Job overview

• To lead the implementation of the Stillbirth Care Bundle, improving standards of fetal heart rate monitoring, interpretation, escalation, and appropriate management of care, reporting directly to the Inpatient Matron.

• To work collaboratively with maternity teams to develop and deliver a programme of clinically based education aimed at improving birth outcomes.

• To enhance staff awareness of pathophysiological factors that may contribute to the misinterpretation of fetal heart rate patterns, applicable to both intermittent auscultation documented on the partogram and electronic fetal monitoring using cardiotocography (CTG).

• To develop and extend midwives’ competence in intermittent fetal heart auscultation when caring for low-risk women, ensuring accurate technique and meaningful documentation using a Pinard stethoscope or handheld Doppler (Sonicaid).

• To support staff in strengthening fetal monitoring skills, with a focus on early risk identification, timely escalation, and reduction of avoidable harm within clinical practice.

• To work closely with the senior midwifery team to promote and embed a positive safety culture, recognising the challenges of resource limitations and competing clinical priorities in relation to fetal monitoring.

Main duties of the job

• Ensure all midwives and obstetricians providing antenatal and intrapartum care complete the Trust-approved CTG competency assessment package for physiological CTG monitoring

• Work in collaboration with the Education Team to provide enhanced teaching and additional support for staff required to repeat the competency assessment or identified through the risk management process as needing further support

• Support staff in clinical practice to consolidate and develop clinical skills related to fetal heart rate monitoring

• Develop, disseminate, and embed an “intelligent intermittent auscultation” training package and lead its delivery for midwives providing intrapartum care across all care settings

• Lead weekly CTG workshops, maintaining an electronic database to evidence attendance and ensure compliance with mandatory training requirements for midwifery and obstetric staff

• Disseminate learning and key themes identified through CTG workshops

• Organise and deliver monthly CTG masterclass

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

 

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.