Midwifery Operational Matron

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated midwife who aspires to take the next step as a Midwifery Matron and Operational leader. 

UHS Maternity is a fast-paced progressive service with just over 5000 births every year. The successful candidate will be actively involved in operational leadership and will be a key influencer to ensure the provision of safe, effective, and evidence-based midwifery care for service users and families. 

Working in close partnership with the Director of Midwifery, Midwifery Leadership Team and Midwifery Operational Team, this individual will contribute to the development of the framework for the maternity strategy and lead on the operational implementation of the maternity strategic vision both at UHS and within the wider LMNS across SHIP.

Main duties of the job

Attached you will find the person specification document which provides more detail about the essential and desirable skills and experience needed for this role. We highly recommend you review this document and use it when completing your application as these criteria are used by hiring managers as guidance during shortlisting. 

For an overview of the main duties of the role please see the ‘Job Description and Main Responsibilities’ section below. To understand the day-to-day responsibilities in more detail please read the full job description document attached. 

Working for our organisation

As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated ‘Good’ by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care. 

All non-clinical roles may involve a mixture of on site and remote working, Specific details and flexible working options can be discussed as part of the interview process. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 20% lower than London and 14 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide professional, managerial, and clinical leadership across the maternity workforce with line management responsibility for the Maternity Day Assessment Unit and Operational Coordinator Teams. They will be influential and innovative when leading on the future development of elective and scheduled care pathways, working strategically across the LMNS. As an integral member of the Midwifery Leadership Team, the candidate will take an active role in supporting Maternity Services on a Divisional level, ensuring that we are achieving agreed performance targets, specifically in relation to safe staffing. 

The post holder will lead on and monitor incoming complaints relating to operational issues, outgoing responses and ensure that any opportunities for learning are progressed, communicated, and implemented across the team. This role also requires effective and accountable budget management skills with an oversight around the processes for temporary staffing within Maternity Services. This will involve regular liaisons with the Head of Midwifery and Maternity Business Support Manager as they continue to approve / streamline the use of NHSP workers on a daily/weekly basis. 

The successful candidate will lead on women’s experience whilst monitoring incoming complaints, outgoing responses and ensure that any opportunities for learning are progressed, communicated, and implemented.  

YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES

•    Provide professional leadership and line management to the Maternity Day Assessment Unit and Operational Coordinator Teams.
•    To participate and facilitate workforce redesign and modernisation of the midwifery workforce, working in partnership with key stakeholders, both within UHS and across the LMNS. 
•    To exhibit leadership behaviours that demonstrate respect, resilience, trust, enthusiasm, and energy, positively impacting on the culture of the workforce leading to a happy and healthy workforce. 
•    Take a leadership role, maintaining a high level of visibility across the team, whilst remaining responsive and flexible to the ever-changing priorities of the maternity service. 

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR:

 
The successful candidate will be required to have experience in working within a senior midwifery role and have a good framework of knowledge around national strategic drivers for maternity services, specifically in relation to the safety agenda. Key core leadership skills to include:
•    Excellent communication skills, including a high level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence. 
•    Negotiation, facilitation, mediation, influencing and coaching skills. 
•    Flexible, responsive, adaptable, and resourceful in terms of an ever-changing clinical environment. 
•    Professional integrity and judgement. 

Person specification

Physical requirements of the post

Essential criteria

• Health and physical abilities sufficient for the post (if necessary with reasonable adjustments with respect to the Equality Act/Disability Discrimination Act)

Qualifications / training required

Essential criteria

• 1st Level Registered midwife on relevant part of the NMC Register
• First degree or equivalent
• Ability to work at Masters level and evidence
• Specialist qualification
• Leadership training
• Management training
• Masters or equivalent experience

Previous or relevant experience necessary

Essential criteria

• Extensive knowledge of National and Local NHS and Midwifery agenda
• Extensive experience in the acute healthcare setting in clinical leadership/clinical management position
• Evidence of advanced leadership qualities
• Formal and informal teaching experience
• Staff and resource management experience
• Experience of introducing change to clinical environment
• Report writing skills and experience
• Budget management experience

Desirable criteria

• Understanding of specialist area

Aptitudes and skills required

Essential criteria

• Excellent high level leadership skills
• IT skills and ability to develop these skills further
• Ability to prioritise work and adapt to changing deadlines
• Able to develop and implement policy, guidelines and projects from initiation to completion
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Inspirational leader
• Team Player
• Motivated and enthusiastic
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work independently and meet tight deadlines
• Ability to think strategically
• Articulate with highly developed communication skills with the ability to network and build relationships at all levels, including interpersonal skills, liaison and negotiation skills

Desirable criteria

• Project management skills
• Interests and activities indicating teamwork, leadership and stress management

Special requirements of the post

Essential criteria

• Travel between UHS sites both hospital and community
• Ability to work flexible hours and fulfil commitments of on-call / site management role

Values and behaviours

Essential criteria

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

Please be advised that this vacancy may close earlier than stated if large numbers of applications are received.

Due to the volume of applications we receive, we are unable to acknowledge receipt of your application. If you have not heard from us within four weeks of the closing date of this post, please presume that you have not been selected for interview.

Applicants from University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust whose posts are considered to be ‘At Risk’ will be given prior consideration for this post

Our Trust runs the return to practice course each year for nurses who have been out of the profession and wish to return. To find out more please visit our website:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/WorkingHere/Typesofjob/Nurses/Returntonursing.aspx

http://www.discoversouthampton.co.uk/   Information on Southampton as a place to live and enjoy

https://www.uhs-vle.co.uk/   See what fantastic training and development we have on offer at UHS

http://www.youtube.com/user/SouthamptonHospitals learn about the Trust through visiting our YouTube channel 

Getting to Work

Application can be made for parking on site at UHS or through one of the park and ride schemes. This will be based on specific criteria to determine eligibility for site parking as this can be very limited.  UHS encourages staff to utilise other green methods of getting to work such as cycling or walking where possible. UHS is well connected through bus services to the city centre and other areas.

Please note that we will not accept any applications or queries via agencies, under any circumstances.

Our staff are positive about working at UHS and rate us above average compared to other NHS Trusts in the Staff Attitude Survey. We are rated strongly on a number of areas including teamwork, communication and engagement.

Equality remains at the centre of all Trust policy making, service delivery and employment practice with all employees being given equality of opportunity to develop, apply for promotion and have working arrangements that enable them to achieve a manageable work-life balance.

The Trust actively promotes a work environment free from harassment and discrimination and provides training for managers and staff to ensure this happens. The Trust also closely monitors recruitment activity, training and development and employment practices to ensure equality of practice with regard to race, colour, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief, gender, sexual orientation, disability, marital status and age.

As a service provider the Trust ensures equality of access and delivery of our services through the provision of interpreter services, facilities for the disabled and sensitivity for patients ethnic and religious differences and needs.

Relocating to Southampton

If you are thinking of moving to the Hampshire area, please find below a link to our website which offers guidance on finding accommodation:

http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/relocating-to-southampton

The Trust is under a duty to protect the public funds it administers, and to this end may use the information you have provided on this form for the prevention and detection of fraud. It may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes.