Associate Director of Midwifery | Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust

The Associate Director of Midwifery (ADOM) is accountable for the overall provision and management of high quality, responsive maternity services, providing strong operational and professional leadership. In collaboration with the Director of Midwifery (DOM), the post holder is responsible for ensuring optimum and effective management of the workforce, financial and physical resources and for providing expert professional advice on maternity and midwifery issues at Trust and system level.

The ADOM will provide a role model for others to emulate, exhibiting high standards of professional behaviour and ensuring maternity leadership and direction for all midwifery and support staff across the services. The ADOM is professionally accountable to the DOM for supporting the delivery of the quality agenda and the professional leadership of maternity supporting the delivery of effective professional practice in accordance with professional and clinical governance requirements.

The ADOM will work in close partnership with the multidisciplinary team, Clinical Leads, and service managers to ensure that maternity care is safe, evidence-based and provides high quality, personalised care to our service users. To deputise for the DOM where required for services within the Women and Children’s Care Group, both within the Trust/System and on the National platform.

• Midwifery workforce including training and development.
• Maternity Patient Experience.
• Quality and Safety of Maternity services.
• Oversight and implementation of regional and national mandates for Women’s Services including CNST Maternity Incentive Scheme, Ockenden Report, and the three-year delivery plan for maternity and neonatal services.
• Lead by example and support an open and honest workplace culture.
• Development and delivery of clinical and professional standards, and required leadership and management capability within Maternity services.
• Work with the DOM and senior leadership to lead the development and review of maternity service planning priorities to meet the needs of the public, the Board’s vision and priorities, and wider NHS requirements including commissioners.
• Interpret and establish the implementation of organisational or legal parameters in practice.
• Represent the service at Care Group and Divisional Governance meetings, and maintain relationships with external organisations such as ICB, NHSE, CQC and other partners.
• Maintain staff morale through effective communication, leadership and participation with the Care Group Teams and other services.
• Ensure effective communication pathways with service user groups and individuals.
• Develop and maintain strong working relationships internally, particularly with obstetrics and neonatal colleagues.
• Advocate professional standards and maintain high level communication with all clinical teams.
• Provide leadership in clinical/medical situations where sensitivity and integrity are required (e.g., safeguarding, witnessing at coroner inquests).
• Lead with integrity and honesty, fostering a psychologically safe culture for staff and service users.
• Support and implement highly complex programmes of work that deliver the Trust’s strategy, NHS priorities and stakeholder requirements.
• Lead the development and integration of robust governance arrangements across maternity services, oversee audit and clinical guideline development programmes, ensure learning from incidents and complaints and implement safe and consistent service delivery.
• Interpret changes to policy, strategy and commissioning relating to maternity services and keep the DOM and Divisional Directors informed of any impact.
• Review and manage midwifery contracts and service level agreements, providing expert advice.
• Use audit, complaints and risk management outcomes to influence changes to training, operational practice and education within maternity.
• Ensure delivery of key performance indicators, targets and standards; collect, analyse and present performance information and develop remedial action plans where necessary.
• Develop a competent and flexible workforce, identifying opportunities for training and development.
• Prepare complex written documents, including reports, strategies, annual business plans and business cases.
• Deliver the Maternity Department’s strategy and relevant annual objectives.
• Lead the infection control as the infection control lead, implementing actions to reduce the risk of healthcare associated infections.
• Perform performance management of all clinical areas within the maternity unit, developing performance metrics and addressing clinical governance, HR and finance matters.
• Participate in on‑call out‑of‑hours rota.

• Communication/Relationship Skills – Act as ambassador, maintain effective communication pathways, advocate professional standards, and provide leadership in sensitive situations.
• Analytical/Judgemental Skills – Develop and implement complex programmes, assess risk, make data‑driven decisions and influence change.
• Planning/Organisational Skills – Deliver PIMS, develop strategic visions, implement change management and produce high‑quality documentation.

Applicants should have extensive experience in senior midwifery or maternity leadership roles, strong strategic planning and governance skills, proven ability to lead high‑performing teams and a track record of improving service quality and safety.