This is a fairly comprehensive job description on the NHS jobs website for a current midwifery post...
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To be responsible for identifying safeguarding of vulnerable adults and child protection issues, making appropriate referrals to Children’s services and ensuring effective multi-disciplinary communication. This includes attendance at Strategy, Case Conference and Core Group meetings and preparation and presentation of reports. The post-holder will have continuing responsibility for on-going monitoring, implementing agreed plans and liaising with the safeguarding specialist midwife and other professionals involved
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To provide psychological support for women and their families throughout the perinatal period. Especially in relation to drug use, teenage pregnancy, personal problems, housing, bereavement and traumatic birth, seeking advice and support as appropriate
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Working with the midwifery Matron to implement the wider Children’s Centre agenda, including plans to co-locate midwifery teams into Children’s Centres
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Become a role model for clinical excellence
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Contribute to creating a dynamic environment conducive to learning and professional development of staff including teaching of clinical skills to junior staff and to participate in audits of approved learning areas
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To ensure own professional updating through the completion of PREPP and to build a Professional Portfolio of evidence of continuing Professional Development
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Attend a full programme of statutory and mandatory training
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To support the research and audit programme within the department
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To maintain exemplary, accurate and contemporaneous records on mother and baby’s care at all times, including all discussions on care and information given
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To develop/maintain own knowledge of parent education choices and to support colleagues in providing overall programme for parent education
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To provide one to one parent education where required
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To promote and support breast feeding (seeking support and advice from colleagues and the specialist midwife for infant feeding for management of feeding problems)
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To discuss options and support parents in making informed choices for their care (e.g. re birth plans, pain relief, infant feeding and baby care)
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To maintain and develop knowledge of the Health Promotion agenda liaising with Health Visitors, Obstetricians, Physiotherapists and those agencies involved in the woman and baby’s well-being. Referral to appropriate services (e.g. Smoking Cessation Services)
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To plan, implement and evaluate labour and post- natal care for women defined as low risk
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To provide antenatal, labour and postnatal care for both high and low risk women, giving help and support to junior colleagues
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To utilise and maintain highly specialised skills requiring clinical dexterity including palpation, suturing etc.
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To be able to provide care and support to all women throughout labour
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To support low risk women (and occasionally with the support of the team leader/SoM high risk women who chose home birth against recommended best practice) in planning and having a homebirth
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To recognise when a pregnancy is developing into higher risk, take appropriate action and clinical advice by referring to an appropriate health professional, whilst providing continuing support.
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To conduct initial examination/assessment of the newborn at birth and refer as appropriate
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To develop and maintain excellent knowledge of all “skills drills” including adult and neonatal resuscitation, emergency breech birth, cord prolapse, shoulder dystocia and post partum haemorrhage
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To deal with obstetric emergencies quickly, safely and efficiently, summoning help and support as required
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To break bad/sad news and to provide a higher level of emotional support to parents in distressing situations such as for positive screening results, child protection cases, where there is on-going domestic violence, traumatic births, or where a baby has died or has congenital abnormalities
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To participate in the debriefing process following birth and untoward incidents
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To develop appraisal skills in order to contribute to the appraisal process
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To be aware of the Maternity Risk Strategy and to ensure proper reporting of all accidents/incidents within the department
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To participate in Trust audit activity as part of the Quality Assurance Cycle
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To assist in responding to complaints and taking corrective action to ensure Trust Clinical Governance and Risk Management policy is implemented
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To be aware of CNST Maternity standards and to contribute to achieving them through audit, implementation and maintenance of identified objectives
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To facilitate the achievement of objectives for all allocated student midwives. Completion of students learning documentation, giving guidance and liaising with the School of Midwifery as appropriate
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To communicate with the Supervisor of Midwives on professional issues concerned with practice
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To be aware of and base own practice on evidence based guidelines
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To be competent to use the Trust IT equipment and computerised midwifery system ensuring accurate data entry and use e-Searcher. To access e-mail account regularly (at least monthly)
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To be prepared to work flexibly, to ensure a comprehensive 24 hour service is always maintained (including on-call where appropriate)
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To ensure safe administration, storage and acquisition of drugs is maintained.
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To rotate between all midwifery areas at the discretion of the Clinical services Manager to provide a 24 hour service and to optimise personal development
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To maintain high standards of personal appearance in accordance with Trust/unit uniform/non uniform policy
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To assist in the development of maternity services to provide an effective, efficient and safe service in accordance with both Government directives and the Division ’s own vision and business objectives
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To promote a safe environment for women, babies, visitors and staff by adhering to Trust policies and procedures and by ensuring that safe working conditions are maintained at all times in accordance with statutory legislation and COSHH regulations
Maintaining a safe clinical environment.
Supporting staff, women and carers in the hospital and community environment.
Direct women contact.
Unsocial hours on a regular basis, including night duty and on call.
Frequent exposure to stressful and unpredictable workloads.
Long periods of concentration to support women (both mentally and physically) through labour.
Frequent need to adopt different positions (kneel, bend, squat or stand) to support choice of birth position (whilst safeguarding own and other midwives’ Health and Safety).
Daily exposure to blood, vomit, excreta and other bodily fluids (with associated odours).
Emotional/mental exertion of managing emergencies and of supporting women in difficult circumstances (e.g. child protection cases) or when outcomes are not optimum (e.g. stillbirth, neonatal death or miscarriage).
Regular need to manage verbal and occasionally physical abuse from women, relatives and visitors.
Dealing with diversity in an ever changing environment.
First line managing emergency situations in non-hospital environment.
Oversee the safe use of drug therapy in an appropriate environment.
Administer drugs in accordance with Trust Policy.
Lone worker-involves working alone in the community and driving alone at all hours and in all weathers.