Overview

Working within a hospital group under one executive leadership team enables more joined‑up decision making for local people, a larger and more resilient clinical workforce, reduced variation in care and access to a wider range of services for patients. The Group Chief Nurse (GCN0) and Group Chief Medical Officer (CMO) are the Executive Directors jointly accountable to the Trust Boards for the delivery of the quality and safety agenda, including patient experience. Acting within the divisional structure, the post holder will provide strong operational and professional leadership to maternity and gynaecology services, oversee day‑to‑day site operational pressures, and ensure transformative, effective, and efficient delivery of Trust services. The role is professionally accountable to the Site Chief Nurse for supporting the delivery of the quality agenda and patient safety strategy, with the Group Chief Nurse having overall accountability for maternity services. The role supports the Trust on all aspects of professional practice relating to women’s services and provides professional advice about maternity matters and strategic development of services. There is a strong focus on strategic delivery of high standards of care and work in partnership with organisations across SW London and Surrey Heartlands LMNS and with Integrated Care Boards, maternity providers, Public Health England, Health Education England, Care Quality Commission, the Regional Chief Midwife, Royal Colleges and other stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• The post holder will be accountable to the Group Chief Nurse and will play a key leadership role within the division.
• The post holder will work closely alongside the Divisional Chair and Divisional Director of Operations (DDO) for the CWDT Division, taking the lead on midwifery and gynaecology development programmes, recruitment and retention, and measuring and improving standards of care and the women’s experience.
• The post holder will ensure all aspects of clinical governance and risk are robustly and effectively managed.
• The post holder will be a Maternity Safety Champion.
• The post holder will contribute to and lead strategic and innovative midwifery developments across SWL and Surrey Heartlands Local Maternity System, including ongoing transformation to deliver safety and the Better Births agenda.
• The post holder will lead on NHS Resolution Safety Actions, supporting CNST recommendations and implementation of the SBLCB.
• The post holder will support the matrons and lead midwifery roles to ensure safe standards of midwifery care are delivered to the highest quality.
• The post holder will lead on developing a structure and workforce to deliver the new model of care as a result of building the specialist emergency care hospital on the Sutton site, developing a model of care that delivers efficient use of resources within the three‑site hospital model.
• The postholder will ensure regular reviews of the Maternity Workforce Race Equality Standards data and develop strategies and champion the Anti‑Racism Framework.

Organisation Context

St George’s, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group cares for a population of four million people in South West London and North East Surrey. Sites include St George’s Hospital (major trauma centre and teaching hospital), St Helier Hospital (Renal and Transplantation Unit and children’s services), and Epsom Hospital (South West London Elective Orthopaedic Centre). After years of collaboration, the two Trusts formed a hospitals group in 2021. While remaining as two separate Trusts, the group enables closer collaboration on research, education, and training of the 17,000‑strong workforce.