About this role
Job summary
Step into a pivotal leadership role within our Obstetric High Dependency Unit, where you'll combine hands-on clinical expertise with real influence over how care is delivered. As Deputy Midwifery Sister, you'll support the day-to-day running of a dynamic, high-acuity environment, guiding staff, strengthening teamwork, and ensuring women with complex needs receive safe, personalised care.
This is an excellent genuine development opportunity to grow your leadership, shape service improvement, and build confidence in managing people, performance, and governance. This role blends clinical and non-clinical responsibilities to develop strong communication, coordination, prioritisation, delegation, and problem-solving skills. You'll need to be proactive, calm under pressure, and adaptable in a fast-paced environment.
Working closely with a highly skilled multidisciplinary team, you'll contribute to workforce planning, quality improvement, and a positive team culture, while being a visible and trusted presence for staff and women.
We're looking for a motivated, forward-thinking midwife who is ready to step up, challenge practice where needed, and lead with compassion and credibility. In return, you'll join a supportive, ambitious team committed to excellence, innovation, and continuous learning - giving you the platform to progress your career while making a real difference every day
Main duties of the job
Provide visible clinical and operational leadership within the Obstetric HDU, supporting the coordination of safe, high-quality care for women with complex needs. You will act as a senior clinical resource, using advanced assessment, decision-making and escalation skills to manage risk and prioritise care effectively.
You will support the smooth running of the unit by overseeing patient flow, contributing to workforce planning and skill mix, and ensuring safe staffing through effective delegation and coordination. Working closely with the multidisciplinary team, you will promote clear communication, collaborative working and timely decision-making in a fast-paced environment.A key part of the role is developing and supporting staff -providing supervision, feedback and mentorship to build capability and maintain high standards of practice. You will contribute to governance processes by supporting audits, incident reviews and quality improvement initiatives, helping to embed a culture of safety, learning and accountability.
You will be expected to role model professionalism, remain calm under pressure, and demonstrate strong organisational, problem-solving and leadership skills to ensure consistently high standards of care and team performance.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing) National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals University College Hospital Grafton Way Building Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre The Hospital for Tropical Diseases University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclear medicine and pathology.
We are committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more information regarding the main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
* UCLH top trust to work at in England - In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLH a great place to work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge and Qualifications Essential
Registered Midwife Educated to Degree level Successfully passed a 12-months Preceptorship programme Up to date knowledge of professional nursing and midwifery issues
Desirable
Complete HDU training programme or similar e.g. ALSO, ILS Completed Resuscitation Council UK Neonatal Life Support Course
Experience Essential
Significant midwifery experience in all areas of midwifery Highly skilled in recognising, escalating and caring for deteriorating and critically unwell obstetric women SSSA trained or equivalent Evidence of using evidence-based research to inform clinical decision-making
Desirable
Experience undertaking audits Experience in reviewing or being involved in the review of serious clinical incidents Experience of Quality assurance and improvement
Skills and Abilities Essential
Able to challenge clinical decisions in the best interest of patients Ability to problem-solve Able to organise, prioritise and delegate workload appropriately Demonstrating awareness of maternity related clinical governance IT skills including Microsoft office, Excel and PowerPoint Negotiating skills and ability to resolve conflict
Communication Essential
Proven written and verbal communication skills
Personal and People Development Essential
Ability to provide feedback and develop to staff / colleagues Highly professional role model Committed to professional and personal development and always maintaining updated mandatory training.
Specific Requirements Essential
Willingness to occasionally support the maternity service flexibly as required Able to commit to working Monday to Friday 8am to 4pm
Responsibilities towards promoting Equality Diversity and Inclusion Essential
Demonstrable understanding of the needs of those from marginalised groups, and those at risk of or experiencing health inequalities
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 University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing of University College Hospital
25 Grafton Way
London
WC1E 6DB
Employer's website https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)