Screening Midwife | The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

The post holder will work with the screening coordinator in providing high quality midwifery care to a defined population of women identified through antenatal screening. As part of the screening team, the post holder is responsible for providing support and counselling to women and will demonstrate the ability to work autonomously in assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating care. The post holder will also ensure that the level of service provided is equitable, evidence based, and consistent with the recommendations of the National Screening Committee and is within the trust policies and procedures. They should be an expert in all areas of midwifery care, which facilitates clinical practice development. The post requires effective communication skills and the ability to provide support for the multidisciplinary team.

Clinical

• Develop the Antenatal screening service within the hospital and community supported by the Antenatal Screening Coordinator.
• Ensure that the programmes of antenatal screening offered are in line with National Screening Committee Guidance and assist with the implementation of screening programmes at a local level.
• Assist in formulating new Antenatal Screening Policies, Protocols, and Guidelines within the Trust in line with National Screening Committee guidance.
• Promote awareness of guidelines, protocols, and procedures in antenatal screening to ensure best practice and equitable service.
• Maintain good communication links with the screening coordinator to promote and further develop the service on behalf of the Trust.
• Review and revise patient information, ensuring that literature reflects advances in antenatal screening and the requirements of the National Screening Committee, and is available in alternative languages when available.
• Ensure that antenatal screening test results are acted upon appropriately and that results are received in a timely manner.
• Follow up any incomplete tests and liaise with the laboratory to ensure accuracy of results.
• Assist with the assessment, planning, and implementation of care for mothers identified through the antenatal screening pathway as high risk.
• Respond to patient and staff enquiries and requests for specific screening information.
• Provide specialist advice and support to students, midwives, and medical staff regarding specific screening information.
• Effectively communicate, counsel, and support families prior to, during, and following their screening choices.
• Maintain accurate and legible patient notes in accordance with Trust and national professional policies and guidelines.
• Keep up to date and act consistently within quality standards and guidelines within own clinical specialty and associated areas.
• Identify own personal professional development needs and attend regional and national training days pertinent to the specialist area of work.
• Promote and maintain good communication between all disciplines involved in Antenatal Screening Services.

Management

• Promote and encourage the setting and adherence to good practice standards by fostering an environment in which excellent clinical care will flourish.
• Assist the screening coordinator to monitor progress of work, recognizing changing priorities and implementing corrective actions, and liaise with other members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Support the efficient use of physical and/or financial resources within current financial constraints.
• Ensure a positive learning environment for students and junior staff, act as mentor and assessor to assigned learners, and teach and support them through their competency assessments.
• Alert senior managers to resource issues that affect learning development and performance.
• Monitor and maintain the health, safety, and security of self and others in the work area.
• Identify and assess potential risks in work activities and take immediate and appropriate action, supporting others to manage risks.
• Work within legislation and trust procedures on risk management.
• Report any incidents, complaints, or accidents to the clinical lead and assist/support in the investigation and resolution.

Professional Development

• Undertake midwifery care consistent with evidence‑based practice.
• Influence and prioritize the development of knowledge, ideas, and work practice in self and others, maintaining a high clinical standard and facilitating the application of theory to practice.
• Take an active role in the implementation of the emerging Nursing and Midwifery agenda.
• Ensure that continuing professional development is maintained.
• Assess, identify, and evaluate own development needs through a personal development plan or portfolio, in relation to midwifery knowledge and skills required for the role and registration requirements.
• Undertake annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with trust and local policies.
• Hold an annual supervisory meeting and maintain regular supervisory contacts with the named supervisor of midwives.
• Adhere to trust policies and procedures relating to the workplace and contribute to service development.
• Participate in clinical governance initiatives and take a proactive role in service development.
• Be accountable for own professional actions, undertaking all duties in regard to the NMC 'Code of Professional Conduct' for the nurse, midwife, and health visitor, and their professional contribution to clinical governance.

Safeguarding

• All employees have a duty and responsibility to protect and safeguard children.
• Have awareness of child protection procedures and who to contact within the trust for further help and guidance.
• Able to contribute to child protection processes to ensure a safe delivery of care.
• Maintain current knowledge and be aware of any changes to child protection information by attending mandatory training.

These duties may be subject to regular review and change.