Job summary
- Main area
- Maternity
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Fixed term: 6 months (hosted by UHL)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 358-7518016-W&C
- Employer
- University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Town
- Leicester
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 Per annum/ pro rota for part time hours
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 30/10/2025 23:59
Employer heading

Lead Midwife for Fetal Medicine Network
NHS AfC: Band 8a
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Job overview
The Lead Midwife for Fetal Medicine will take a strategic lead on the design and implementation of effective care pathways for pregnant women and birthing people with complex medical conditions with a key focus on addressing inequalities in all aspects of care and delivering care that is centered on the woman/birthing person and their family.
The post holder will be hosted by University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS Trust which will provide all the necessary corporate support functions; however, it will operate as an independent entity accountable to the East Midlands Fetal Medicine Network.
Main duties of the job
Provide high level and visionary professional leadership across the midwifery agendas.
To ensure the development and implementation of a midwifery strategy which is in keeping with the national agenda, and sensitive to local needs, particularly with reference to inequalities, across the local Fetal Medicine Network, by working in partnership with stakeholder groups (including acute sector, community and primary care, voluntary sector and patient groups).
To work in partnership with the Obstetric Physician and Obstetric Lead on the development and implementation of the Fetal Medicine Network service delivery plan.
To serve as the primary source of expert and high-quality professional advice from a midwifery perspective.
To lead on co-production with service users in the planning and implementation of all fetal medicine services within the Network
To lead the development and implementation of a network public and patient communications strategy to ensure high quality services, working within the network hub, in collaboration with the spokes and relevant stakeholders.
To lead on specific components of network-wide initiatives as agreed within the Network Management Team.
To ensure cross network integration of general and site-specific specialist midwifery in order to optimise the standard of maternity care, women and birthing people’s experience and clinical outcomes.
Working for our organisation
Our new strategy, developed with the support and feedback of colleagues, patients, and partners, is our compass for the next seven years (2023-2030).
We have four primary goals:
- high-quality care for all,
- being a great place to work,
- partnerships for impact, and
- research and education excellence
And we will embed health equality in all we do - taking active steps to reduce the avoidable differences in healthcare that some people face, working in partnership with communities.
Our strategy is underpinned by new values and we will work to ensure they are an everyday reality for all:
- we are compassionate,
- we are proud,
- we are inclusive, and
- we are one team
This is an exciting moment as we look to the future with clarity on what we already do well and where we need to focus our energies to make an even bigger difference for the people we serve.
About the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust:
https://www.uhleicester.nhs.uk
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Reporting to the Senior Network Manager and working with the clinical and managerial leads as well as the relevant individual provider and commissioning organisation, the post holder will act as a champion for patients and their interests, ensuring the patient’s voice is at the heart of activities and patients are the at the centre of the networked model of care and underpinning pathways.
The Lead Midwife will provide clinical support to the fetal medicine team and serve as the primary source of expert and high-quality professional advice from a midwifery perspective, to support and facilitate the commissioning and delivery of high quality fetal medicine services in line with the agreed shared priorities for the East Midlands Fetal Medicine Network.
Person specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- NMC Registered Midwife
- Evidence of post registration professional knowledge acquired through Diploma / Degree or above supplemented by specialist training or equivalent experience to masters level equivalent.
- Evidence of recent post-graduate / qualification professional development
- Evidence of accredited management / leadership training or evidence of practical application of expertise at this level.
- Teaching and assessing qualification
Desirable criteria
- Non-medical prescriber
- Leadership qualification
- Working towards Master’s degree
Experience
Essential criteria
- Clinical experience of caring for pregnant people within the fetal medicine service.
- Understands the principles of system and network level working
- Evidence of monitoring and improving individual and team performance.
- Evidence of IT and presentation skills
Desirable criteria
- Experience of innovation and change management
- Experience of developing multi professional clinical practice and patient services
Communications and relationship skills
Essential criteria
- Excellent inter -personal and communication skills with good listening skills.
- Ability to engage with midwives and others in East Midlands for effective change
Analytical and Judgement Skills
Essential criteria
- Proven ability to analyse complex problems and to develop and successfully implement practical and workable solutions to address them.
Skills
Essential criteria
- Capable of translating the Network vision for fetal medicine services into effective pathways for midwifery care
- Understanding of and the ability to apply principles of evidence -based health care.
- An excellent capability for developing working partnerships and alliances between individuals, teams and organisations.
- Proven leadership and influencing skills
- Evidence of ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams in
- Evidence of benchmarking and clinical accreditation initiatives
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of benchmarking and clinical accreditation initiatives
- Evidence of research
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
- Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs.
Desirable criteria
- All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Rebecca Wardle
- Job title
- Deputy Head of Midwifery
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0116 258 6421
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