bodies, as required. Lead on the development, implementation and effective measurement and reporting of agreed/required performance and clinical and quality governance measures at Executive/Board level, and externally. Support the clinical leadership of maternity and neonatal services in the delivery of high quality and outstanding services, working effectively with the multi professional team to deliver the best care for everyone in line with the Trusts vision and strategic objectives and compliant with national standards and external regulations i.e. CQC, NICE. Financial & Operational Performance Responsible for ensuring that clinical initiatives and service developments become embedded practice and that staff have a clear understanding and opportunity to contribute to the change process. Work with the Divisional/Directorate Medical and Clinical Directors, managers and senior clinicians of all disciplines and service users, to develop the annual service objectives and support their assessment, planning, implementation, evaluation and reporting. Ensure all resources are deployed to achieve the best outcomes, with reference to the Trusts and Service Business Plans and objectives. Work together with the Divisional/Directorate Clinical Directors and General Managers ensure that business cases are robust and justifiable. This includes identifying the operational and financial implications of options, their expected benefits realisation, and the management of any associated risks and impacts on relevant stakeholders. Ensure financial efficiency and effectiveness in use of resources and in accordance with the Trusts Standing Financial Instructions. Manage the use and efficiency of any variable pay within allocated resource limits, including any bank and agency staff. In partnership with the Divisional/Directorate Leadership team, ensure that there is a robust communication framework within the services that engages staff at all levels.