Head of Midwifery, Neonates and Gynaecology

Job overview

The Head of Midwifery, Neonatal, and Gynaecology Services is responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure the safe, high-quality, and effective delivery of maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. The role involves leading multidisciplinary teams to deliver evidence-based, family-centred care while meeting national standards, including compliance with the NHS Long Term Plan, Ockenden Report, and Care Quality Commission (CQC) requirements. Key duties include managing service performance, workforce planning, and financial resources; ensuring compliance with the Maternity Incentive Scheme and regulatory frameworks; addressing health inequalities; and fostering a culture of innovation, inclusivity, and continuous improvement. The post-holder collaborates with internal and external stakeholders, including the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP), to co-produce services that prioritise patient safety, equity, and positive outcomes for women, babies, and families.

Main duties of the job

The Head of Midwifery plays a pivotal role in holding professional accountability and managerial responsibility for the strategic direction, delivery, and management of maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services on behalf of the Director of Midwifery.  The role ensures the achievement of corporate and divisional key performance indicators while fostering a culture of respect, teamwork, and excellence in patient care. Working across hospital and community settings, the Head of Midwifery provides professional and supervisory leadership to staff across these services.

Aligned with national priorities, including the Ockenden Report, Kirkup Report, the Maternity and Neonatal Three-Year Delivery Plan, and the NHS Long Term Plan, the Head of Midwifery ensures safety, equity, and quality in service delivery. This includes addressing systemic challenges, improving outcomes for women and families, and integrating gynaecological services into holistic, patient-centred care pathways.

As a key member of the divisional leadership team, the Head of Midwifery ensures that maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services meet national safety and quality standards, including compliance with CQC regulations and the NHS Maternity Incentive Scheme.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Leadership

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, including inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, emergency gynaecology units, and community-based care.
• Ensure high-quality, family-centred care across these services, aligned with national frameworks such as the Ockenden Report, CQC Key Lines of Enquiry (KLOEs), and the NHS Long Term Plan, focusing on personalised care, improved safety, and continuity of care.
• Collaborate with the divisional leadership team to deliver safe, sustainable, and equitable services that address health inequalities and improve outcomes for women, babies, and families.
• Represent the Executive Chief Nurse and Director of Midwifery in internal and external forums, promoting best practice and exploring opportunities for service improvement, innovation, and workforce development across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services.
• Act as the professional lead for all staff in maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring compliance with professional standards and providing guidance on fitness-to-practise issues where required.

Patient Safety and Clinical Quality

• Lead the development of robust systems for monitoring quality, safety, and compliance across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with CQC regulations, safeguarding standards, and infection prevention policies.
• Embed a culture of shared learning by ensuring outcomes from incidents, audits, and reviews across these services are shared and used to drive improvement.
• Oversee the implementation of clinical standards and quality improvement initiatives for gynaecology services, including emergency gynaecology care and early pregnancy pathways, ensuring compliance with national guidance and the goals of the NHS Long Term Plan.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver integrated care pathways that reduce disparities, improve access, and align with the Maternity and Neonatal Three-Year Delivery Plan, the NHS Long Term Plan, and other national frameworks.
• Ensure adherence to the Human Tissue Act 2004 in all gynaecological procedures and services, safeguarding patient dignity and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

Patient Experience

• Collaborate with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership (MNVP) and equivalent gynaecology-focused service user groups to ensure patient voices shape service planning and delivery.
• Lead the development and implementation of a Trust-wide strategy to enhance patient and service user experience across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring alignment with the NHS Long Term Plan and national standards.
• Promote close collaboration between patient feedback processes, complaints management, and improvement initiatives, ensuring actionable outcomes that enhance patient care.
• Oversee the integration of service user feedback into operational and strategic decisions for gynaecology services, including outpatient and emergency pathways.
• Facilitate the use of volunteers and patient advocates to support service delivery, particularly in sensitive gynaecological care areas.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Provide direct line management for maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology staff, ensuring clear accountability and access to professional development opportunities.
• Oversee financial and resource management across maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services, ensuring budgetary control and adherence to Trust Standing Financial Instructions (SFIs).
• Lead workforce planning and ensure maternity, neonatal, and gynaecology services are adequately staffed, with a focus on recruitment, retention, and skills development.
• Ensure compliance with all regulatory and statutory requirements across gynaecology services, including CQC standards, employment legislation, and the Health Act (2006) Code of Practice.
• Participate in the on-call rota, providing leadership during major incidents or unexpected events affecting any of the services.