About this role
Job summary
We are seeking a highly experienced, compassionate and values-driven senior midwifery leader to join us as our Director of Midwifery. This pivotal role provides strong professional leadership and strategic direction across our Women and Children's Division.
You will report to the Group Chief Nursing Officer and work closely with the Divisional Triumvirate, leading maternity improvement programmes and driving high standards across the Division. As a visible, values-driven leader, you will model the Trust's behaviours, help shape a positive, inclusive culture and play a central role in shaping the future of our services and the Group.
We recognise the profound impact of the Independent Review of Maternity Services by Donna Ockenden at this organisation, and the experiences of those affected. We are committed to listening and working with families to ensure the lessons identified are embedded within our culture, governance and clinical practice. We are therefore seeking an exceptional, collaborative leader bringing professional credibility and compassion to the role, maintaining an unwavering focus on safety, quality, openness and continuous learning, while ensuring the voices of women and families remain central to the delivery and development of our services.
If you are committed to delivering safe, high-quality and compassionate perinatal care, and have the vision and leadership to shape the future of our maternity services, we would be delighted to receive your application.
Main duties of the job
As the Trust's most senior midwife, you will be an expert on all matters relating to high-quality perinatal practice. You will lead our midwifery and nursing workforce, ensuring safe, effective and truly person-centred care for women, birthing people, babies and families. You will oversee workforce planning, recruitment and retention, standards of care, and the ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement of clinical practice.
About us
Our Poppy's Promise Commitment
We believe that compassionate care sits at the heart of everything we do. Every member of our team -- clinical or non-clinical -- plays a vital role in ensuring that patients, families, and colleagues are treated with dignity, empathy, and respect at all times.
We expect all staff to demonstrate compassion not only through their words, but through their actions: by listening attentively, communicating clearly and kindly, and recognising individual needs, feelings, and circumstances of those in our care.
Effective communication is central to safe and high-quality healthcare. We value colleagues who take the time to understand others, explain information in a meaningful way, and respond to concerns with patience and understanding.
By joining our team, you are committing to uphold these values -- ensuring that every patient feels heard, respected, and valued, and that compassion is embedded in every interaction, every day.
Hospital Transformation Programme (HTP)
Our Service will relocate to The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in 2028 as part of HTP. This move will bring specialist services together in a modern, purpose-built facility to improve patient care and team experience.
We are actively recruiting, and successful candidates will be expected to move with the Service in early 2028. The relocation will follow a formal management of change process, including full consultation and support for staff.
View full details of HTP
Job description Job responsibilities
For full duties and responsibilities please refer to the attached document entitled Job Description.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Midwife with current NMC Registration Masters level qualification or equivalent A postgraduate leadership, management qualification or substantial relevant experience at senior level
Knowledge and Experience Essential
Recent and extensive senior clinical and management experience at Head of Midwifery or Director of Midwifery levels Evidence of a track record of delivery of performance objectives and service improvements Evidence of delivering compassionate, patient-focused and woman-centred care Extensive experience of quality governance and assurance systems and processes Evidence of managing competing priorities, complexity and highly sensitive situations, and of delivering to tight timeframes Demonstrable experience of working successfully across functional boundaries and at a Strategic level Experience of successfully managing many services in a complex organisation; including people (developmental and performance) and budgetary management
Desirable
Previous experience as a Director of Midwifery Experience of working across a wide range of organisations responsible for the oversight and provision of perinatal service Evidence of engaging in research activities
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 The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Address The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust
Shrewsbury
SY3 8XQ
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://www.sath.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)