Community Caseload Midwife

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Band 6 Caseload Midwife - Part & Full time available

Continuity Teams

At St Thomas' we are one of the pioneering trusts for caseload. We have had well established teams for over 24 years. We are working towards improving continuity in both the community and wider unit.

We are a friendly and supportive team and would like to welcome dedicated midwives with a keen interest in continuity of care.

We have 2 models:

1. Set shift: Working in the community to cover clinics and home visits. Planned long shifts both nights and days to provide intrapartum care in the unit.
2. On call: Working in the community to cover clinics and home visits. On call from community to provide cover for home and hospital births.

We can offer a model to suit candidates' needs.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact me: Marie Gribben at marie.gribben@gstt.nhs.uk or Flo Awichi at florence.awichi@gstt.nhs.uk

Closing Date: 29th April 2025 at Midnight

Interview Date: 15th May 2025

Main duties of the job

Our teams work to ensure women are receiving continuity during pregnancy, intrapartum and the postnatal period, providing flexibility for staff to work in different patterns depending on individual needs.

You would be working alongside a committed link consultant, consultant midwives, senior midwives and our multi-disciplinary teams to ensure women receive the best possible care.

Whether you are considering moving into a caseload team, or already working as a caseload midwife, we want to meet you.

Driving is essential for the role. A car driver is essential; a trust lease scheme is available if you are not a car owner.

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best-known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high-quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark. We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally. We aim to reflect the diversity of the communities we serve and continue to develop new and existing partnerships with local people, patients, neighbouring NHS organisations, local authorities, charitable bodies and GPs.

Job responsibilities

As the only NHS Trust in London with women's and specialist children's services on one site, we have unique opportunities to provide excellent, high-quality, integrated care for mothers, babies and children.

Our directorate provides high-quality care to patients across South East London, as well as delivering a range of specialist services both nationally and internationally. We treat approximately 40,000 gynaecology patients and deliver 6,400 NHS births and 350 private births a year.

We have one of the largest NHS IVF units in the UK, which includes our flagship Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis services. Alongside our clinical services, we are integrated with colleagues at King’s College London, delivering a significant programme of research and development.

Summary of post

The post holder will provide total midwifery care to women, both high and low risk, under the direction of the Midwifery Practice Leader (MPL) and with his/her support. This will include the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of maternity care over a 24-hour period. The post holder will facilitate, on behalf of the MPL, the development of midwifery and non-midwifery staff.

Key Relationships

Community Matron, Community midwives, Inpatient matrons, obstetricians, neonatologists, GP practice managers, Consultant midwife, Maternity Support Workers.

Duties and Responsibilities

The post holder will:

• Work in accordance with the NMC rules and code of conduct for midwives.
• Maintain and develop their professional knowledge and competence in accordance with the NMC recommendations.
• Work with the Trust policies and protocols and enable all members of the practice to carry out care within these guidelines.
• Maintain good standards of care within their designated practice and assist in the implementation of recommendations from Government and professional bodies in relation to maternity care.
• Work with the MPL in the monitoring of standards of care.
• Maintain efficient and effective communication and working relationships with other professional groups and staff working within the Trust.
• Utilise the full skills of a midwife (both integral and extended) in the provision of care to a named caseload of women.
• Provide total care to a caseload of women booked with the midwifery practice in liaison with the other staff and under the direction of the MPL.
• In liaison with the MPL, ensure that midwifery practice is in keeping with current research findings and is appropriate for each individual woman for whom care is being provided.
• Participate in both medical and midwifery education programmes, participating in the teaching of all learners and new members of staff attached to the practice.
• Assume responsibility for the safe custody and administration of drugs in accordance with the District Policies and Statutory Rules and Regulations.
• Assist the MPL with the coordination of the clinical activities of the practice and 'act up' when required.
• Assist with orientation programmes which familiarise new members of staff with the organisational and clinical demands of the unit and group practice.
• Supervise the work of non-midwife, qualified or unqualified staff as well as midwifery, medical and nursing students.
• Maintain stores and equipment ensuring proper economic use.
• Report complaints, incidents and accidents to the MPL or midwifery manager and assist in their investigation and resolution.
• Ensure that working conditions are safe in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• To be fully informed of the risk management strategy, be responsible for reporting incidents, risk assessment and development of action plans to reduce risk.

The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated including:

Confidentiality / Data Protection / Freedom of Information

Post holders must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business in accordance with the Data Protection Act of 1998. Post holders must not, without prior permission, disclose any information regarding patients or staff. If any member of staff has communicated any such information to an unauthorised person, those staff will be liable to dismissal. Moreover, the Data Protection Act 1998 also renders an individual liable for prosecution in the event of unauthorised disclosure of information. Following the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) 2005, post holders must apply the Trust’s FOI procedure if they receive a written request for information.

Post holders must at all times fulfil their responsibilities with regard to the Trust’s Equal Opportunities Policy and equality laws.

Health and Safety

All post holders have a responsibility, under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and subsequently published regulations, to ensure that the Trust’s health and safety policies and procedures are complied with to maintain a safe working environment for patients, visitors and employees.

Infection Control

All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare-associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs. Post holders must be familiar with the Trust’s Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Decontamination Policy, Personal Protective Equipment Policy, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.

All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust’s use of risk assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory.

Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

Post holders have a general responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.

It is the Trust’s policy to promote health. Smoking, therefore, is actively discouraged. It is illegal within Trust buildings and vehicles.

NHS Plan

We are committed to meeting the rights and standards required by the NHS plan. We expect our staff to be aware of these rights and standards and to be fully involved and co-operative in meeting them.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and this means that any criminal conviction must be made known at the time of application.

Person Specification

Experience

• Previous experience working in a variety of settings utilising all midwifery skills.
• Experience of midwifery research and audit.

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities/Physical Qualities

• Must be able to practice in all areas in accordance with the midwives' rules and code of conduct.
• Can practice as an autonomous midwife in the acute and primary care setting.
• Able to prioritise workload appropriately.
• Can demonstrate a forward-thinking approach to care e.g. waterbirth and choice.
• Previous experience of midwifery-led care.
• Confident in teaching and assessing student midwives.

Values and behaviour

• Values and behaviour.

Education & Qualifications

• Registered Midwife.
• Evidence of professional qualification and responsibility via a professional portfolio.
• Post registration teaching qualification (e.g. 998 or mentorship course).

Personal Qualities

• Good verbal and written skills.

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.

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Matron for MCoC and Midwifery-Led Birth Centre

£44,806 to £53,134 a year (Pro rata if Part Time)