Fetal Wellbeing Lead Midwife

Job overview

The aim of this role is to build on current practice to achieve safe, healthy birth outcomes for babies born at Croydon Maternity Unit, with a specific focus on fetal surveillance, CTG interpretation, and risk reduction.

The post holder will be expected to spend approximately 80% of their working time in the clinical setting, providing expert clinical support, guidance, and leadership to midwifery and multidisciplinary teams to promote best practice in fetal wellbeing.

Working as part of the senior midwifery team, the post holder will contribute to the ongoing development of the maternity service through participation in service improvement, education, and quality initiatives, ensuring alignment with CNST maternity safety actions, national guidance, and Trust policies.

The role will support the delivery, monitoring, and improvement of CNST compliance, including:

• Supporting staff education and competency in fetal surveillance and CTG interpretation
• Contributing to audit, review, and learning from incidents, themes, and outcomes relating to fetal wellbeing
• Supporting assurance processes by contributing to evidence required for CNST submissions
• Promoting adherence to mandatory training requirements and escalation pathways

The post holder will act as a clinical resource and role model, supporting staff confidence and competence, and working collaboratively with obstetric, anaesthetic, neonatal, and risk teams to improve safety and outcomes.

Interview date: TBC

Main duties of the job

Communicate effectively with women, families, and colleagues, adapting communication style to meet individual needs, levels of understanding, cultural background, and preferred methods of communication.

Provide clear, timely, and evidence‑based information relating to CTG interpretation, risk escalation, and clinical decision‑making, ensuring women are supported to make informed choices about their care.

Communicate complex, sensitive, or potentially distressing information related to fetal compromise or adverse outcomes with professionalism, compassion, and discretion, maintaining confidentiality at all times.

Act as a key point of communication within the multidisciplinary team, liaising with obstetric, neonatal, anaesthetic, risk, and governance leads on matters relating to fetal wellbeing, safety, and care escalation.

Support staff by providing expert advice, guidance, and de‑escalation support in complex clinical situations involving fetal surveillance.

Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive documentation related to fetal surveillance, clinical advice, escalation, and outcomes in line with legislation, Trust policy, and professional standards.

As part of the senior midwifery team, contribute to the development of the maternity service through education, audit, incident review, learning dissemination, and CNST‑related assurance activities, with a focus on improving fetal wellbeing and birth outcomes.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This role provides clinical leadership and expert oversight in fetal wellbeing and fetal surveillance across maternity services, ensuring the delivery of safe, evidence‑based care throughout the antenatal and intrapartum periods. The post holder will lead improvements in practice, education, and assurance aligned with CNST maternity safety actions and national guidance.

Communication and Multidisciplinary Collaboration

• Communicate effectively, compassionately, and professionally with women and their families regarding fetal wellbeing, surveillance, escalation, and care planning.
• Act as a key clinical liaison within the multidisciplinary team, supporting midwives, obstetricians, neonatologists, anaesthetists, and governance teams in complex fetal wellbeing matters.
• Communicate sensitive or distressing information with discretion, maintaining confidentiality and supporting shared decision‑making.
• Support the local resolution of concerns and complaints related to fetal wellbeing, escalating where appropriate in line with Trust policy.
• Facilitate safety huddles, briefings, and learning dissemination to ensure key messages and actions are effectively cascaded across the service.

Training, Education, and Competency Development

• Develop, deliver, and oversee education and training programmes relating to fetal surveillance, including CTG interpretation, intermittent auscultation, and escalation pathways.
• Lead and support competency assessment and assurance processes for midwives and medical staff across all maternity care settings.
• Organise and facilitate workshops, masterclasses, simulation training, and reflective practice sessions to support staff confidence and competence.
• Support compliance with mandatory training requirements and contribute to evidence required for CNST submissions.

Clinical Leadership, Audit, and Quality Improvement

• Promote and embed best practice in fetal surveillance, including the “Fresh Eyes” approach and structured interpretation frameworks.
• Lead the review and audit of births where fetal wellbeing concerns were identified, including emergency and operative deliveries.
• Use audit findings to inform teaching, reflection, and service improvement, ensuring learning is shared across the multidisciplinary team.
• Contribute to reviews of incidents, serious incidents, and adverse outcomes related to fetal wellbeing, supporting the implementation and monitoring of action plans.

Evidence‑Based Practice and Risk Management

• Promote and embed evidence‑based practice in fetal surveillance and intrapartum care.
• Support risk assessment, appropriate documentation, and timely escalation to reduce avoidable harm.
• Participate in clinical audits, service evaluations, and research activities aimed at improving fetal wellbeing and birth outcomes.
• Work collaboratively with risk, governance, and maternity safety leads to support ongoing assurance and compliance with CNST requirements.