About this role
Job summary
This role sits within the Corporate Care Group and provides strategic and operational leadership for the Trust's safer staffing agenda. The postholder will lead the development, implementation and continuous improvement of systems and processes that ensure safe, effective and financially sustainable staffing across all areas of midwifery. Working closely with the Associate Director-Workforce Development and Education for Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals and Deputy Chief, they will provide expert advice on safe staffing establishments, workforce planning, Birth Rate Plus and the configuration of HealthRoster templates in response to service pressures.
Main duties of the job
The Safety Staffing Lead Midwife provides strategic and operational leadership for safe midwifery staffing across the Trust, ensuring compliance with workforce, skill mix, acuity and dependency standards. The role leads the monitoring and optimisation of staffing systems, including Healthroster and Birth Rate Plus, to support safe and effective workforce deployment, workforce planning and establishment reviews. Working closely with senior nursing, midwifery, workforce, HR and finance leaders, the post holder reviews staffing performance, develops and implements safe staffing policies and escalation processes, supports compliance with CQC staffing requirements, and drives continuous quality improvement. The role also provides expert advice on safer staffing, promotes best practice and innovation, ensures staff are appropriately trained in workforce planning tools, represents midwifery staffing issues at Trust level, and maintains a visible presence within clinical areas to address workforce challenges and support the delivery of safe, high-quality maternity care.
About us
We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.
Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates for a Skilled Worker Visa for roles that are eligible at the time of application.
Job description Job responsibilities
Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.
If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below
Person Specification
Qualifications and training Essential
Evidence of Bachelor's Degree (BSc) in Midwifery Professional midwifery knowledge gained through a degree, enhanced by specialist training, experience and CPD to master's level or equivalent. Evidence of professional registration and NMC pin as applicable to role
Desirable
Safe Staffing Fellow
Clinical skills & Experience Essential
Knowledge of national policy in relation to midwifery staffing. Ability to plan workforce and lead on both service delivery and development in response to evolving service needs Proven ability to analyse complex problems and to develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them. Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly.
Desirable
Ability to lead on and manage investigations / complaints
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 East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust
Address Kent and Canterbury Hospital
Ethelbert Road
Canterbury
CT1 3NG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)