Band 6 Midwife - Community

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Bedford; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in Bedford is searching for a dedicated midwife to join their team. The successful candidate will provide holistic care for women and babies, lead midwifery practices, and work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams. Ideal applicants should possess a passion for women's health and an ability to navigate complex care needs while adhering to professional standards. Competitive training opportunities and commitment to equality and diversity await candidates.

Benefits

Training and development opportunities

Commitment to equality and diversity

Supportive team environment

Qualifications

• Experience in providing midwifery care in various settings.
• Ability to lead and advocate for women throughout pregnancy.
• Familiarity with NICE and government initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide holistic, woman/baby-centred midwifery care.
• Evaluate care programs during ante, intra, and post-natal periods.
• Support Band 7 Team Managers and participate in clinical on-call.

Skills

Leadership

Autonomy

Advocacy

Evidence-based care

Child protection

Communication

Education

Registered Midwife

Job description

The midwife has a responsibility to provide holistic woman/baby-centred midwifery care; this may involve leading midwifery care or working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team. The role advocates for pregnancy as a normal physiological life event. The midwife will assess, plan, implement, and evaluate care for women and babies. Responsibilities include managing ward/department/community caseloads on a shift basis and collaborating with external agencies and consumer groups. The post holder will exercise clinical judgment in assessing care needs and developing, implementing, and evaluating care programs in partnership with women during the ante, intra, and post-natal periods. They will work autonomously within departmental and Trust guidelines, adhering to the Midwives Rules and Standards (NMC 05.04).

Responsibilities include:

• Providing midwifery leadership across practice areas, demonstrating autonomy and advocacy.
• Delivering evidence-based midwifery care in line with NICE and government initiatives.
• Acting as the professional lead for low-risk women and promoting normal birthing processes.
• Referring women for specialist support, including fetal anomaly screening, bereavement, sexual health, and support for vulnerable groups.
• Collaborating with child protection teams and identifying concerns related to child protection, domestic violence, substance abuse, and special needs.
• Supporting Band 7 Team Managers.
• Participating in a clinical on-call rota.
• Working within inpatient areas as needed to meet service demands.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust serves a population of approximately 700,000 across Bedfordshire and surrounding areas, with facilities in Bedford and Luton. The Trust offers high-quality training and development opportunities and is committed to delivering excellent patient care with the latest clinical knowledge and technology.

Our values emphasize inclusive recruitment, equality, and diversity. Vacancies may close early if sufficient applications are received. All new staff undergo a 6-month probation period, and travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all attached documents to familiarize yourself with the job requirements.

Additional responsibilities include:

• Promoting the wellbeing and safeguarding of children and young people, acting promptly on concerns.
• Assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care for women and babies within a defined caseload, using evidence-based practices.
• Developing links with care agencies to facilitate seamless maternity care.
• Practicing within the autonomy boundaries set by the NMC Code 2015.
• Reviewing practices to reduce clinical risks and reporting incidents appropriately.
• Promoting health and wellbeing through education and practice.
• Maintaining standards of care across various venues, including homes, health centres, and hospitals.
• Providing health education and advice to improve outcomes, including counselling and support for screening, smoking cessation, and substance abuse.

Joining the Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a high-performing team dedicated to excellence in healthcare. Travel between sites may be required, and all staff will undergo a probationary period of six months.