About this role
Job summary
Are you ready to shape the future of maternity care and make a lasting difference to women, families and communities? As a Midwifery Matron, you'll be a visible, compassionate and influential leader, driving high-quality, personalised care across maternity services.
This is a pivotal senior role where you'll champion safety, innovation and continuous improvement--leading from the front to create a culture where both patients and staff thrive. You'll work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, influence strategic direction, and use data and insight to deliver meaningful improvements in outcomes and experience.
If you're passionate about delivering equitable, evidence-based care and empowering teams to achieve excellence, this is your opportunity to step into a role where your leadership truly matters.
Main duties of the job
Provide visible, inclusive leadership to promote a culture of safety, learning and accountability across maternity servicesLead on quality, safety and governance, ensuring compliance with national standards and driving continuous improvementActively manage clinical, operational and workforce challenges, using data and feedback to inform decisionsChampion personalised, woman and family-centred care, improving patient experience and reducing inequalitiesLead workforce planning, recruitment, performance and development to ensure safe staffing and a positive working environmentFoster strong multidisciplinary and external partnerships to deliver seamless, high-quality careOversee service performance, analysing key metrics to improve outcomes and operational efficiencySupport education, research and professional development, embedding evidence-based practiceContribute to strategic planning and service transformation across maternity services
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
Leadership & Professional Practice
You will act as the most senior midwifery leader within your clinical area, providing clear, visible and compassionate leadership. You will set and maintain high professional standards, ensuring midwifery practice is safe, effective and evidence-based. As a role model, you will foster a culture of inclusivity, respect and continuous learning, while holding individuals and teams accountable for the quality of care delivered.
Quality, Safety & Governance
You will be responsible for embedding robust governance, risk management and quality improvement systems. This includes leading on compliance with the Maternity Incentive Scheme, monitoring incidents and complaints, and ensuring learning is translated into tangible service improvements. You will oversee assurance processes, audits and reporting mechanisms that demonstrate sustained improvements in safety and care standards.
Service Improvement & Transformation
A key part of your role will be driving innovation and transformation. You will use data, patient feedback and clinical outcomes to identify opportunities for improvement and lead change initiatives that deliver sustainable, high-quality services. You will champion digital and service innovations, ensuring maternity care evolves to meet the needs of diverse populations.
Patient Experience & Equity
You will be a strong advocate for women, babies and families--ensuring care is personalised, compassionate and equitable. By working closely with service users and partnerships such as Maternity Voices, you will co-design improvements that enhance experience and address health inequalities across the community.
Workforce Leadership & Development
You will lead workforce planning and management, ensuring safe staffing levels and effective use of resources. This includes recruitment, retention, performance management and staff wellbeing. You will create a supportive environment where staff are empowered to develop, with access to training, mentorship and career progression opportunities.
Collaboration & Partnership Working
Working across organisational and professional boundaries, you will build strong relationships with clinical teams, commissioners, education providers and external stakeholders. You will represent the service at local, regional and national forums, sharing best practice and influencing wider maternity agendas.
Operational & Financial Management
You will contribute to the effective use of resources, managing budgets and supporting efficiency initiatives while maintaining high standards of care. You will ensure that staffing, equipment and the care environment are appropriately managed to support safe and effective service delivery.
Performance & Data Management
You will monitor and interpret key performance indicators, ensuring alignment with national targets and organisational objectives. Using data from multiple systems, you will identify trends, escalate risks and drive improvements in quality, safety and operational performance.
Education, Training & Research
You will support and promote education, training and research across maternity services. This includes contributing to professional development programmes, supporting students and staff, and championing evidence-based practice to continually enhance care delivery.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Master's Degree or working towards or equivalent exponential experience at senior levelProfessional registrationEvidence of Continuing Professional Development.Neonatal Life Support
Desirable
Evidence of Leadership course/management trainingPost-graduate management qualification and/or equivalent level of knowledge gained through extensive experience.
Experience Essential
Acute Health sector experience including multi-disciplinary professional workforce.
Desirable
Track record of delivering clinical quality improvements and successful service change.Experience of audit and continuous quality improvement.Change management skills.
Additional Criteria Essential
A sound understanding of National Midwifery / nursing and Patient Agendas.Up to date and evidenced based knowledge of current clinical and professional issues.Understanding of LMNS prioritiesUnderstanding and experience of regulatory (MIS, CQC) maternity standards
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)