Diabetic Specialist Midwife

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

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.

Applicant requirements

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.