Quality Improvement and Sustainability Lead

NHS; Dartford; On-site; GBP 50,000 - 57,000; Part time

Job summary

A regional healthcare trust in Dartford seeks a Maternity Quality Improvement and Sustainability Lead to enhance the quality of maternity services. The role involves driving improvement initiatives, overseeing compliance with standards, and championing sustainability. Candidates must be registered midwives with relevant experience and skills in digital technology and service development. This is a part-time, permanent position with a salary range of £50,008 to £56,908 pro rata.

Qualifications

• Registered Midwife with a degree or equivalent experience.
• Service development experience delivering clinical quality improvements.
• Highly skilled in digital technologies relevant to maternity care.

Responsibilities

• Drive quality improvement initiatives within maternity services.
• Monitor QI projects and ensure compliance with regulations.
• Promote sustainable service improvements and cost-saving measures.

Skills

Digital technology proficiency

Quality improvement

Clinical governance

Service development

Education

Registered Midwife

Degree-level qualification or equivalent experience

Tools

MSDS

Job description

Overview

This role is open to all internal staff including those registered on our bank. We are seeking a dynamic and passionate Maternity Quality Improvement and Sustainability Lead to join our dedicated team. You will drive quality improvement initiatives to provide outstanding care, ensure compliance with national standards for care, and champion sustainability. There may be the possibility for an increase in hours in the near future.

Main duties

The post holder will be instrumental in driving positive change, ensuring compliance with regulations and overseeing and monitoring QI projects within the maternity and gynaecology services. This will include influencing organisational culture by championing sustainability, driving innovation and encouraging continuous improvement, especially with regards to ongoing cost savings. The post holder will assist the team with evidence gathering for external submissions and liaise closely with area leads and matrons to ensure lessons are learnt following incidents. Together with the Obstetric Lead for Governance, the Governance Lead Midwife and the other members of the governance team the post holder will support with the implementation of the safety strategy and clinical governance objectives within Maternity. They will work with the lead clinicians within maternity, Professional Midwifery Advocates, Midwifery matrons, Medical and Midwifery staff to identify clinical risk issues and implement changes in practice resulting from QI projects, incidents and ATAIN and progress the implementation of recommendations from multidisciplinary meetings.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you\'ll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we\'ve achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Details

Date posted: 18 September 2025

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: £50,008 to £56,908 a year pro rata HCAS inclusive

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Part-time

Reference number: 252-7490207

Job location: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Darenth Wood Road, DA2 8DA

Job responsibilities

Quality Improvement responsibilities include:

• Assist in the development and oversight of a rolling programme of quality improvement initiatives based on maternity service priorities and trust priorities.
• Lead on identifying problem areas or areas for improvement and facilitate planning and documentation of actions required to achieve standards.
• Plan and organise activities to implement the quality agenda, promoting a multidisciplinary collaborative approach to quality improvement. Work with clinicians, area leads and matrons to identify opportunities.
• Review and adjust strategies for quality monitoring and improvement as services develop, developing new strategies as required.
• Assist with gathering evidence and action plans for the department safety strategy and keep it up to date.
• Promote best practice and implement innovations in care.
• Track and follow up on actions devised following incidents; assist with action planning after 72-hour reviews, serious incident reports and HSIB reports.
• Participate in the Maternity Investigation Group and assist with investigations within scope, including term unexpected admissions to NICU and readmissions to NICU.
• Prepare thematic reviews from cases and disseminate learning.

• ATAIN: compile a monthly review of all neonatal admissions/readmissions with the lead neonatal sister and Paediatric Consultant and record on the ATAIN Audit Tool.
• Oversee CNST action 3 with the SCBU Matron and clinical leads; review neonatal readmissions with required teams; present trends at Directorate perinatal meetings.
• Prepare yearly ATAIN Project Plan and quarterly updates; ensure robust communications to achieve outcomes.
• Ensure regular communication with senior neonatal staff and escalation when care plans or practice are of concern; promote evidence-based practice within the maternity service.
• Safety Champions: devise and track a safety dashboard and update following meetings.

• Guidelines: review NICE guidelines for compliance, escalate non-compliance, track due dates, circulate guidelines, chair Guideline Group meetings, and publish approved guidelines.

• Sustainability: ensure service improvements are sustainable; oversee SIP with senior maternity and financial teams; identify areas for service improvement and savings; reduce wastage in the service.

• Clinical responsibilities: report untoward incidents; maintain drugs custody and records; ensure administration and recording align with NMC rules and Trust policy.

• Managerial responsibilities: participate in regular meetings; maintain safety; participate in investigations; implement NHS Trust policies; contribute to Clinical Governance; attend Directorate/Board meetings and update cases; prepare progress and update reports.

The post holder will work clinically across the Maternity Service to maintain own competence and credibility.

Person Specification

Education and Training

• Essential: Registered Midwife
• Essential: Degree level qualification or equivalent experience
• Desirable: Formal training in digital healthcare
• Desirable: Project management qualification or equivalent experience

Knowledge and Skills

• Essential: Highly skilled in the use of digital technologies; knowledge of clinical systems relevant to maternity and neonatal care
• Desirable: Understanding of MSDS, maternity metrics and ability to apply maternity data to improve service delivery

Experience

• Essential: Service development experience, delivering clinical quality improvements and successful service change

Compliance

Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975. A Disclosure to the DBS will be required.

UK Registration: Applicants must have current UK professional registration.

Employer details

Employer: Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust

Address: Darent Valley Hospital, Darenth Wood Road, Darenth Wood Road, DA2 8DA

Employer's website: https://www.dgt.nhs.uk/working-for-us