Professional Perinatal Advocate Lead

Job overview

University Hospitals Sussex is the subject of an important Independent Maternity Review (IMR), commissioned by the Department of Health on behalf of the Secretary of State. This is due to commence in October 2026 and is expected to last at least 3 years. The review will examine approximately 1,000 cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, neonatal harm due to severe brain injury and severe maternal harm dating back to at least 2018. The purpose is to understand what happened, reach conclusions on the care provided, provide answers for families and identify learning for the organisation and wider NHS. The review is, by its’ very nature, extremely sensitive and politically charged. The impact is expected to be significant for the families at the heart of the review, current and past staff and the wider organisation. In parallel, the Trust is the subject of an active police investigation – Operation Bramber.

The programme of work required to ensure the Trust can meet the needs of families, the IMR team, Sussex Police, staff and other bodies is complex and diverse. It will span quality and corporate governance, information management, information governance, analytics, communications, wellbeing, recruitment, training, inclusion and professional standards. Working effectively with teams across Women and Children’s services and critical corporate teams will be essential.

Main duties of the job

The Professional Perinatal Advocate (PPA) Lead provides strategic leadership for Professional Midwifery Advocacy (PMA), Professional Nurse Advocacy (PNA), restorative practice, workforce wellbeing and patient experience across maternity and neonatal services. The postholder will lead the development of an integrated Professional Perinatal Advocacy Service that brings together staff experience, family experience, governance learning, quality improvement and workforce intelligence to support a compassionate, psychologically safe, inclusive and culturally safe environment and a continuously improving culture.

The post ensures clinical safety and psychological wellbeing are supported equally for all perinatal staff groups, fostering a culture where professionals feel safe, valued, heard and able to learn. The role will champion equity, diversity and inclusion, ensuring all staff have equitable access to support, development and advocacy services, and promoting an anti-discriminatory culture where difference is respected and everyone can thrive.

The role translates learning from all services, including staff wellbeing and family experience, into:

• Governance
• Education and training
• Quality improvement
• Workforce culture and leadership development
• Equity, diversity, inclusion and cultural safety improvement initiatives

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached the detailed job description and person specification for further details on this role.

This vacancy is advertised as a time-limited opportunity is expected to be undertaken on a secondment basis for internal applicants.

Before applying, internal colleagues must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they can be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not automatic and must be agreed between the colleague, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager.

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.