Overview

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust – Deputy Director of Midwifery, Gynaecology and Neonatal Services

The closing date is 30 September 2025

At Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust, we provide maternity and neonatal services that are safe, high performing and centered on women and families. We are seeking a Deputy Director of Midwifery, Women\u2019s and Neonatal Services to bring inspirational and transformational leadership to our team. This role shapes strategy, culture and clinical excellence across maternity, gynaecology and neonatal services, keeping the life journey of the woman central to all decisions.

We are looking for a visible, experienced clinical leader with a deep understanding of the national maternity and neonatal landscape. You will be committed to safe, evidence-based care and confident in leading complex services through innovation and change. Your leadership will empower teams, strengthen governance, and build trust with women, families and communities. In return, you will join a Trust that is ambitious, inclusive and proud, where staff are supported to grow, collaborate and thrive.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a dynamic, high-performing service and shape the future of women\u2019s and neonatal care. If you are ready to bring your expertise, passion and vision to our outstanding team, we look forward to hearing from you.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will have operational accountability for workforce, service delivery, clinical quality and safety, financial control, and delivery of the Trust\u2019s strategy and corporate objectives. They will define objectives aligned to corporate goals, ensuring quality standards in Maternity, Gynaecology and Neonates are met, and addressing performance where required.

The Deputy Director of Midwifery and Nursing (DDoMN) is accountable for the delivery and performance of Midwifery, Gynaecology, and Neonatal nursing care within the division, ensuring compliance with care standards and regulatory requirements, including those set by the Care Quality Commission.

Working closely with the Divisional Director of Midwifery and Nursing, the DDoMN has lead responsibility for governance across Maternity, Gynaecology and Neonates. This includes oversight of infection control, health and safety, risk management, and managing serious incidents and complaints, ensuring actions are implemented and learning is embedded.

The post holder will ensure effective workforce planning, using national tools and policies, and advise the Trust Board on safe midwifery and nursing staffing levels. They will also lead on clinical standards, benchmarking, governance, and audit to ensure high-quality care across sites.

The DDoMN will deputise for the Divisional Director at Trust-wide committees and LMNS pillar meetings.

Please note: Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

About us

Our Trust is one of England\u2019s top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5m, providing full clinical services including maternity, A&E and children's services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health care. The CQC rates us Good in safety, effectiveness, care and responsiveness, and Outstanding in leadership and resource use.

We invest in facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Mid. We are delivering sustainable healthcare through our Green Plan and Greener NHS ambitions, aiming for net zero carbon emissions by 2045. Everyone is encouraged to reduce their impact on carbon, waste and pollution to help create a healthier future.

We are committed to equal opportunities and value diversity. Applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities are welcome.

If you haven\u2019t heard from us within 3 weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probation. Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

Job responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide expert advice on midwifery and nursing issues and strategic leadership for gynaecology and neonates.
• Demonstrate expert knowledge by being visible, accessible and using clinical skills within the workplace as appropriate.
• Collaborate with the Divisional Director of Midwifery and Nursing, General Manager, and lead the Consultant Midwives, Senior Clinical Lecturer in Evidence Based Midwifery and Lead Nurses to ensure high-quality care and share procedures and guidelines, supervise practice auditing and action planning.
• Lead the setting of standards for clinical and non-clinical performance in collaboration with the Consultant midwives and Matrons.
• Lead continuous quality improvement programmes in line with Care Quality Commission standards.
• Keep informed of national and Trust policies affecting service delivery and disseminate as appropriate.
• Ensure a robust escalation policy to keep service users safe and provide a positive care experience.

Professional and Leadership

• Support civility and cultural safety, anti-discrimination, and a positive safety culture across the division and Trust.
• Understand national, regional and local professional issues; act in accordance with the NMC Code and provide line management and development to the leadership team.
• Provide overall leadership for the midwifery, gynaecology and neonatal teams and support research, workforce planning, and strategy delivery.
• Act as a senior divisional leader, contributing to strategic and operational decisions and ensuring evidence-based practice.
• Lead on staffing establishment, recruitment, retention, and development; manage performance and investigations as required; deputise for the Divisional Director when needed.
• Promote learning from complaints, incidents and risks and drive continuous improvement in practice.
• Foster a culture of respectful relationships and ensure compliance with the Nursing and Midwifery Code.
• Lead on nursing and midwifery strategy delivery and innovation; represent the division within the Trust and externally.

Quality and Governance

• Jointly accountable for patient safety, clinical effectiveness, patient experience and risk management within midwifery, gynaecology and neonatal nursing.
• Lead investigations and response to clinical and serious incidents; implement learning and action plans.
• Ensure divisional risk management, reporting, assurance, and compliance with CQC and other standards.
• Lead divisional data use, quality priorities, and research to inform improvement.
• Support patient involvement strategies and ensure data collection for quality analysis.

Performance Management and Service Development

• Lead financial controls and monitoring for midwifery and nursing budgets; deliver annual CIP plan and manage temporary staffing, recruitment and retention.
• Develop and implement workforce plans; reduce vacancies and turnover; improve retention and development.
• Ensure HR policies are followed; manage major incidents and safeguarding; maintain compliant practice and documentation.
• Coordinate staffing, roster management and deployment for safe care; deputise for the Divisional Director as required.
• Lead on staffing retention strategies and innovative approaches; ensure quality of documentation and data integrity.
• Lead and participate in investigations of complaints and incidents to drive practice improvements.
• Engage with patient involvement and feedback mechanisms and ensure data quality for reporting.

Please see attached job description and person specification for further details.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Registered Midwife
• Degree-level education in a relevant subject
• Recognised management qualification or equivalent experience
• Registered Nurse
• Master\u2019s degree in a relevant subject with evidence of ongoing development
• Professional Midwifery Advisor

Experience

• Extensive senior NHS management experience with inclusive leadership
• Experience in trust-wide objectives, budget management and workforce development
• Experience of risk management and quality assurance
• Experience leading and delivering change and development
• Complaints handling and multi-professional leadership
• Experience managing complex services and budgets
• Change management and team development
• Experience in skill mix and establishment reviews

Skills and Knowledge

• Up-to-date knowledge of clinical and professional issues
• Excellent communication, including with diverse patient groups
• Knowledge of quality, standard setting, and evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of governance, risk, safeguarding and infection control
• Ability to lead and develop a large team
• Strong organisational and strategic planning skills

Personal Qualities

• Cultural awareness and intelligence
• Commitment to teamwork
• Creative, proactive thinker and motivated

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a Disclosure to check for any prior convictions.

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

£97,283 to £111,278 a year including HCAS