James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
The bereavement midwife will provide clinical support and advice for staff caring for bereaved families within the maternity services and will play an integral part in service delivery. Individualised care and support to families whereby the bereavement midwife should act as an advocate throughout the care episode and into the next pregnancy alongside other members of the multi-disciplinary team.
To work alongside the existing specialised bereavement midwife and maternity bereavement support worker, and act as a positive role model and provide sound professional knowledge and leadership to all members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure the provision of a 7-day bereavement service.
This is a rotational band 6 midwife role with interest in bereavement. The post holder is expected to undertake at least 1 clinical shift in ward areas every week, to maintain skills. As a rotational midwife, the post holder will be requested to work in different maternity settings/department, including community, based on service needs.
The post holder will be required to participate in the on-call rota.
Main duties of the job
The bereavement midwife will provide clinical support and advice for staff caring for bereaved families within the maternity services and will play an integral part in service delivery and development of the Rainbow Clinic. Individualised care and support to families must be facilitated, and the bereavement midwife should act as an advocate throughout their care and into the next pregnancy.
To provide support for the obstetric and midwifery teams during appointments when caring for women experiencing a loss in pregnancy, stillbirth or early neonatal death and any subsequent pregnancy clinical encounters. The role consists of building on and strengthening relationships with other departments including the gynaecology team, early pregnancy assessment unit, the local fetal medicine unit, central delivery suite, patient safety team, mortuary staff and the screening midwives to provide a seamless service for staff and families.
The bereavement midwife will assist in the development of pathways and guidelines, and will review them in relation to stillbirths, late miscarriage, medical termination, and neonatal deaths. And will act as an educational resource for medical, nursing and midwifery staff on physical, psychological, and administrative aspects of bereavement care. In addition, this role is to provide support and training for staff in bereavement related issues.
About us
We want to attract the best and brightest people to work with us and that means we will look after you from the moment you apply for a role at the Trust and throughout your career with us. Our staff are central to everything we do, and we believe that investing in you is crucial if we want to enable you to reach your full potential.
We're a 450-bed district general hospital. Through the national NHS Staff Survey, our staff value our commitment to flexible working, and feel engaged and involved in how services operate.
Job responsibilities
Leadership
To act as an effective advocate for the bereaved woman and her partner to ensure that their individualised care is of the highest possible standard.
Provide an accessible resource in clinical settings to staff, patients, and their families.
To deliver the Rainbow Clinic with the bereavement consultant in an organised and professional manner.
To be available to give practical help and support where appropriate, either by telephone or in person to members of staff at all levels.
To ensure families know how to access further support such as SANDS and Bereavement Charities.
To deliver a confidential support service to women and their partners following fetal or early neonatal loss.
Ensure that the Bereavement service is offered to all newly bereaved parents, liaising with all members of the team to ensure that an efficient and high-quality service is provided. This may entail home visiting for some clients who may be distressed at entering hospital premises.
To give emotional and psychological support to bereaved parents and the staff involved in their care. This support may be initiated during pregnancy, in labour or following the birth/death of the baby.
Display a professional leadership style that empowers staff and actively supports development of clinical leadership skills.
Ensure effective teamworking and active collaboration with all relevant stakeholders.
To act as deputy to the band 7 specialist midwife bereavement lead.
Communication
Provides highly sensitive and distressing information to patients and their families.
Communicates with and supports effective working relationships with all disciplines within the division, trust, regional and national level; recognising groups and individuals who may be under stress.
To establish and maintain an effective working relationship with the Chaplains, the mortuary managers, Neonatal Pathologist, Histology, Funeral Directors, and the crematorium.
Leads and supports an open culture ensuring communication channels are in place where learning and innovation are encouraged and shared for the benefit of patients and staff.
Communicates information to staff members that are sensitive and act appropriately when there may be significant barriers to acceptance.
Acts as de-briefer and provides support during and after traumatic /stressful situations for multi-disciplinary staff groups. Can also signpost when additional support is requested and/or required, e.g. birth trauma resolution therapy.
Quality and Clinical Governance
To ensure clinical practice is evidence based, ensuring best practice is maintained using appropriate tools and encouraging the application of nursing and midwifery research into Bereavement care.
To identify potential risks and assist in the completion of reports following clinical incidents.
To maintain correct confidential records of all bereaved clients.
To participate in the notification of national agencies of stillbirths and neonatal deaths (MBRRACE, RCOG, PMRT, UKOSS).
To participate in MBRRACE reporting if required.
To ensure all reports and documentation are filed in specified section of the medical notes in preparation for the Consultant postnatal appointment and to assist the Consultant during postnatal appointments.
To contribute to multi-disciplinary panels to look at areas of Perinatal Mortality.
To identify and disseminate research findings related to perinatal bereavement support and participate in research projects when required.
Ensure that all aspects of health and safety are adhered to, reporting any untoward incidents appropriately.
Develop and encourage a culture of continuous quality and service improvement to enable change and help deliver better services.
Ensure systems are in place to implement and evaluate the improving service user experience.
To maintain and regularly review fetal loss information packs for women and staff.
Training
To assist in devising and delivering an educational training programme meeting the needs of the multi-disciplinary clinical staff in relation to bereavement issues.
To identify staff training needs within the service, in collaboration with the Practice Development Midwife, Head of Midwifery & Gynaecology and Chaplaincy team.
General
All employees are subject to the requirements of the Data Protection Act and must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of patient and staff records.
All employees must comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act and take responsibility for unit security arrangements, ensuring the protection of women, babies and staff.
Regular appraisals will be undertaken and reviewed annually. These will be based on the key responsibilities contained within this job description and the KSF outline.
Health and Safety Responsibilities
To ensure that the Trusts Health and Safety Policies are understood and observed and that procedures are followed.
To ensure the appropriate use of equipment and facilities and that the working environment is maintained in good order.
To take the necessary precautions to safeguard the welfare and safety of yourself, patients, visitors, and staff, in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To undertake appropriate health and safety training to support safe working practice, including where appropriate, its management.
To demonstrate a practical understanding of risk assessment in relation to their areas of responsibility and to ensure safe systems of work are in place.
To ensure that all incidents occurring within the department are reported in accordance with Trust procedures, investigated and corrective action taken as necessary and/or reported to senior management and specialist advisers.
To ensure that occupational health advice is sought if employees identify health conditions which may affect their ability to carry out their responsibilities safely.
To ensure that they maintain compliance with all statutory and mandatory training relevant to their role.
Moving and Handling Responsibilities
To ensure that all moving and handling tasks within their area of responsibility are assessed, that there is a manual handling plan indicating safe systems of work, and that documentation is regularly maintained and updated.
To observe and monitor the application of M&H skills, ensuring safe practice.
To attend appropriate training in accordance with the M&H assessed risks within the work area.
Confidentiality
All staff are required to respect confidentiality of all matters that they learn as a result of their employment with the NHS, including matters relating to other members of staff, patients and members of the public.
Equality and Diversity
All employees are required to follow and implement the Trust's equal opportunities policy and to undergo any training and development activities to ensure that they can carry out their duties and responsibilities in terms of promoting, developing, implementing and reviewing the policy arrangements in the course of their work.
Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults
All employees have a duty for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Staff must be aware of the Trusts procedure for raising concerns about the welfare of anyone with whom they have contact. Staff must also ensure they receive the appropriate level of safeguarding children and vulnerable adult training depending on their role in the Trust.
Infection Control
It is the responsibility of all staff to ensure that they understand and follow the infection control policies, procedures and best practice applicable within the Trust. In particular:
- Observe all infection control policies and practices relevant to the post
- Act as a role model to others regarding infection control best practice
- Ensure that they keep up to date and attend all relevant training relating to infection control issues applicable to their post.
- Ensure that patients, visitors and contractors are aware of and follow infection control best practice (where applicable).
- Report non-compliance or concerns regarding infection control issues / best practice to their line manager
Trust Values
To work inline with the Trust values and promote these within teams, departments and divisions in the Trust.
Person Specification
Education and qualifications
* Registered Midwife
* Diploma/Degree or equivalent
* Teaching qualification (ENB 007 or equivalent)
* Demonstrate evidence of clinical Research/Audit methods
Experience and knowledge
* Knowledge of all aspects of midwifery
* Experience of teaching and mentorship within the clinical setting
* Evidence of attendance at audit meetings
* Multi agency working
* Management Skills
* Project management
Skills, abilities and competencies
* Good communicator with colleagues even in challenging situations
* Understanding of clinical guidelines, process for review and role of clinical guidelines in practice
* Ability to meet deadlines
* Change agent
* Presentation and IT skills
* Courteous and Respectful
* Kind and Helpful
* Responsive Communication
* Effective and Professional
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
James Paget University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
Maternity department, James Paget University Hospital
£37,338 to £44,962 a year per annum pro rata (Banding TBC)
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
177-ELEC-6563348
Job locations
Maternity department, James Paget University Hospital
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