24UHWNU0210 Director of Midwifery (Band 1)

********PLEASE COMPLETE APPLICATION FORM FULLY, CV'S ARE NOT ACCEPTED*********

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

The person holding this post is required to support the principle that the care of the woman and her family comes first at all times and will approach their work with the flexibility and enthusiasm necessary to make this principle a reality for every woman and her family to the greatest possible degree.

Maintain awareness of the primacy of the woman and her family in relation to all Hospital activities throughout the Hospital’s Maternity Services.

Performance Management Systems are part of this role and post holders will be required to participate in the Hospital’s performance management programme.

Operating in accordance with the policies of UHW, the Director of Midwifery works in collaboration with other professionals and service managers to achieve the service goals.

Leadership and Accountability

• Responsible for the maternity and neonatal services University Hospital Waterford provides including antennal, intranatal, maternity ward, gynaecology, breast/surgical car, outpatient obstetric, midwifery and gynaecology services.
• Responsible for antenatal services including Early Pregnancy Unit and an Obstetric Scanning Service.
• Responsible for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) along with Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) that care for babies with a complex Maternity Ward journey. Maternity Services UHW also incorporates an Integrated Hospital and Community Midwifery Services (IHCMS) which provides DOMINO care and a home birth service.
• Responsible for the Sexual Assault Unit (SATU) which is under the remit of the Maternity & Neonatal Services
• Direct the day-to-day operational activity of the maternity and neonatal services and is responsible for governing the home birth service for the area.
• Lead and develop midwifery services in line with the National Maternity strategy.
• Provide strategic and clinical leadership and direction for maternity related midwifery and nursing services, which results in the delivery of safe, effective, efficient, quality assured and woman-centred midwifery care.
• Develop a shared sense of commitment and participation among staff in the management of change, the development of the midwifery services and in responding to the changing health need of women and their families.
• Develop, maintain and review the midwifery organisational structure within the context of overall organisational objectives.
• Be responsible for strategy and policy on practice development, education and professional duties imposed by statute or determination.
• Participate on Children First & SIMT committees and any other committees as required.
• Responsible for the Implementation and Training of Children First
• Initiate and participate in quality improvement initiatives and innovation in midwifery including digital innovation and transformation across midwifery services.
• Maintain own professional and managerial competence and credibility through the development of a Personal Development Plan.
• Lead in the progression of relevant aspects of the hospital Strategic Plan.
• Keep the Hospital Manager appraised of any significant development within his/ her area of responsibility and escalate any safety concerns.

Planning

• The Director of Midwifery accepts responsibility for the management of all midwifery services and ensures that systems are in place to support this responsibility over a 24-hour period.
• Participate as a core member of the Hospitals Senior Management Team and contribute to the preparation of plans for services.
• Identify, prioritise and deliver key objectives for the maternity services on an annual basis.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders; lead the implementation of the National Maternity Strategy within the Midwifery service.
• Plan the implementation of systems and processes used by midwives including care pathways, staffing, personnel, financial and information systems and apply to the University Hospital Waterford when such application will improve services for women and infants.
• Prepare an annual report on midwifery and related activities.

Performance Management

• Developing Performance Management systems are core to the role and you will be required to participate in the Groups Performance Programme.
• Drive and promote a Performance Management Culture.
• Being involved in Performance Management Systems is part of role and the Director of Midwifery will be required to participate in the Group’s Performance Management Programme.
• Work in conjunction with the Group Chief Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Quality and other senior nurse managers within the Hospital Group to contribute to the development of a Performance Management System for the midwifery and nursing profession.
• Identify and develop Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) which are congruent with the Hospital’s Service Plan targets.
• Manage and deliver KPI’s as a routine and core business objective.
• Develop Action Plans to address non-attainment of KPI targets.

Admission & Discharge Policy

• Be responsible and accountable for a robust Patient Flow System.
• Oversee the development and implement of operational policies, protocols and guidelines for the utilisation of beds and a systematic audit of bed usage.
• Work in partnership with other disciplines to ensure the service levels agreed for scheduled and unscheduled care are met.
• Develop the concept of collaborative care planning in conjunction with other professionals.
• Develop, implement and monitor a discharge policy and ensure good liaison with the community services.

Human Resource Management

• Develop and deliver an annual strategic workforce plan for midwifery in line with best practice staffing methodologies.
• Create a positive work environment through open and effective communication.
• Participate, as required in the recruitment, selection and appointment of midwifery and related staff.
• Ensure all staff are up to date with all required mandatory and statutory training.
• Ensure the optimum and effective use of staff through efficient rostering, skill/grade mix planning, workload measurement, staff profiling and deployment.
• Act as a coach/ mentor to enhance the performance and capability of midwifery staff through formal and informal interactions. Initiate the implementation of an on–going development and individual agreed performance review process for all staff, delegating functions as required.
• Implement the relevant national HR policies and procedures.
• Manage industrial relations issues relating to maternity services in consultation with the Human Resources Department and Hospital Management.
• Promote and maintain a safe environment for staff.

Finance

• Prepare annual financial estimates of midwifery and related manpower, including education and training needs.
• Participate as a key manager in the overall financial planning of the hospital service.
• Ensure expenditure is controlled within budget and identify potential for efficiency saving through improved practices and innovation.

Education & Research

• As a member of the Board of the Centre for Midwifery and Nursing Education ensure that appropriate in-service education programmes and ongoing learning needs are met for all assigned staff. Liaise and co-operate with appropriate third level education institutes when necessary.
• Undertake an annual training needs analysis and develop a training plan for midwifery staff.
• As part of the Hospital Group, work with University College Cork to develop and implement an education strategy for the midwifery service.
• Ensure that direction and co-ordination of the midwifery education programmes is consistent with overall strategy and meets national criteria.
• Be responsible for the suitability, quality and level of supervision of clinical midwifery practice placements for students as appropriate.
• Ensure that the Hospital’s maternity services promote and facilitate the conduct of high quality research into important questions affecting the care of women and their families.

Quality and Safety Assurance

• Create an environment that enables women and their families to be actively involved in the planning, delivery and evaluation of maternity services.
• Responsible for leading the implementation of midwifery quality care metrics and KPI’s.
• Implement any recommendations arising from investigations that impact the provision of maternity services.
• Ensure that evidence based policies, procedures, protocols, guidelines for midwifery care are in operation, and that regular monitoring of standards and outcomes is undertaken through audit and remedial action taken where appropriate.
• Create appropriate strategies, which enable effective communication of clinical and organisational issues throughout the service.
• Contribute to the development of a philosophy for midwifery care that reflects the Group’s commitment to the provision of a high standard of midwifery care.
• Ensure the prompt investigation of all midwifery and nursing clinical incidents and complaints and use these as a learning tool to reflect and improve care delivery.
• Ensure adherence to all codes and guidelines relating to professional midwifery/ nursing practice and behaviour.
• Contribute to user forums as appropriate.
• Have a working knowledge of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) Standards as they apply to the role for example, Standards for Healthcare, National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections, Hygiene Standards etc and comply with associated HSE protocols for implementing and maintaining these standards as appropriate to the role.

Risk Management, Infection Control, Hygiene Services and Health & Safety

• The post holder has a duty to familiarise themselves with the relevant Organisational Policies, Procedures & Standards and attend training as appropriate.
• The post holder must ensure that all relevant Policies, Procedures, Protocols and guidelines are available to all staff.
• The post holder must ensure that all staff in the area have the necessary education, training and support to enable them to meet their responsibilities.
• The post holder is responsible for ensuring compliance with all Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines and that these are evaluated on an on-going basis.

General

• To support, promote and actively participate in sustainable energy, water and waste initiatives to create a more sustainable, low carbon and efficient health service.
• To act as spokesperson for the Organisation as required
• Demonstrate pro-active commitment to all communications with internal and external stakeholders.

The above Job Description is not intended to be a comprehensive list of all duties involved and consequently, the post holder may be required to perform other duties as appropriate to the post, which may be assigned to him / her from time to time, and to contribute to the development of the post while in office.