Job summary

Provide specialist support and advice on issues relating to the safeguarding of children.

Provide education for all health care professionals working in maternity caring for vulnerable families.

This midwife will act as a resource for other members of the multidisciplinary team and be able to demonstrate knowledge and competence in the specialist role.

The specialist midwife will take the operational midwifery lead for safeguarding children.

Assist the Directorate and the staff in their duty to protect children from harm and assist with ongoing development of the safeguarding agenda within maternity services.

The specialist midwife must ensure that policies and guidelines for the Safeguarding children are up to date and based on latest evidence.

Main duties of the job

Provide expert advice to midwives and other colleagues, to enable all staff to offer high-quality, individualised care to vulnerable groups, providing supervision and support to multi-professional staff in relation to safeguarding children.

Support the Named Midwife for Safeguarding and act up in their absence.

The post holder will be a midwife practising autonomously attending women during the antenatal, intranatal and postnatal periods.

This job description reflects the present requirement and objectives of the post, it does not form part of your contract of employment. As the duties of the post change and develop the job description will be reviewed and will be subject to amendment, in consultation with the postholder.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Date posted

04 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

418-MAT7644-EH

Job locations

Luton and Dunstable

Lewsey Road

Luton

LU4 0DZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder will maintain own clinical skill and competenciesEnsure that at all times the interest and well-being of babies are paramount, whilst continuing to act as an advocate for their mothers.

Developing individualised plans of care in conjunction with other appropriate services to ensure the safety of the mother and newborn and the transition of care to other health professionals

Ensure agreed actions identified within individual management plans are being undertaken

To provide specialist advice and support regarding the ongoing day to day safeguarding concerning the health, safety and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults.

To provide supervision/case management guidance to staff within the safeguarding process, promoting good standards of record keeping

To assist staff in making timely referrals to appropriate agencies and services

Advise and support staff in the management of sensitive and complex matters concerning safeguarding children

Provide direct support to maternity colleagues when conflict arises with clients and or external agencies

Attend strategy meetings and case conferences as a support for staff or as a representative of the Trust, when required

Encourage a holistic, non-judgemental approach to vulnerable groups of clients

To ensure that women receive evidenced based information

To assist in the completion of adoption documentation on behalf of the Trust

To assist in the reporting process of child deathsCollect and manage submission of nationally required data such as that pertaining to female genital mutilation etc.To assist in the Child Safeguarding Practice Review process, specifically in the implementation of findings and recommendations. This will also include the learning from internal management reviews.