Senior Midwife for West Midlands Maternal Medicine Network

Job summary
The West Midlands Maternal Medicine Network is governed through the Birmingham and Solihull Local Maternity and Neonatal System project management office.This role will provide an integral co-ordinating and leadership role in delivering the recommendations of strategic deliverables for maternity systems outlined within the NHS Long Term Plan, recommendations from national enquiries and investigations, maternity and neonatal single delivery plan and includes assurance oversight regarding Provider implementation and embedding of the Maternal Care Bundle.The role will be integral in reducing health inequalities across the region working closely with the lead obstetrician and obstetric physician with a focus on Quality, Quality Improvement methodology, transformation and sustained improvement and Equity.The postholder will provide leadership to support the overall programme of work, to develop and strengthen the Network together with building, managing, and maintaining strong and collaborative working relationships with all the key stakeholders across the networks and their member organisationsThis will involve working with the Clinical Director and Chief Midwife for the West Midlands, System-wide senior midwifery, neonatal and obstetric leaders, and Clinical Leads at the provider Trusts across the System, and within the Midlands Perinatal Team to deliver consistent outstanding maternity and neonatal care across the region.

Provisional interview date of 02nd October

Main duties of the job
The post holder will operate as a senior autonomous midwifery leader within WMMMN, providing expert professional leadership across quality, safety, equity, and transformation influencing, advising, directing and leading the delivery of national improvement programmes.They will provide expert clinical leadership, strategic oversight, and autonomous decision-making to drive the implementation and sustainability of the national improvement initiatives (i.e. care bundles and perinatal improvement programme) across regionThe postholder willWork across organisational boundaries, reduce unwarranted variation, and improve outcomes for pregnant women, babies, and their families, in line with the NHS Long Term Plan.The postholder will operate with a high degree of professional autonomy, influencing practice at organisational, system and regional level, and acting as a recognised expert in perinatal care and improvement.

About us
Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centered care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.

Details
Date posted: 19 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8a
Salary: £57,528 to £64,750 a year pro rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 284-26-8190964-COCM
Job locations: West Midlands Maternal Medicine Network, Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
Please refer to the attached job description and person specification to view the full details for this opportunity at Birmingham Womens and Childrens NHS Foundation Trust.

When completing your application, please ensure you have evidenced how you meet the job description and person specification to include transferable experience, qualifications, skills along with professional registration details (if applicable).

Occasionally we receive a large number of applications for our roles and when that happens we sometimes bring the closing date forward, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• RM with current NMC registration
• Degree in Midwifery or equivalent level of study or equivalent experience
• Master's degree or evidence of equivalent academic qualification
• Management Qualification / leadership course or equivalent experience
• Teaching and assessing qualification relevant to clinical specialty, or equivalent
• Highly specialist theoretical and practical knowledge of Quality Improvement to master's level, or equivalent

Desirable

• Proven commitment to CPD, research and academic study
• Qualified Professional Midwifery Advocate

Knowledge & Nature of Experience
Essential

• A broad range of clinical midwifery experience.
• Experience in a senior midwifery post
• Significant experience of leading clinical teams
• Experience of service development and innovation using recognised quality improvement methodology
• Experience in leading projects
• Formal presentation skills (to groups at all levels, both within the organisation and externally and a local, regional and national level)
• Excellent full range of communication skills across the multi-disciplinary team and external organisations
• Practical problem-solving ability
• High influencing and negotiation skills to contribute to strategic direction of maternity services
• Able to make judgments about highly complex clinical situations

Desirable

• History of publication
• Knowledge and experience in equality diversity and inclusion in relation to maternity and neonatal care provision

Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential

• Ability to apply evidence-base in practice
• Ability to work with multiple stakeholders, across organisations
• Ability to devise and manage projects and to supervise other staff engaged upon them
• Proven practice and service development skills
• Demonstrable data collection, analysis and evaluation skills
• Can demonstrate professional leadership, influencing and negotiating skills
• Ability to critically appraise research and undertake audit
• Working knowledge of research methodology

Desirable

• Excellent oral and written communication, experience with report writing
• Ability to develop policies and guidelines

Professional/Managerial/Specialist Knowledge
Essential

• Detailed knowledge of current midwifery issues at a local and national level
• Detailed knowledge of issues specific to the NHS/health sector and a depth of understanding of NHS culture and sensitivities
• Excellent understanding of wider NHS agenda and drivers for change
• Experience in standard setting and monitoring
• Awareness of current midwifery research and consequences to practice
• Aware of relevant government documents.
• Advanced knowledge of IT systems at operational level.
• Knowledge of NMC policies, standards and guidelines.
• Able to critique evidence and apply to practice
• Highly self- motivated, positive and enthusiastic
• Autonomous practitioner who can act on own initiative
• Ability to adapt behaviour to changing circumstances
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Assertive
• Self-aware and able to develop this in others
• Flexible approach to meet demands of the service
• Proven ability to motivate and lead
• Work creatively, innovate new ways of working
• Able to solve complex problems
• Proven ability to prioritise
• Proven organisational and planning skills
• Ability to participate in the multi-disciplinary team
• Commitment to personal development
• Team building ability

Personal Skills/Abilities and Attributes
Essential

• Can use IT and presentation skills for report writing and public speaking
• Leadership skills and ability to motivate a team
• Strong interpersonal skills and ability to network across professional boundaries
• Provide advice, instruction and support to the directorate teams.
• Able to empower and motivate staff
• Willing to challenge the status quo
• Able to present persuasive argument and influence others from a multi professional background
• Able to balance and prioritise conflicting demands
• Able to work across professional and organisational boundaries
• Able to formulate and direct policy
• Able to interpret complex information
• Able to plan, organise and chair meetings ensuring action plans are in place

Other Requirements
Essential

• Ability to write legibly, concisely and accurately in the English language
• Ability to produce, analyse and comment on complex reports and policies considering their impact within the Trust
• Able to request, analyse, present and interpret data and apply to practice situations and develop this skill in others
• Able to create, develop and implement patient information and oversee this at clinical level
• Able to maintain patient medical records in accordance with local, corporate and national guidelines, and ensure others within teams do the same.
• Able to use computer software to develop reports and documents e.g. Word, Excel, and Publisher etc.
• Demonstrate effective communication skills (verbal, non-verbal and written) when receiving and dealing with all information including highly complex, sensitive and contentious information, which requires tact and persuasive skills.
• Ability to effectively communicate to overcome barriers to understanding.
• Able to diffuse conflict and manage aggression, formulating action plans to provide short-, medium- and long-term solutions
• Able to articulate information that may be complex in nature (e.g. audit results, new guidelines etc) to wide audiences of varied backgrounds/ professional levels
• Networking skills internally and externally
• Teaching/ Training skills
• Presentation skills using verbal, IT and other appropriate aids.
• Evidence of continued professional development to work across professional and organisational boundaries

Desirable

• Able to create and develop multi-disciplinary documentation and oversee integration of this
• Develop policy and procedures documents

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).

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is committed to promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourages applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.