Labour Ward Manager

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity for a Delivery Suite Manager at NHS. You will lead the maternity team at University Hospital Lewisham, ensuring effective care delivery, managing resources, and promoting a culture of learning and improvement while collaborating with various healthcare professionals.

Qualifications

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 6 or above.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in midwifery practice.
• Recognized leadership development training.

Responsibilities

• Daily running of the labour ward and managing resources.
• Writing/amending guidelines and conducting audits.
• Providing professional leadership for midwifery team.

Skills

Leadership

Decision Making

Communication

Education

First-level Registered Midwife

Masters level or equivalent

Job description

We currently have an exciting opening for an experienced, enthusiastic leader to join our award-winning maternity team at the University Hospital Lewisham site, part of Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

The ward manager position provides leadership for the busy, acute labour ward. You will work closely with the Labour Ward Matron to ensure the safe and efficient running of the maternity unit.

You will be visionary with an excellent knowledge of caring for both high and low risk women/birthing people in labour, skilled in decision making, and passionate about leading the ward through change to enhance and improve care for clients and their families.

You will demonstrate excellent decision-making and communication skills with the ability to liaise and negotiate with other leaders throughout the maternity unit to facilitate patient flow. You will work closely with the Obstetric, Anaesthetic, and Specialist Midwifery teams to ensure safety and enhance women/birthing people's experience.

Main duties of the job

You will be responsible for the daily running of the labour ward, ensuring resources are available to enable the smooth operation of the ward, including staff off duty, stores, and environmental maintenance.

Computer literacy is essential as you will be responsible for writing/amending guidelines, reports, complaint responses, and regular ward audits. You will also be expected to write staff rotas, manage sickness absence, complete staff appraisals, and be part of the management on-call system.

You will attend regular meetings related to the role and may be asked to attend external meetings as required.

If you are passionate about improving labour care and believe that women/birthing people should receive efficient, individualized, and quality care at all stages of their maternity journey, we would love to hear from you.

About us

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those we serve—the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best, and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives foster a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI team, and various programmes and events aimed at advancing these aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities backgrounds, identifying as LGBTQ+, and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development.
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability.
• Improving the experience of staff with disabilities.
• Enhancing EDI literacy and confidence among trust staff through training and development.
• Making equality mainstream.

Job responsibilities

The Delivery Suite Manager focuses on delivering high-quality, safe, and effective care aimed at improving outcomes and experiences for patients, families, and carers. This role also holds delegated responsibility for the maternity triage department, including:

• Providing professional leadership and line management for a team of midwifery and support staff.
• Delegating work and supervising colleagues accordingly.
• Assessing patients, planning, implementing, and evaluating evidence-based care.
• Providing expert clinical advice.
• Ensuring patient pathways are optimally managed.
• Managing budgets and resources efficiently and effectively.
• Ensuring the safety of the clinical environment.
• Championing a culture of learning and quality improvement in the clinical area.
• Ensuring patient pathways are managed and beds are optimally utilized, seeking expert support if required.

This is a senior midwifery role within the organization, with an expectation for the post-holder to participate fully in clinical and professional leadership of the department.

Please see the JD for full details.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• Understanding of Clinical Governance and shared governance, including evidence-based practice and critical appraisal of research findings.
• Knowledge of effective risk management.
• Knowledge of current NHS issues, including performance targets, the modernization agenda, and patient experience.
• Knowledge of professional issues, including the NMC Code of Conduct and Compassion in Practice.
• Understanding of principles of effective budget management.
• Good knowledge of current safeguarding practices.
• Teaching, assessing, research, and audit skills.
• Involvement in clinical supervision.

Qualifications and Training

• First-level Registered Midwife with current NMC registration.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development in midwifery practice.
• Practice assessor/sign-off mentorship course.
• Recognized leadership development training; educated to Masters level or equivalent.
• Care of the critically ill course or working towards it.
• Examination of the newborn course or working towards it.

Experience

• Significant post-registration experience at Band 6 or above, including specialist expertise, teaching, mentoring, leadership, multidisciplinary team work, and acting as a change agent.
• Broad experience of working at a senior clinical level with proven managerial and leadership skills.
• Experience in developing protocols and conducting clinical audits.
• Experience in managing rosters and staff management.
• Experience in managing timescales for projects.

Personal Qualities

• Understanding of the role in relation to wider NHS pressures and objectives.
• Creative, innovative, adaptable, and flexible thinker.
• Able to foster positive relationships across professional and organizational boundaries.
• Able to handle complex situations and resistance to change.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A DBS check will be required prior to appointment.

Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 per annum plus HCAS.