Professional Midwifery Advocate

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust; Worthing; On-site; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Buddy system

Flexible working

Job summary

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust is recruiting Professional Midwifery Advocates to strengthen maternity services across PRH, RSCH, WH and SRH. The role emphasizes restorative leadership, case support, and staff wellbeing within a three-year fixed-term contract.

Successful candidates will join a nationally recognised NHS trust committed to Excellent Care Everywhere and workforce development, with flexible working options and strong professional networks.

Qualifications

• Registered Midwife with active NMC PIN.
• Professional Midwifery Advocate qualification required.
• Experience in maternity/perinatal services and QA/QI initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Deliver Restorative Clinical Supervision.
• Support colleagues through complex cases and reviews.
• Provide restorative leadership within clinical areas.

Skills

Professional Midwifery Advocate

Restorative clinical supervision

Leadership

Quality Improvement

Perinatal care

Education

NMC PIN

Professional Midwifery Advocate qualification

Job description

View all our vacancies across our hospitals in Sussex.

Main area Maternity Grade Band 7 Contract 3 years (Fixed term or secondment opportunity) Hours

• Full time
• Part time
• Job share

37.5 hours per week (Flexible working requests considered on an individual basis) Job ref 279-8312140-SEP26

Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site PRH, RSCH, SRH, WH Town Worthing Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/10/2026 23:59

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values . We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research , we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

As part of our commitment to supporting staff and strengthening maternity services ahead of the Independent Maternity Review, we are establishing a new Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) Team across University Hospitals Sussex.

We are recruiting PMAs across UHSussex, with one post aligned to each site: Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH), Worthing Hospital (WH) and St Richard's Hospital (SRH).

Each PMA will have a designated site base while working collaboratively across the Trust under the leadership of the Professional Perinatal Advocate (PPA) Lead, delivering a consistent restorative approach across maternity and neonatal services.

These newly created roles will provide visible support in clinical areas through restorative conversations, hot debriefs, real-time support and compassionate leadership, helping colleagues navigate a period of learning, transformation and cultural development.

Successful candidates will strengthen Professional Midwifery Advocacy through case management, professional development, training and embedding best practice within the A-EQUIP framework.

The PMA team will help ensure accessible advocacy support, promoting staff wellbeing, learning, service improvement and a resilient workforce.

These three-year fixed-term opportunities offer experienced PMAs the chance to develop their leadership, quality improvement, workforce development and strategic influence.

Participation in the Manager on Call rota is required.

Main duties of the job

Delivering and facilitating Restorative Clinical Supervision

Supporting colleagues through complex cases, incidents, Coroner's inquests and high-profile reviews

Providing visible clinical support and restorative leadership within clinical areas

Supporting trainee PMAs and newly qualified PMAs

Developing and strengthening the Trust-wide PMA/PNA network

Leading and contributing to Quality Improvement initiatives

Supporting w orkforce wellbeing, retention and engagement

Collecting evidence and demonstrating the impact and value of Professional Midwifery Advocacy across the organisation

Promoting a restorative culture that extends across maternity, neonatal, medical and support worker teams

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future direction of Professional Midwifery Advocacy within University Hospitals Sussex. The successful candidates will help demonstrate the value of professional midwifery advocacy roles, ensuring advocacy remains at the heart of workforce wellbeing, learning and service improvement.

As a three-year fixed-term opportunity , these posts provide an excellent platform for career development, allowing experienced PMAs to broaden their leadership, quality improvement, workforce development and strategic influence while enhancing their professional portfolio.

Applicants must hold the Professional Midwifery Advocate qualification and demonstrate a commitment to the A-EQUIP model, restorative clinical supervision and compassionate leadership.

If you are passionate about supporting colleagues, driving positive cultural change and helping create the conditions for staff and families to thrive, we would love to hear from you.

Join us and help shape a restorative, compassionate and sustainable future for maternity and neonatal services across University Hospitals Sussex.

Internal applicants should note that this opportunity will be offered on a secondment basis. Before applying, internal colleagues must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they can be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not automatic and must be agreed between the colleague, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager

Person specification

• Registered Midwife with active NMC PIN
• Professional Midwifery Advocate
• Significant post reg experience in range of clinical settings/roles
• Recent experience of working in Perinatal Services
• Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care approaches
• Understanding of professional and current issues in maternity and neonatal services
• De-briefing/Coaching/Restorative training or equivalent experience
• Leadership/Management training or equivalent experience
• Experience of Quality Improvement

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications

UHSussex values authenticity and encourages applicants to ensure that all application materials accurately reflect their own skills, experience, knowledge and motivations. Candidates may use AI and digital tools to support the preparation of applications, for example to assist with spelling, grammar, structure or accessibility needs. However, applicants remain responsible for the content submitted and should ensure that it genuinely represents their own abilities and experience. Where there are reasonable concerns that an application does not authentically reflect the applicant's own knowledge, skills, experience and suitability for the role, the Trust reserves the right to explore this further and, where authenticity cannot be satisfactorily demonstrated, to reject the application.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

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 advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.

Name Rosie Jennings Job title Perinatal Workforce Matron Email address [e-mail] Telephone number 01273 696955 Additional information

Please do get in touch with Rosie via email ([e-mail]) if you would like to discuss the role further.