Job summary We are actively seeking applications from candidates who bring not only professional expertise but also lived experiences and cultural safety that enhance the sensitivity and understanding required in this role. The post holder will be part of the Maternity team, providing antenatal and postnatal care for pregnant women and birthing people after loss ensuring continuity and care in line with the National Bereavement Care Pathway standards. The Bereavement midwife will support the Maternity team to provide care, support and practical advice to woman, birthing people and their families following the loss of their baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, neonatal death and termination of pregnancy for medical reasons within a range of settings including at home. They will provide support to midwifery and medical staff within the Directorate when caring for women or birthing people experiencing a loss pregnancy, stillbirth or early neonatal death. Main duties of the job Provide dedicated bereavement support and coordinate follow-up care for parents who have experienced pregnancy loss, ensuring compassionate and professional care throughout their journey. Manage, plan, and coordinate holistic care for bereaved birthing people, working closely with the multidisciplinary team and external agencies to ensure comprehensive support. Assess, plan, implement, and evaluate specialist care based on evidence-based practice, adapting to the unique needs of each individual. Lead the development of staff across all levels (medical, support workers), providing training and professional development in the specialist area of bereavement care. Review and develop policies and procedures for the care of bereaved individuals within the maternity department, collaborating with managers to address complaints related to fetal loss. Ensure all necessary documentation is completed following births, including funeral arrangements, MBRRACE-UK, and the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool. About us Wye Valley NHS Trust is a member of an NHS Foundation Group with South Warwickshire NHS FT, the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust. Located on the border with Wales in the shadow of the Black Mountains, we provide acute and community services across Herefordshire and into parts of Powys and run Hereford County Hospital and the community hospitals in Bromyard, Leominster and Ross-on-Wye. We are a progressive and forward looking trust with ambitious plans to improve quality and integrate patient pathways through close collaborative working with our partners to deliver the quality of care we'd want for our family and friends. More than 3,500 people work for the Trust - they tell us it's a great place to work, blending the busyness of a DGH with the benefits of working in a beautiful rural and unspoilt county like Herefordshire. We can offer a great work-life balance and have a fine tradition of working with staff to help them achieve their full potential. Russell Hardy, Trust Chairman: "The strength of the Trust is its amazing staff; a great place to work, a great place to develop your career and a great place to reach your potential." Our values -Care, Accountability, Respect and Excellence - are at the heart of all we do. We believe in providing the right care in the right place at the right timeall the time. Date posted 21 February 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year pa pro rata Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Full-time, Part-time Reference number 229-SUR-6916854 Job locations Hereford County Hospital Stonebow Road HEREFORD HR1 2ER Job description Job responsibilities For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached job description and person specification. Job description Job responsibilities For more information about the role and responsibilities please see the attached job description and person specification. Person Specification EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Essential Registered Midwife: Must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Current NMC Registration First level degree in related healthcare discipline or substantial experiential equivalence Evidence of having undertaken bereavement/counselling related course, module, study days Evidence of regular updating SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Essential Knowledge of grieving process, Understanding of counselling process, Extensive knowledge of administration processes following death, Problem solving skills, Presentation skills, Leadership skills,Ability to work as team player, Effective interpersonal and communication skills Knowledge of NMC standards Be able to work in stressful situations with women, their families and staff following a bereavement. Maintain a visible high profile approach to the role Desirable Specialised training in bereavement care, counselling, or palliative care is highly desirable Understanding of governance frameworks, including quality improvement, risk management, and audit processes. Familiarity with both the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) and InPhase record-keeping systems, with the ability to review, investigate, and update records effectively. Understanding of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and its application to the bereavement care pathway, including identifying incidents, investigating causes, and implementing safety improvements. EXPERIENCE Essential Experience of multi-disciplinary working, Confidence in report writing and completing investigations, Evidence of ongoing professional development Desirable Experience: Significant experience in midwifery, ideally with a focus on bereavement care, stillbirth, or neonatal death. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES Essential Leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to educate and mentor staff. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with families, colleagues, and external agencies. Ability to exercise own initiative and work to deadlines Desirable Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of post Person Specification EDUCATION AND QUALIFICATIONS Essential Registered Midwife: Must be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Current NMC Registration First level degree in related healthcare discipline or substantial experiential equivalence Evidence of having undertaken bereavement/counselling related course, module, study days Evidence of regular updating SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES Essential Knowledge of grieving process, Understanding of counselling process, Extensive knowledge of administration processes following death, Problem solving skills, Presentation skills, Leadership skills,Ability to work as team player, Effective interpersonal and communication skills Knowledge of NMC standards Be able to work in stressful situations with women, their families and staff following a bereavement. Maintain a visible high profile approach to the role Desirable Specialised training in bereavement care, counselling, or palliative care is highly desirable Understanding of governance frameworks, including quality improvement, risk management, and audit processes. Familiarity with both the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) and InPhase record-keeping systems, with the ability to review, investigate, and update records effectively. Understanding of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) and its application to the bereavement care pathway, including identifying incidents, investigating causes, and implementing safety improvements. EXPERIENCE Essential Experience of multi-disciplinary working, Confidence in report writing and completing investigations, Evidence of ongoing professional development Desirable Experience: Significant experience in midwifery, ideally with a focus on bereavement care, stillbirth, or neonatal death. PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES Essential Leadership and organisational skills, with the ability to educate and mentor staff. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to engage with families, colleagues, and external agencies. Ability to exercise own initiative and work to deadlines Desirable Ability to fulfil the travel requirements of post 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Additional information 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. UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window). Employer details Employer name Wye Valley NHS Trust Address Hereford County Hospital Stonebow Road HEREFORD HR1 2ER Employer's website https://www.wyevalley.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)