Job summary
- Main area
- midwife
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 12 months (on call maternity rota)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (on call rota maternity manager)
- Job ref
- 407-WCCSS-7598456
- Employer
- Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- walsall manor maternity
- Town
- walsall
- Salary
- £47,810 - £54,710 per
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 06/02/2026 08:00
- Interview date
- 06/03/2026
Employer heading
Specialist midwife for infant feeding
NHS AfC: Band 7
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust provides integrated acute and community Healthcare in the West Midlands serving a population of 260,000 residents. Walsall Manor Hospital houses the full range of district general hospital services. The £170 million development was completed in 2010 and we are continually upgrading. Construction of the new integrated critical care unit was completed in 2018, extension of a Neonatal Unit and an approved plan to build a brand new, state of the art Emergency Department which commenced in 2021
We provide high quality, friendly and effective community health services from multiple sites covering Walsall. Our multidisciplinary services include rapid response and homebased care, so that those with long term conditions and the frail elderly can remain in their own homes.
We are recommended by colleagues as a place to work which is supported by the trusts values to work as part of a team, being respectful, compassionate and professional. We are committed to investing in our workforce
Following our recent CQC visit the Trust was rated as outstanding for care and this has been recognised by NHS Improvement.
The work we do is highly rewarding, and in addition to an attractive salary, we offer a valuable range of benefits, including: salary sacrifice scheme; car leasing scheme; on-site staff accommodation (subject to availability); the ability to retain your NHS pension (where applicable) or the opportunity to join an alternative scheme; and the opportunity to develop and implement your expertise in an encouraging yet challenging environment
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is proud to be part of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Trust currently holds the Bronze Award which underlines the Trust’s commitment to supporting the Armed Forces Community. As an organisation, we are aiming to achieve the next level Silver award, with our sights firmly on Gold.
RESPECT - COMPASSION - TEAMWORK - PROFESSIONALISM
Job overview
Specialist Midwife – Infant feeding & Baby Friendly Initiative
This is a key role in developing and maintaining high standards of care for this group of women and their families in pregnancy and the postnatal period. You will have a high level of relevant expert knowledge and skills which you will use to manage, develop and lead care for all pregnant and new mothers in this regardless of feeding method.
The specialist midwife will work in collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams and external agencies to include: maternity, paediatrics, NNU, gynae, obstetrics, CPD training teams and the health visiting (HCP 0-5yrs) service. The practitioner should be an expert in their field, have responsibility to ensure that all care delivered is within accordance of trust policies and procedures, NICE and BFI UNICEF UK guidance. The specialist midwife will ensure that generic practitioners at all levels receive the appropriate support for infant feeding care planning and practice development, working alongside other staff to add capability to staff practices.The specialist midwife will be responsible for the leadership and coordination of both the Maternity and Neonatal UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiatives, training, audit and development of effective infant feeding / antenatal infant feeding initiatives within WHT, and, in partnership with other professionals to support these activities.
PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS
Main duties of the job
The post holder will undertake activities and interventions to assist in the achievement of local, regional and national infant feeding targets / KPI’s in relation to breastfeeding initiation, coverage and prevalence rates
Support, train, assist and advice to staff to add capacity to the care provided by their midwives / lead health professionals / support staff, where necessary. For example, working with midwives to develop individual care plans and making referrals to additional specialist support if required.
Act as an advocate for women to ensure they get the specialist care that they need and liaise with other services and partner agencies to ensure that the women with infant feeding challenges are receiving active and effective care.
Carry continuing responsibility for providing the highest standards of midwifery care to all mothers and babies. Assess, develop, implement and evaluate care programmes and provide professional advice and support as required.
Working for our organisation
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300. It provides inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010, and ongoing upgrades ensure the Trust now has state-of-the-art facilities, including a Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit. A new Urgent and Emergency Care Centre, opened in March 2023, has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity, providing almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Responsibilities
Audit, valuate and improve midwifery care for mothers and babies .
Provide clinical expertise, support and professional direction to both Midwifery and Medical staff on the care in relation to responsive feeding and parenting for all women and babies.
Prioritize and develop care pathways to reflect women and babies feeding journeys based need following risk assessment
Facilitate antenatal and postnatal care plans within the hospital/community environment.
Analyses and evaluates the effectiveness and highlights modifications to Midwifery care pathway, giving professional support and advice as required.
Maintain accurate and legible records/documentation in accordance with Trust and national professional policies and guidelines.
Use of expert interpersonal and communication skills when dealing with issues such as child protection, sexual health matters, domestic violence, drug and alcohol misuse and mental health issues.
Effectively communicate complex and sensitive condition-related information to clients and relatives which requires empathy and reassurance.
Use of counselling skills dealing with issues relating to parenting journeys
Participate in programmes of parent and staff education for women in relation to infant feeding and responsive parenting within the hospital/community setting
Keep up to date and act consistently within quality standards and guidelines within own clinical area and associated areas.
Continuously monitor and evaluate the quality of work against quality standards in own area and take effective action to address them.
Leadership
Service Delivery & Improvement
Leadership and Management Responsibilities
Ensure that the day to day service delivered as required by the service needs
Promote best practice in health, safety and security.
Monitor and maintain the efficient use of physical and/or financial resources within the current financial constraints reporting any deviances to the community midwife manager promptly.
Liaise with the multidisciplinary team and multi-agencies co-coordinating and participating in case discussions as required.
Ensure that the service is a positive learning experience for students and junior staff and meet
the necessary standards for placement.
Identify and manage challenging behaviours as directed by trust policies.
Recognize, communicate and reward the achievements of staff in a learning capacity and provide constructive feedback, advice and on-going practice.
Provide professional Leadership and support to colleagues.
Participate in on call Maternity management rota
Lead and develop the implementation of care pathways for the services of vulnerable women and babies.
Ensure that essential information on the client’s condition and progress is recorded appropriately according to NMC guidelines.
Monitor progress of work recognising changing priorities and implement corrective actions within own limits and informing the relevant people.
Act as a mentor and assessor to assigned learners and teach and support them through their competency assessments as required.
Lead in the appraisal process for a defined group of staff in accordance with trust policies.
Communicate clearly with colleagues and provide them with opportunities to contribute to the planning and organization of work.
Deal personally with clients, families and carers in order to aid resolution of complaints.
Report all incidents, complaints or accidents to the Matron and assist in their investigation and resolution.
Monitor and manage sickness and absence in accordance with trust policies
Have active involvement in the recruitment and selection process
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Monitor, control and store resources/supplies according to the requirements and specifications of the clinical environment.
Maintain own vehicle to comply with road safety legislation. To ensure provision of care in the community in all weather conditions.
Maintain accurate records of resource use, i.e. personal expenses, team member’s expenses in relation to pay, mileage and on calls.
Implement and propose changes to policies/practices in own area.
Participate effectively to evaluation studies (e.g. patient satisfaction surveys and audit).
Leadership and Management Responsibilities Ensure that the day to day service delivered as required by the service needs
Promote best practice in health, safety and security.
Monitor and maintain the efficient use of physical and/or financial resources within the current financial constraints reporting any deviances to the community midwife manager promptly. Liaise with the multidisciplinary team and multi-agencies co-coordinating and participating in case discussions as required.
Ensure that the service is a positive learning experience for students and junior staff and meet the necessary standards for placement.
Identify and manage challenging behaviours as directed by trust policies.
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Provide professional Leadership and support to colleagues.
Lead and develop the implementation of care pathways for the services of vulnerable women and babies.
Ensure that essential information on the client’s condition and progress is recorded appropriately according to NMC guidelines.
Monitor progress of work recognising changing priorities and implement corrective actions within own limits and informing the relevant people.
Act as a mentor and assessor to assigned learners and teach and support them through their competency assessments as required.
Lead in the appraisal process for a defined group of staff in accordance with trust policies.
Communicate clearly with colleagues and provide them with opportunities to contribute to the planning and organisation of work.
Deal personally with clients, families and carers in order to aid resolution of complaints.
Report all incidents, complaints or accidents to the Matron and assist in their investigation and resolution.
Monitor and manage sickness and absence in accordance with trust policies
Have active involvement in the recruitment and selection process
Monitor, control and store resources/supplies according to the requirements and specifications of the clinical environment.
Maintain own vehicle to comply with road safety legislation. To ensure provision of care in the community in all weather conditions.
Maintain accurate records of resource use, i.e. personal expenses, team member’s expenses in relation to pay, mileage and on calls. Implement and propose changes to policies/practices in own area.
Participate effectively to evaluation studies (e.g. patient satisfaction surveys and audit).
Identify and take action in accordance with trust policy where necessary to address discrimination and oppression |
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Monitor and maintain health, safety and security of self and others in own work area. Adhering to lone worker policy.
Take immediate and appropriate action including supporting others to manage risks in relation to adverse incident reporting via the hospital incident reporting system.
Identify training needs in health and safety whilst identifying appropriate resources.
To have a flexible approach to care delivery, therefore providing services in keeping with the demands in a Hospital/Community setting |
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Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- LCGB UK- lactation or working towards
- BFI qualification or willingness to undertake
- registered Midwife with NMC
Desirable criteria
- frenotomy division competency or willing to work towards
Experience
Essential criteria
- • Sound knowledge of infant feeding, safeguarding children, domestic abuse, substance misuse and women with special needs
- • Evidence of excellent presentation, teaching, verbal and written skills.
- • Evidence of involvement in the development of policies, guidelines and clinical/mothers audit
- • Extensive knowledge and experience in all areas of maternity services developed through continuing professional knowledge and practice
Desirable criteria
- • Ability to supervise learners
Skills
Essential criteria
- • Ability to train, coach & supervise learners • Well-developed IT Skills
- • Counselling Skills • Effective Communicator
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- • Knowledge and ability to work within both normal an abnormal antenatal care, labour and postnatal care and to deal appropriately with emergencies in the absence of medical staff
- • Knowledge of budgetary/resource management
Desirable criteria
- • You must be willing and able to travel across the Walsall Borough during the working day as the post requires.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
The postholder will have access to vulnerable people in the course of their normal duties and as such this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Vanessa Berry
- Job title
- Matron for Quality , safety and Governance
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01922 721172
If you have problems applying, contact
- Address
-
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust
Pleck Road
Walsall
WS2 9PS
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