Job Purpose: To assess and provide the full range of care needs to develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care throughout the antenatal, intrapartum and postnatal period for women and their babies. To provide effective leadership and to act as a good role model. To supervise junior staff and to teach qualified and unqualified staff, acting as a mentor, as appropriate, providing advice and support as necessary. Work autonomously within guidelines and spheres of professional practice. Key Duties: Patient Care: To assess, develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care. To be responsible for the organisation of midwifery care for the patients assigned to you. Utilise the full skills of a midwife practitioner (both integral and extended) to a named caseload of women. To discuss with the Team Leader development and changes both midwifery and medical, which affect patients directly and indirectly. Provide care to bereaved patients and their relatives, breaking bad news and supporting other staff undergoing this process. Communicate effectively with multi-disciplinary professionals and agencies, ensuring seamless care at a high standard. To take appropriate action to ensure the safety of patients. To report any accidents/incidents to the Team Leader and submit an incident report. To ensure that midwifery procedures/guidelines are implemented and maintained in accordance with the policies of the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust and national guidance. To ensure that acceptable stands of care are maintained and, where necessary, instigate changes in agreement with the Team, Team Leader and Project Leads. To be fully conversant in dealing with complex midwifery problems such as child protection issues.Education & Training: Supervise the training of qualified and unqualified staff, and assist junior staff to develop clinical and managerial skills, in accordance with their level of competence. To act as a preceptor for junior staff. To participate in teaching for all learners in accordance with their objectives, working closely with local education providers. To provide support and supervision to student midwives. To promote the role of the PMA as key to staff health and wellbeing. To participate in teaching programmes as required. Maintain knowledge of current midwifery practice by reading relevant journals and attending study days where appropriate, promoting research based practice in agreement with team leader. To organise and provide training programmes in accordance with the identified needs of the service. To participate in further post-registration training, as evidenced by developments in practice. Management: To autonomously manage a caseload, making decisions and acting on care needs as they arise. To participate in the co-ordinating and allocating of work to staff. To inform and discuss with the Team Leader/Project Lead MWs any problems regarding management and/or care of the women. Maintain the custody of controlled drugs according to statutory procedure, ordering replacements, checking and administering all drugs according to the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. To participate in audit programmes. To take all measures to ensure safety and report all accidents/incidents to the Team Leader/Project Lead MWs and to monitor the safe and effective use of all equipment and the economic use of supplies. Maintain accurate management records at all times, ensuring appropriate reporting mechanisms are used. To assist in other wards/department of the maternity services if the clinical situation or staffing levels demand. To become familiar with ward/department budget and efficient and effective utilisation of resources. Be conversant with Trust and other Policies and Procedures and mechanisms in place for effective care and efficient management of the Maternity Unit.Professional: To maintain a professional attitude at all times developing the role of the midwife in the best interest of the women and profession in accordance with Nursing & Midwifery Council and Midwives Rules. Be responsible for maintaining accurate and contemporaneous midwifery records, written and electronic in accordance with Midwives Rules (1998) Rule 42. To be aware of extended personal and professional development. To attend courses and conferences as relevant according to the requirements of the role of an experienced midwife. Develop competencies in the use of equipment in the clinical area, attend teaching sessions as appropriate. To be part of an on call rota for homebirths and the provision of intrapartum care in the Maternity Unit. To attend courses and conferences as relevant. To be conversant and comply with the Trust policies and regulations and attend compulsory lectures as instructed. To maintain good standards of care and assist in the implementation of recommendations from Government and professional bodies in relation to maternity care. Participate in research projects where appropriate, reporting findings within a multi-disciplinary framework. Implement research projects where appropriate. To be professionally accountable for ones own midwifery practice, acting in a professional manner at all times abiding by the Midwives Rules and Codes of Practice and all other relevant RCM/NMC and Trust practice protocols and guidelines. To be responsible for the maintenance and improvement of own professional knowledge and competence in keeping with the practice and CPD standard, laid down by the RCM/NMC to ensure continued professional registration.Personnel: To participate in the selection and interviewing of junior staff within the ward/department. Participate in the devising and implementation of induction programmes for newly appointed staff. To assist the Team Leader/Project Leads in monitoring staff performance. Participate in staff appraisal and the investigation of complaints and incidents. To assist the Team Leader/Project Leads in the maintenance of day to day discipline within the ward/department area. To inform the Team Leader/Project Leads of staff failing to meet the required standard of performance. To counsel staff in relation to personnel and professional matters