Main area Midwifery Grade Band 7 Contract Fixed term: 12 months (Mat Leave Cover, Contract ending end of December 2027) Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday) Job ref 343-8323482-RB-AT
Site St Helier Hospital Town Carshalton Salary £55,524 - £62,652 pro rata per annum incl HCAS Salary period Yearly Closing 29/10/2026 23:59
At Epsom and St Helier Hospitals, above all we value respect. We put respect at the heart of all we do, by living up to our shared behaviours of kindness, professionalism, positivity and teamwork. This enables us to provide great patient care and make ESTH a great place to work. When you sign up to work with us, you sign up to this and we welcome applicants who share our values.
Job overview
As a member of the maternal medicine team the post holder will be responsible for providing midwifery care to pregnant women with diabetes. As the post holder you will provide direct maternity care to these women in conjunction with the Diabetic consultant and multidisciplinary teams (MDT). Working collaboratively with the individual woman and you will assess, plan, implement and coordinate their maternity care pathway.
Working collaboratively with the other team members you will assist the on-going development of Diabetic care pathways and frameworks, in line with national policies.
You will be accountable for the overall provision of excellent care, providing evidence based, woman-centred midwifery to women in the outpatient, inpatient and community settings.
Main duties of the job
To provide specialist midwifery support to women and birthing people with both existing and gestational diabetes. To work with an MDT including obstetric consultants, endocrinologist, diabetes CNS and dietitians to provide excellent, holistic, evidence based care in line with local and national pathways
Working for our organisation
St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey.Our sites include St George’s Hospital, one of 11 major trauma centres in the UK and the largest healthcare provider and major teaching hospital in the area; St Helier Hospital, home to the South West Thames Renal and Transplantation Unit and Queen Mary's Hospital for Children; and Epsom Hospital, home to the South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre (SWLEOC).
After years of collaboration, our two Trusts became a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, being a hospitals group will help us to collaborate more closely on research, and the development, education, and training of our 17,000-strong workforce.
At gesh we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
- To develop specialist skills and knowledge in diabetes in relation to pregnancy, over time and to a standard that prepares the post holder to perform with a level of autonomy expressed by a specialist diabetes midwife including advanced decision making, using evidence based practice and highly developed advanced practice skills .
- Facilitate and have continuing responsibility for the effective assessment, implementation and evaluation of all midwifery care for women with diabetes and other complex medical conditions, within own sphere of clinical practice.
- To prescribe medications as per prescribing qualification within own remit and expertise.
- Provide a link between midwives, general practitioners, health visitors, obstetricians and other agencies in relation to women’s care.
- To act as an advocate for women and babies receiving care.
- Facilitate and continually assess, implement and evaluate all midwifery care, in line with current evidence, unit policies and guidelines, and the NMC Midwives Rules and Code of Practice.
- Ensure that accurate, clear, contemporaneous, legible records are kept with evidence of assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. Monitor standards and take corrective action as appropriate reporting to the midwifery coordinator/ lead midwife.
- Ensure due regard is given to needs, customs, values and spiritual beliefs of women and their families. Assess the needs of women and their families and friends and deal with them sensitively.
- Responsible for the protection and safe guarding of children, with an awareness of child protection procedures, and who to contact within the Trust for further help and guidance.
- Have an understanding of the guidelines relating to mental health issues and the referral process.
- Have involvement in the care of women and their families following bereavement giving appropriate and sensitive emotional support.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Ensure Diabetes care is noted in the performance/personal development plan for relevant midwives
- Ensure all relevant midwifery staff maintain mandatory training requirements
- Plan and facilitate education regarding Diabetes across the Trust and Local Maternity System with partners
- Ensure implementation of the Trusts Study Leave policy
- Responsible for the induction and development of midwifery staff in this clinical area
- Promote a positive learning environment within the clinical area
- Maintain detailed and accurate records regarding staff education and attendance management.
LEADERSHIP
- Promote effective management of change by acting on audit and other reviews to implement agreed new approaches to raise the quality of care
- Delegate and empower staff without abdicating, overall, continuing responsibility
- Investigate and respond to accidents, complaints, untoward incidents and other significant events within this clinical area. Support staff throughout the process and ensure remedial action is taken to avoid repeat incidents and to enable lessons are earned and shared
- Be responsible for the annual appraisal of staff where appropriate and ensure individual development needs are met including an annual inclusive conversation
- Provide emotional and professional support to staff following critical incidents
- Facilitate the professional and clinical development of individuals in the team ensuring equal opportunity to all team members and the skills of all team members are used to optimum effect
- Deliver an effective quality service with budgetary constraints
- Monitor statistics and performance regularly and give feedback to teams
- Attend relevant Diabetes Network meetings including MDT meetings
- Identify the changing needs of the department on an on-going basis and refer to the Director of Midwifery, Consultant specialist in Diabetes or Consultant Midwife Maternal Medicine as appropriate
- Actively promote an effective learning environment and ensure the delivery of education and mentorship of student midwives, medical colleagues and other health professionals
- Act as a professional resource for the midwifery service assisting with the development and provision of training programmes for staff to maintain competencies in all aspects of midwifery led care
- Advise and inform service and educational planning forums on resource and training needs in Diabetes
- Lead standard setting initiatives, protocols and quality assurance programmes, addressing any risk management issues to ensure that midwifery practice complies with current evidence-based guidelines and protocols
- Act as a resource for specialised midwifery advice and guidance to midwifery colleagues and other health professionals
- Lead the development of departmental policies, procedures and guidelines in order to establish goals and standards, ensuring these are met.
- Maintain a close working relationship with the Diabetic Specialist Nurse and Diabetes Consultant.
Person specification
Education
- Educated to Degree level or higher or significant Diabetes management experience
- Recognised teaching/assessing qualification
- Evidence of continued professional development through further study in area of expertise
- Master’s degree or working towards
- Recognised management/ leadership qualification
Experience
- Experience of leading, motivating and supporting a team
- Experience of identifying training needs and supporting learning
- Experience of service development and change management
Knowledge
- Knowledge of care pathways for women with complex health needs
- Awareness of current issues within maternity services and the impact these have on service provision
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant National Service Frameworks
Employer certification / accreditation badges
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
This vacancy may have an application cap, so please apply promptly to avoid disappointment. Ensure your supporting statement clearly shows how you meet the job specifications.