Job summary An exciting opportunity exists for you to join County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust as our Specialist Midwife for Fetal Monitoring and Wellbeing. This is an opportunity for an ambitious practitioner who is ready to progress in their career. This post will require an experienced and talented midwifery practitioner who will continue the strong clinical leadership and education of our midwifery and obstetric team in fetal monitoring and wellbeing. The postholder will work within the team, across the Family Health Care Group (including other Care Groups as appropriate) and with external stakeholders to help deliver cohesive, comprehensive and integrated services within maternity care. You will need to be an inspiring, enthusiastic and knowledgable teacher, as the Lead Midwife for fetal monitoring will coordinate and deliver on training provision to ensure that all staff providing antepartum and intrapartum care across County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Services are competent and skilled in fetal monitoring. Main duties of the job There will be a strong focus on workplace learning through supporting the multi-professional team to ensure they can accurately and confidently interpret fetal monitoring. This workplace based learning would take place in all clinical settings. You will be responsible for supporting the team in the achievement of excellent, safe, and efficient care through fetal monitoring and wellbeing knowledge. Your influence will have a positive impact on the quality-of-care provision within the maternity service. The post holder will provide innovative professional leadership, advice and guidance to midwifery staff and obstetric staff, ensuring the professional contributions of midwives is maximised in order to achieve the Trusts strategic goals whilst ensuring professional standards are maintained. The post holder will work with a high level of autonomy in order to support and influence the service including implementation of national initiatives and appropriate models of care around fetal monitoring and wellbeing. About us If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented From April 1 2024 we are unable to offer sponsorship for healthcare roles that do not meet the minimum salary £23,200, If you are in the UK on a VISA please ensure you have no restrictions that would prevent you from taking this post. Pay award Pending Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents Date posted 09 January 2025 Pay scheme Agenda for change Band Band 7 Salary £46,148 to £52,809 a year Per Annum Contract Permanent Working pattern Full-time Reference number C9439-25-0028 Job locations Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust Hollyhurst Road Darlington County Durham DL3 6HX University Hospital Of North Durham North Road Durham DH1 5TW Job description Job responsibilities The role will involve working with the Senior Clinical teams across the service, including practice development and patient safety and governance, to embed the knowledge and skills staff gain from our fetal monitoring training course and competency framework, into the workplace. This culture of continuous learning, associated with continuous measurement for improvement, will provide assurance that all staff undertaking fetal monitoring are competent to provide safe care. The role requires clinical expertise and facilitation skills, to enable the standards of risk assessment and fetal monitoring in line with elements 3 and 4 of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCBv3 July, 2023). You will be working closely with the senior midwifery team and multidisciplinary team in taking forward and shaping the future of midwifery practice in the light of the local, national and professional agenda. The main duties and responsibiliies of the Lead Midwife for Fetal Monitoring Role include; To lead on improving the awareness of reduced fetal movements, in accordance with element 3 of the SBLCBv3 (July 2023) To lead on improving the standard of intrapartum risk assessment and fetal monitoring, in accordance with element 4 of the SBLCBv3 (July, 2023) To lead on incident reviews within the patient safety incident response framework (PSIRF), where CTG interpretation and decision making may have contributed to a poor outcome i.e o Low cord gases o APGAR o ATAIN o EBC reportable o Extensive neonatal resuscitation o Failure to meet timing for operative delivery To identify the development and training needs around fetal monitoring within designated clinical areas according to individual needs and service requirements To facilitate an education programme aimed at equipping midwives, obstetricians and trainees to increase their knowledge and competence in identifying fetal well-being, potential fetal compromise and actual fetal compromise in all clinical settings and improve clinical decision making To engage in the regional development of physiological CTG interpretation; to take a lead role in the clinical teaching of this at Trust level To develop staffs awareness in recognising factors that could contribute to misinterpretation of cardiotocography (CTG) and impaired clinical decision making Ensure staff are holistically assessing fetal well-being in the context of the woman's health, pregnancy, gestation and stage of labour Develop midwives' competence and confidence in undertaking intelligent intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart in low risk women as per the Trust and national guidance. Ensure staff can intelligently auscultate the fetal heart in labour and increase confidence in staff in auscultating the fetal heart intermittently through the introduction and use of a Fresh Ears process Review and support with current training packages and educational resources Be innovative in approach to teaching methods and learning experiences Participate in curriculum development and joint professional development activities with other agencies to maximise learning opportunities. Job description Job responsibilities The role will involve working with the Senior Clinical teams across the service, including practice development and patient safety and governance, to embed the knowledge and skills staff gain from our fetal monitoring training course and competency framework, into the workplace. This culture of continuous learning, associated with continuous measurement for improvement, will provide assurance that all staff undertaking fetal monitoring are competent to provide safe care. The role requires clinical expertise and facilitation skills, to enable the standards of risk assessment and fetal monitoring in line with elements 3 and 4 of the Saving Babies' Lives Care Bundle (SBLCBv3 July, 2023). You will be working closely with the senior midwifery team and multidisciplinary team in taking forward and shaping the future of midwifery practice in the light of the local, national and professional agenda. The main duties and responsibiliies of the Lead Midwife for Fetal Monitoring Role include; To lead on improving the awareness of reduced fetal movements, in accordance with element 3 of the SBLCBv3 (July 2023) To lead on improving the standard of intrapartum risk assessment and fetal monitoring, in accordance with element 4 of the SBLCBv3 (July, 2023) To lead on incident reviews within the patient safety incident response framework (PSIRF), where CTG interpretation and decision making may have contributed to a poor outcome i.e o Low cord gases o APGAR o ATAIN o EBC reportable o Extensive neonatal resuscitation o Failure to meet timing for operative delivery To identify the development and training needs around fetal monitoring within designated clinical areas according to individual needs and service requirements To facilitate an education programme aimed at equipping midwives, obstetricians and trainees to increase their knowledge and competence in identifying fetal well-being, potential fetal compromise and actual fetal compromise in all clinical settings and improve clinical decision making To engage in the regional development of physiological CTG interpretation; to take a lead role in the clinical teaching of this at Trust level To develop staffs awareness in recognising factors that could contribute to misinterpretation of cardiotocography (CTG) and impaired clinical decision making Ensure staff are holistically assessing fetal well-being in the context of the woman's health, pregnancy, gestation and stage of labour Develop midwives' competence and confidence in undertaking intelligent intermittent auscultation of the fetal heart in low risk women as per the Trust and national guidance. Ensure staff can intelligently auscultate the fetal heart in labour and increase confidence in staff in auscultating the fetal heart intermittently through the introduction and use of a Fresh Ears process Review and support with current training packages and educational resources Be innovative in approach to teaching methods and learning experiences Participate in curriculum development and joint professional development activities with other agencies to maximise learning opportunities. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Professional/clinical knowledge acquired through midwifery training to degree/ diploma level and preceptorship plus further study and training course at/or working toward Masters level equivalent PP126/127 or equivalent Registered Practice Assessor Extensive experience at Band 6 Desirable Leadership Qualification Education at Masters level CTG Masterclass Experience Essential Excellent interpersonal skills Mentorship skills Extended scope of practice skills Counselling & appraisal skills Time Management Skills Practical skills required include: advanced level fetal monitoring interpretation Must be able to demonstrate the English language proficiency level required for this post Ability to communicate with staff at all levels Ability to communicate with MDT and ability to work as member of a team High level of personal motivation Must be flexible to meet the needs of the needs of the service Desirable Leadership course / experience Management course / experience Special Requirements Essential Ability to travel independently across sites to fulfil the requirements of the post Statutory Registration Essential UK Registered NMC Midwife with Current active PIN Special Skills & knowledge Essential Thorough understanding of contemporary midwifery issues Evidence of service improvement Evidence of introduction and maintaining effective clinical governance strategy Knowledge of primary care Evidence of innovation in practice Leadership course / experience Management course / experience IT skills Desirable Training in quality improvement methodology. Knowledge of and contribution to the Clinical Governance Framework. Previous experience of complaints handling and risk management Person Specification Qualifications Essential Professional/clinical knowledge acquired through midwifery training to degree/ diploma level and preceptorship plus further study and training course at/or working toward Masters level equivalent PP126/127 or equivalent Registered Practice Assessor Extensive experience at Band 6 Desirable Leadership Qualification Education at Masters level CTG Masterclass Experience Essential Excellent interpersonal skills Mentorship skills Extended scope of practice skills Counselling & appraisal skills Time Management Skills Practical skills required include: advanced level fetal monitoring interpretation Must be able to demonstrate the English language proficiency level required for this post Ability to communicate with staff at all levels Ability to communicate with MDT and ability to work as member of a team High level of personal motivation Must be flexible to meet the needs of the needs of the service Desirable Leadership course / experience Management course / experience Special Requirements Essential Ability to travel independently across sites to fulfil the requirements of the post Statutory Registration Essential UK Registered NMC Midwife with Current active PIN Special Skills & knowledge Essential Thorough understanding of contemporary midwifery issues Evidence of service improvement Evidence of introduction and maintaining effective clinical governance strategy Knowledge of primary care Evidence of innovation in practice Leadership course / experience Management course / experience IT skills Desirable Training in quality improvement methodology. Knowledge of and contribution to the Clinical Governance Framework. Previous experience of complaints handling and risk management 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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. Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). 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 County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust Address Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust Hollyhurst Road Darlington County Durham DL3 6HX Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)