Ivy Team Midwife

Job overview

The post holder will work as part of the Ivy Team, a specialist community midwifery team delivering personalised, continuity‑of‑care maternity services for women and birthing people with additional or complex needs.

The role focuses on providing enhanced antenatal and postnatal care, predominantly for women and birthing people who request a planned home birth at booking, as well as those with clinical, social, psychological, or safeguarding complexities. Care is delivered using trauma‑informed, relationship‑based practice, in line with Trust policy and national guidance.

Main duties of the job

Manage a defined caseload predominantly comprising women and birthing people who have requested a planned home birth at booking, providing continuity‑of‑carer wherever possible.

Deliver high‑quality, evidence‑based antenatal and postnatal care, with a strong focus on personalised care and home birth planning.

Provide relationship‑based care for women and birthing people with additional, complex, or enhanced needs, including social vulnerability (such as non‑English‑speaking women/birthing people, asylum seekers, or those requiring interpreter support), mental health needs, safeguarding concerns, or previous adverse maternity experiences.

Participate in the Ivy Team on‑call rota, responding to calls in line with service arrangements and contributing to safe out‑of‑hours care.

Attend planned and unplanned home births, working within Trust guidance, professional standards, and individual scope of practice.

During periods of high clinical acuity, increased service demand, or staffing shortage, provide support and escalation cover to the acute maternity unit, in line with Trust policy and service need.

Undertake comprehensive risk assessment, shared decision‑making, and personalised care planning, ensuring accurate and timely documentation.

Work collaboratively within multi‑disciplinary and multi‑agency frameworks, including safeguarding activity where required.

Contribute to clinical governance, audit, reflective practice, and service development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will work as part of the Ivy Team, a specialist community midwifery team delivering continuity‑of‑carer maternity services, with a caseload predominantly made up of women and birthing people who have requested a planned home birth at booking.

The role focuses on providing personalised, relationship‑based antenatal and postnatal care, supporting informed choice around place of birth, and working collaboratively with the wider maternity service and partner agencies. The post holder will also contribute to on‑call services, home birth attendance, and escalation support to the acute maternity unit during times of high clinical acuity or staffing pressure.

Clinical Care and Caseload Management

• Manage a defined caseload predominantly comprising women and birthing people who have requested a planned home birth at booking.
• Provide high‑quality, evidence‑based antenatal and postnatal care, tailored to individual needs, preferences, and circumstances.
• Deliver continuity‑of‑carer wherever possible, fostering trusting therapeutic relationships.
• Undertake comprehensive clinical assessment, risk assessment, and personalised care planning, ensuring plans are regularly reviewed and clearly documented.
• Support informed choice through shared decision‑making, including discussion of benefits, risks, and service availability related to place of birth.

Home Birth and On‑Call Responsibilities

• Participate in the Ivy Team on‑call rota, responding appropriately to out‑of‑hours referrals and requests.
• Attend planned and unplanned home births, working in line with Trust guidelines, national standards, and personal scope of practice.
• Undertake dynamic risk assessment during community and home birth activity, escalating concerns appropriately.

Escalation and Service Flexibility

• During periods of high clinical acuity, increased service demand, or staffing shortage, provide escalation cover and clinical support to the acute maternity unit, in line with Trust policy and service need.
• Work flexibly across community and acute settings to support safe service delivery while maintaining professional standards.

Care of Women and Birthing People with Additional Needs

• Provide relationship‑based care for women and birthing people with additional, complex, or enhanced needs, including: Social vulnerability (for example non‑English‑speaking women/birthing people, asylum seekers, or those requiring interpreter support) Mental health needs Safeguarding concerns Previous adverse maternity experiences
• Social vulnerability (for example non‑English‑speaking women/birthing people, asylum seekers, or those requiring interpreter support)
• Mental health needs
• Safeguarding concerns
• Previous adverse maternity experiences
• Deliver care in a trauma‑informed, inclusive, and non‑judgemental manner, recognising the impact of inequality, trauma, and social exclusion.

Multi‑Agency and Multidisciplinary Working

• Work collaboratively with obstetric, neonatal, mental health, safeguarding, social care, community, and voluntary sector colleagues.
• Attend and contribute to case conferences, safeguarding meetings, and multi‑agency planning as required.
• Ensure timely communication and information‑sharing in line with professional and information governance standards.

Documentation, Governance, and Professional Development

• Maintain clear, accurate, and timely clinical records and reports, including contributions to multi‑agency documentation.
• Participate in clinical governance, audit, reflective practice, and service development activity.
• Engage in supervision, appraisal, and ongoing professional development.
• Support students, newly qualified midwives, and colleagues as appropriate to role and seniority.

Values and Professional Behaviour

• Work in line with Trust values of kindness, inclusivity, and respect, contributing to a supportive and psychologically safe team culture.
• Act as a professional role model, demonstrating accountability, openness, and compassion in all aspects of practice.