Job overview

The Specialist Midwife for Substance Misuse post will form part of the wider Birmingham Women's and Children's Foundation Trust's Integrated Safeguarding Team.

The post holder will be based primarily at Birmingham Women's Hospital and work as part of a team of specialist midwives each coordinating care for a specific group of vulnerable women and their families. The post holder will be line managed by the Named Midwife for Safeguarding.

The Specialist Midwife for Substance Misuse will work collaboratively with statutory and voluntary agencies as well as providing advice and support to staff, women and their families and recognising the importance of the wider remit in safeguarding both adults and children who may be at risk of harm from substance misuse.

As the clinical expert, the Specialist Midwife for Substance Misuse will be expected to exercise a high degree of professional autonomy, providing advice, support, supervision and training to staff in relation to substance misuse in order to enhance maternity care.

The post holder will be responsible for identifying gaps in areas of service provision and developing strategies to address areas of deficit. He/she will facilitate the development of expert clinical practice through research and education, working closely with key agencies and voluntary organisations.

Main duties of the job

• To be the clinical midwifery lead for substance misuse.
• To develop, review and update training in relation to substance misuse.
• To develop and implement Trust policies, evidence-based guidelines and care pathways relevant to area of specialist knowledge and expertise.
• To identify and promote ways of improving the service.
• To actively participate in multi-agency professional and operational meetings.
• To provide professional leadership and expert advice, acting in a consultative capacity for area of specialism and providing specialist advice across the service relating to substance misuse.
• To communicate complex and sensitive information to women and their families, enabling them to make informed choices about their care.
• To systematically analyse and evaluate the service each year against key performance targets, taking a lead role in the implementation of subsequent actions.
• To identify appropriate data for collection in line with national or local guidelines. Monitor the quality and quantity of data being collected and take the necessary actions to maintain data quality.
• To work collaboratively with other professionals and agencies in supporting families affected by substance misuse.
• To function autonomously within area of specialism and work in collaboration with the wider multi-disciplinary team, seizing opportunities to educate, support and shape policy across the service.

Working for our organisation

Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust is the first of its type in the UK. Our Trust was formed in February 2017 to drive forward our commitment to provide the highest quality, world-class physical and mental health care for our women, children and families. Uniting our hospitals means more seamless care; more investment to make greater advances in our specialist treatment and world-leading neo-natal and fetal work. Importantly, it also gives us a greater voice in shaping the future of family-centred care.

Birmingham Children's Hospital is a UK leading specialist paediatric centre with an international reputation in several areas.

Birmingham Women's Hospital is one of two dedicated women's hospitals in the UK, with the busiest single site maternity unit, delivering more than 8,200 babies a year offering a full range of gynaecological, maternity and neonatal care. 

Parkview Clinic is a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Mental Health (CAMHS) facility in Moseley, for young people aged 11-18 years who require admission due to significant psychiatric difficulties.

Our Trust is committed to creating the best place to work. We believe in promoting and enhancing inclusion, diversity and equality and encourage applications from all areas of the community, who meet the criteria for the role, regardless of age, gender identity, disability, race, religion or sexual orientation.