Job summary
If you are looking to work in an award winning, well-supported, friendly, dynamic, culturally astute and inclusive environment that puts birthing people at the centre of a high standard of care where the latest CQC report that rates us again as good, maintaining our good rating since 2017, a fantastic opportunity has arisen for an experienced, enthusiastic, motivated midwife to join the Maternity Education Team as the Practice Development Midwife (PDM) at University Hospital Lewisham .
You will need to evidence extensive post-qualification experience, including recent practice on Labour Ward and excellent leadership and communication skills.
You will be instrumental in delivering specialist midwifery training to the Maternity Team, encompassing our team of midwives and support workers, with regular inter-disciplinary working with Obstetric and Anaesthetic colleagues.
The PDM is pivotal in maintaining safe maternity services and ensuring continuous professional development for midwives, achieved through the organisation and facilitation of the mandatory training programme, responsive teaching within the clinical environment and the provision of external CPD opportunities.
You will lead by example by incorporating a clinical element to maintain your professional development, confidence and competence.
Main duties of the job
You will develop your leadership and managerial skills with opportunities to become involved with project management.
You will be the lead for the professional development programme for midwives in collaboration with the Queen Elizabeth site PDM, Lead for Education, Head of Midwifery and Senior Midwives.
You will be required to deliver and facilitate a programme of mandatory training for midwives, in collaboration with specialist speakers. You will also liaise with multidisciplinary colleagues to organise joint obstetric emergency study days.
You will support the Senior Midwifery team to co-ordinate an environment of life-long learning for midwives and support midwifery staff in clinical practice by working in tandem alongside them in the clinical areas.
You will develop Training Needs Analysis in response to needs of the service, Trust and wider organisation.
As the Practice Development Midwife you will work closely with the Clinical Practice Facilitator (CPF) / Preceptee Support Midwives (PCSM) in training and skills for midwives and preceptee midwives.
About us
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
1. Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
2. Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
3. Improving the experience of staff with disability
4. Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
5. Making equalities mainstream
Job description
Job responsibilities
To lead in the professional development programme for midwives in collaboration with the Lewisham site PDM, Head of Midwifery and Senior Midwives.
To deliver and facilitate a programme of mandatory training for midwives, in collaboration with specialist speakers. Liaise with multidisciplinary colleagues to organise joint obstetric emergency study days.
To support the Senior Midwifery team co-ordinate an environment of life-long learning for midwives and support staff and to support midwifery staff in clinical practice by working in tandem alongside them in the clinical areas.
Develop Training Needs Analysis in response to needs of the service, Trust and wider organisation.
The Practice Development Midwife will work closely with the Clinical Practice Facilitator (CPF) in training and skills for midwives and preceptee midwives.
Key Performance:
6. Create a learning environment conducive to all staff acquiring the required knowledge and skills to meet the needs of clients and their families.
7. In conjunction with the Head of Midwifery and senior management team, identify training needs through annual training needs analysis and develop the training/development strategy for the unit working to ensure evidence based practice underpins all midwifery care and is responsive to local and national criteria.
8. Contribute to the development and provision of in-house post-registration courses.
9. Review and influence the development and implementation of policies based on local and national agendas.
10. Co-ordinate and assist with the audit of midwifery practice to demonstrate compliance with National standards.
11. Support the CPF in fulfilling the requirement of the NMC for all midwives to be Practice Assessors and thus ensuring exceptional mentoring for students.
12. Lead the teaching programmes for midwives and support the ethos of lifelong learning for midwives.
13. Possess advanced clinical knowledge and skills, able to recognise complications and deal with clinical problems in a safe and appropriate manner and can provide emergency care to mother/birthing person and/or baby whilst awaiting medical assistance, including management of maternal haemorrhage, intravenous cannulation, infant and adult resuscitation.
14. Work with staff in a variety of settings to ensure midwifery practice is evidence based including IV cannulation, episiotomies and perineal suturing.
15. Support midwives undergoing development or supervised practice where relevant.
16. Support education and clinical research within the Unit.
17. Promote staff awareness of the national agenda, influencing midwifery services and ensuring that the service reflects current policy.
18. Initiate/participate with projects and working groups in the maternity department.
19. Although based in one hospital within the Trust, he/she should be able to work in either hospital, providing consistent practice development cover.
Workforce
20. Line manages allocated staff, including monitoring and management of staff development and poor performance.
21. Ensure all midwives are up to date with required mandatory, statutory and professional training.
22. Instrumental in development of competency assessment and maintenance of these records where appropriate.
23. Ensure the Compliance Team are enabled to maintain an accurate training database for all midwives, by timely provision of the attendance registers.
Communication & Working Relationships
Act as a resource for Lead Midwives
24. Liaise with Midwives to ensure education and training needs identify and reflect those identified through the supervision process.
Work closely with the Obstetric, Anaesthetic, Neonatal and Medical teams to ensure multidisciplinary education and updating
25. Work closely with the Obstetric Risk Manager and Lead Midwives in provision and audit of education for Clinical Governance.
26. Cross cover in the absence of the Clinical Placement Facilitator.
27. Provide specific advice to the HOM and CPF on issues relating to practice development and support the Lead Midwives.
28. Liaise with local Higher Education Institute (HEI), Link Lecturers and Lead Midwife for Education (LME).
General
29. Develop and maintain personal clinical competence in all midwifery practice areas.
30. Practices with due attention to the Midwives Rules and Standards (NMC 2012) and The Code - Standards of Conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives (NMC 2008).
31. Provide a positive role model for midwives and student midwives in relation to midwifery clinical practice.
32. Demonstrate clinical practice, providing a strong visible presence within the maternity unit and ensure regular contact with patients, relatives and staff.
33. To maintain own clinical skills relevant to the development of midwifery practice using research based evidence.
34. Take action against inappropriate behaviour with regards to equality and diversity.
35. Work as a team member, ensuring good communication and collaborative working relationships are maintained throughout the division and at Trust level.
36. As part of the senior midwifery team, be able to advise and support women/birthing people with psychological, emotional and sensitive issues, often in difficult and complex circumstances.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential
37. Registered Midwife
38. Educated to First degree level or working towards.
39. Practice Assessor (SSSA Standard)
Desirable
40. Masters degree or working towards in related subject
41. Teaching Qualification.
Experience
Essential
42. Minimum five years post qualification midwifery experience
43. Demonstrate the ability to work in highly demanding environment
44. Implementation of audit / research recommendations.
45. Evidence of involvement in change management
46. Ability to identify poorly performing staff and take appropriate action
Desirable
47. Evidence of presentations at local, regional, national level.
48. Evidence of continued leadership development
49. Evidence of participation in research projects.
50. Contribution to academic programmes.
51. Module in research methods.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
52. Evidence of delivering teaching programmes to staff/student groups.
53. Evidence of excellent clinical record.
54. Excellent communication and leadership skills
55. Able to demonstrate imaginative and effective use of resources
Desirable
56. Competent in database and spreadsheets.
57. Knowledge of Microsoft Word & PowerPoint.
Personal Qualities
Essential
58. Evidence of diplomacy and negotiation skills.
59. Able to deal with conflict in a non confrontational manner.
60. Demonstrate enthusiasm for the role and for continued professional development