Preceptorship Midwife

Job overview

Here at CHFT we are excited to advertise for newly qualified midwives with current NMC registration. The position will be a rotational post and the NQM will work throughout our maternity service gaining valuable experience as a newly qualified registrant.

The position is a fixed term contract and will be for 12 months.

At CHFT we offer a robust preceptorship programme to assist with the transition from student midwife to band 5 midwife. We work in-line with the national preceptorship standards and all NQM complete the preceptorship programme in 12-18 months post qualification with the assistance of our clinical education midwives and wider multidisciplinary team.

Main duties of the job

• Provide safe, high quality evidence based care throughout the maternity pathway.
• Ensure information is communicated in a clear and unbiased way to facilitate informed decision making.
• In partnership with the woman, assesses needs, planning, implementing and evaluating care on an individual basis, promoting equality and considering diversity and rights.
• Liaise and work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team and other agencies, when complex needs are identified.
• Continuously assess risks and deviations from normal and ensure timely referral, intervention and escalation.
• Consider the diverse needs of women and their families and ensure the delivery of individualised plans of care.
• Facilitate women’s involvement in the decision making process regarding all aspects of their pregnancy birth and postnatal care. when necessary.
• Work flexibly across different wards/departments as indicated by service needs.
• Maintain compliance with Trust policies in relation to Infection Control to reduce HCAI.
• Communicates in a clear and unbiased manner with women and families and the multi-disciplinary team.
• Works within national and local guidelines in relation to midwifery practice.
• Liaises with outside agencies to enhance individualised care for more complex situations such as safeguarding, domestic abuse or substance misuse.
• Maintains professional conduct including appearance at all times adhering to the local Trust uniform policy.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Physical Effort  The post holder is required to have highly developed physical skills e.g. manual dexterity to perform abdominal palpation, vaginal examinations, taking blood samples, applying fetal scalp electrodes, performing episiotomies. Responding rapidly to emergency situations e.g. haemorrhage, neo-natal resuscitation, where the ability to run to scene is required and bring appropriate equipment. There is a daily requirement to undertake moderate physical activity for several short  periods less than 20 minutes at a time e.g. transferring the mothers from bed to wheelchair/operating table to bed (using a pat slide). Assisting women into the lithotomy position for instrumental deliveries and perineal suturing. Daily requirement to maintain awkward positions for less than 20 minutes at a time when women giving  birth in standing, squatting, all fours and in a waterbirth pool.    Mental Effort Supporting women throughout the perinatal period requires psychological resilience providing emotional and physical support. When caring for a woman the midwife may be exposed to long periods of  concentration e.g 2-3 hours continuous times vary from every shift to once a week. Daily concentration when checking and calculating drugs, inputting data into the computer. The post holder will need to be aware of the need to practice self-care for emotional and physical wellbeing and access support when required. The LMNS understands that the transition from student to newly qualified midwife can be challenging and has a commitment to supporting you throughout this journey.   Emotional Effort Directly provides emotional and psychological support to women during pregnancy, labour and postpartum - daily throughout shift. Involvement in obstetric emergencies leading to exposure to highly distressing situations e.g. shoulder dystocia, birth asphyxia, postpartum haemorrhage– at least once per week. Regular exposure to stressful situations varying in severity e.g. poor outcomes (unexpected transfer of babies to special care baby unit (SCBU), fetal abnormality, fetal or maternal death), supporting and caring for women in labouring having termination of pregnancy (TOP) for fetal abnormality, preparing baby for mortuary.

Working Conditions  The post holder is frequently exposed to challenging working conditions which includes exposure to bodily fluids, conflict management, shift work including nights, weekend, bank holidays and on call models.