Job overview
There is an exciting opportunity for an experienced midwife, who is passionate about midwifery and leadership to join our team of highly skilled Community Team Leaders.
We are looking for a dynamic, motivated and forward thinking midwife to provide effective leadership as community team leader for Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust. Be a role model of excellent midwifery practice and demonstrate a commitment in supporting colleagues to provide personalised care approach to antenatal and postnatal services as well as supporting a home birth service, Crowborough and Maidstone birth centre, women centred care and a positive pregnancy and birth experience.
The post holder will have good communication and expert midwifery skills, committed to giving high-quality care, challenge practice and support individual focused care.
As the team lead you will co-ordinate the day to day running of the community team, which provides care for a caseload of women/birthing people including antenatal and postnatal care.
There is a requirement to provide an on-call to support the management on call rota.
Main duties of the job
This role requires you to be the overall leader and work as part of a small team within a community setting. This involves close relationships with birth centre ensuring a safe provision of care. You will need to demonstrate good leadership skills and sound understanding of co-ordinating a community team. You will liaise with senior management team on a daily basis.
Experience of working in a community setting is essential for this role. Additionally we are looking for someone who is highly skilled in the management of obstetric emergencies out of the hospital environment. Previous experience at Band 7 level is desirable but not essential as this role entails working independently from the main obstetric unit.
Working for our organisation
MTW is a large acute hospital trust in the south-east of England.
We provide a full range of general hospital services and some aspects of specialist and complex care to around 600,000 people living in west Kent and East Sussex. We have a team of over 8,000 full and part-time staff. We also provide specialist cancer services to around 2 million people across Kent and East Sussex via the Kent Oncology Centre.
In the 2024 NHS staff survey, our employees ranked MTW among the top 10 NHS Trusts nationwide and the second-best Trust to work for in the South East.
Would you like to work flexibly? In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important life is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Once your pre-employment checks have been completed you will be contacted by Recruitment to arrange your start date which will be in line with one of our Corporate Inductions.
Following your Corporate Induction you will be expected to attend the Trust’s 2-week Induction Programme for RNs, NAs, RMs, ODPs and Paramedics. The programme is full-time (please email if this is problematic) and will involve travel to both Trust sites. The programme includes supernumerary shifts in the clinical area, classroom-based sessions and e-learning.
Please note that appointment to this post will be subject to a satisfactory Disclosure & Barring Service Check at Enhanced Level. (Enhanced level now includes regulated checks against vulnerable adults and children)
At MTW, we seek to develop a culture where everyone can reach their full potential with opportunities to grow and develop their career. We recognise and value the unique contributions that each of our staff bring, delivering the best quality care and service to our patients. We are committed to being a diverse employer and strive to reflect everyone in our local communities. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences and celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that will make our Trust the best place to work.
We support our staff with disabilities to ensure they have the adjustments they need to be the best they can be in the workplace. Collaborating with Access to Work means that our staff are assessed by experts in the workplace and we ensure that their recommendations are implemented as quickly as possible. You can find out more here: Access to Work: get support if you have a disability or health condition: What Access to Work is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Interview Date: To be confirmed
Please note that this role may often attract a high level of applications. Please note this role may close earlier than the original closing date so please ensure you submit your application as soon as possible
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. RM and eligible to practice
2. Working at a degree level or equivalent
3. Mentorship in Practice / Sign off mentor
4. Evidence of further study and development of professional and academic skills
Desirable criteria
5. Leadership/ management qualification
Knowledge
Essential criteria
6. Minimum 3 years experience at band 6 or above
7. Ability to assess, plan, implement and evaluate Midwifery care for women and their babies
8. Manage own caseload including ability to priorities and meet deadlines
9. Experience of leading and managing a team
10. Knowledge of safeguarding and how Concern & Vulnerability process works, including Social Services
11. Ability to work within acute and primary health care settings.
12. Experience of acting as a mentor to both qualified midwives and students encouraging evidence based practice
13. Sound knowledge and experience in out of hospital birth
Skills
Essential criteria
14. Leadership & management of a team
15. Conflict management skills
16. Negotiation
17. Mentoring of students and junior staff
18. Suturing, cannulation and obstetric emergencies facilitation
19. IT skills
20. Excellent interpersonal skills
Desirable criteria
21. To have participated in audits