Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Professional / Clinical

1.     Undertake the statutory roles and responsibilities of the Named Midwife as outlined in Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and the Safeguarding Children and Young People: Roles and Competencies for Healthcare Staff (2019)

2.     To ensure that the Trust’s systems and procedures for safeguarding pregnant women and their babies are regularly monitored, evaluated and reviewed to minimise risk in the antenatal period.

3.     Work closely with all the members of CHSIST, including named professionals and designated professionals and relevant partner agencies.

4.     To provide expert professional advice and support regarding safeguarding to clinical staff and other front line staff, predominantly within maternity services but also across the Trust.  This will also include issues relating to children looked after, adult safeguarding and domestic violence.

5.     To ensure staff support and advice is readily available and that there is clear guidance as to whom to contact for out of hours.

6.     Participate in appraisal processes.

7.     To work with the midwifery managers/matrons to support the development of safeguarding supervision, ensuring systems are robust, monitored and evaluated.  

8.     To maintain and update midwifery clinical practice by working 20% clinically (safeguarding) including on-call within the maternity service.

9.     Provide robust safeguarding supervision/consultation to clinical staff working within Croydon Health Services.

10.  To assist staff in preparing reports and witness statements and support them if they are required to attend court.

11.  To attend pre-birth planning meetings, case conferences where required and strategy meetings and support staff that will be required to attend.

12.  To report safeguarding incidents within maternity via the Radar system and contribute to PSIRF processes as needed.  

13.  To maintain strategies to ensure that there are accurate and informative clinical records.

14.   Undertake clinical and safeguarding training in accordance with NMC, personal development, role specific and service needs as outlined in the Intercollege Document (2023).

15.  Effectively communicate highly complex, sensitive, distressing information concerning safeguarding to appropriate colleagues in a variety of disciplines and teams.

16.  To contribute and respond to Child Death Review process as required including changes in practice when indicated.

17.  To work with clinical staff to ensure appropriate supervision and visiting arrangements are in place for parents/carers who have restricted access to their baby.

18.  Provide a safeguarding update report to the Director of Midwifery on an agreed and a regular basis.

19.  Chair the Maternity Vulnerable Women’s Meeting, maintaining oversight of decisions and actions.

20.  To develop and drive forward a safeguarding midwifery service in conjunction with safeguarding colleagues and Public Health Nurses, working collaboratively with multiagency partners

21.  Work with partner agencies/specialist services including substance misuse, mental health and learning disabilities to support vulnerable and at risk patients and plan cohesive and effective care.

22.  Work with safeguarding leads and relevant Trust colleagues in the on-going development of Harmful Practice Guidance, including (but not exclusively) management of FGM.

23.  Line manage specialist safeguarding midwifery staff and complete appraisals and personal development plans.

24.  To formally report as required on work planning and progress to the AD Safeguarding.

25.  Work closely with senior midwifery colleagues, including regular liaison with AD Maternity

26.  To take a lead role in the maternity unit in promoting and contributing to the development of an integrated approach to the care of women and children at risk.

27.  Promote, maintain and monitor effective communication with members of the multidisciplinary team and partner agencies.  

28.  To undertake or contribute to the completion of Individual Management Reviews for SPRs, SARs and DHRs/DARDs as directed by the AD Safeguarding, working closely with safeguarding colleagues (think family) and ensuring processes are aligned with Radar. Recommendations are reflected in action plans which are monitored, ensuring learning is embedded into practice.

29.  To provide expertise and advice in service improvement projects or development programmes. 

30.  To support managers/appraisers to ensure that all staff who work with pregnant women and their babies have the opportunity to review their safeguarding knowledge and practice as part of their personal development plan.  

31.  Participate in service improvement projects or development programmes that contribute to the modernisation of patient services, providing both professional and clinical advice as necessary. 

32.  Ensure the effective sharing of information between agencies during all aspects of safeguarding practice.

33.  To lead on the delivery of the Safeguarding Training Strategy, ensuring systems are in place to audit training needs and monitor training attended.

34.  To contribute to the South West London Forum/London and National forums for Named Professionals and other local/national networks as appropriate. 

35.  Inform the AD Safeguarding of any practice areas or systems, which may place the maternity services at risk.

36.  To contribute to the annual and six monthly interim safeguarding reports.

37.  To update, review and implement Trust safeguarding policies, procedures and protocols, and ensure they reflect both evidence based changes in practice and those brought about by legislation/new guidance.

38.  To represent the Trust at Croydon Safeguarding Children Partnership (CSCP) Croydon Safeguarding Adult Board (CSAB) and Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (DASV) Board meetings and sub-group meetings as required.

39.  To contribute to and support adult safeguarding process relevant to practice