County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Fetal Wellbeing Lead Midwife
The closing date is 18 November 2026
The Fetal Wellbeing PracticeDevelopment Midwife is a key role within County Durham and Darlington NHSFoundation Trust Maternity Services, responsible for ensuring that all staffproviding antepartum and intrapartum care are competent, confident, and skilledin fetal monitoring practice. The post holder will provide expert clinicalleadership, education, and support to promote excellence in fetal surveillanceand contribute to the delivery of safe, high-quality maternity care.
The role focuses on embeddinglearning into clinical practice through workplace-based education, coaching,and support for the multidisciplinary team across all maternity settings.Working alongside staff in the clinical environment, the post holder willenhance knowledge, build confidence in the interpretation of fetal monitoring,and support effective clinical decision-making to improve outcomes for womenand babies.
Working collaboratively withsenior clinical leaders, practice development teams, and patient safety andgovernance colleagues, the post holder will ensure that the knowledge andskills gained through fetal monitoring education programmes and competency frameworksare consistently translated into everyday practice. Through ongoing assessment,support, audit and quality improvement activities, the role will help foster aculture of continuous learning, accountability, and improvement.
Main duties of the job
The Fetal Monitoring Practice Development Midwife willprovide expert clinical leadership, education and support to ensure all staffundertaking antepartum and intrapartum fetal monitoring are competent,confident, and able to deliver safe, evidence-based care. The post holder willwork collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across all maternity settingsto embed best practice in fetal surveillance, interpretation, and escalation.
The role will focus on workplace-based learning, coachingand competency assessment, supporting staff to translate knowledge gainedthrough formal training into everyday clinical practice. This will includefacilitating teaching sessions, delivering bedside support, promotingreflective learning, and providing targeted development where learning needsare identified.
Working closely with senior clinical leaders, practicedevelopment teams, patient safety and governance colleagues, the post holderwill contribute to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of fetalmonitoring standards, competency frameworks, and quality improvementinitiatives. The role will promote compliance with national guidance, includingElements 3 and 4 of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle (Version 3), andsupport the consistent application of risk assessment, fetal monitoring, andtimely clinical escalation.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
Please note that we may close any vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.
Job responsibilities
The Fetal Monitoring Practice Development Midwife willprovide expert clinical leadership, education and support to ensure all staffundertaking antepartum and intrapartum fetal monitoring are competent,confident, and able to deliver safe, evidence-based care. The post holder willwork collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across all maternity settingsto embed best practice in fetal surveillance, interpretation, and escalation.
The role will focus on workplace-based learning, coachingand competency assessment, supporting staff to translate knowledge gainedthrough formal training into everyday clinical practice. This will includefacilitating teaching sessions, delivering bedside support, promotingreflective learning, and providing targeted development where learning needsare identified.
Working closely with senior clinical leaders, practicedevelopment teams, patient safety and governance colleagues, the post holderwill contribute to the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of fetalmonitoring standards, competency frameworks, and quality improvementinitiatives. The role will promote compliance with national guidance, includingElements 3 and 4 of the Saving Babies Lives Care Bundle (Version 3), andsupport the consistent application of risk assessment, fetal monitoring, andtimely clinical escalation.
Through audit,quality assurance, data analysis and continuous improvement activities, thepost holder will help strengthen patient safety, reduce variation in practiceand provide assurance that maternity staff maintain the skills and competencerequired to achieve the best possible outcomes for women and babies.
Person Specification
Special Skills & Knowledge
- Knowledge of fetal monitoring, wellbeing and surveillance
- Knowledge of the standards of professional practice
- Knowledge and understanding of relevant National Services Frameworks
- Knowledge of Trust guidelines and policies
- Knowledge of care pathways for women with complex health needs
- Awareness of current issues in midwifery
- Capable of lateral thinking
- Influencing and negotiation
- Skills in identifying and securing provision of training needs for the team
- Highly developed communication skills, written and verbal
- Delegation abilities and excellent time management skills
- Well-developed problem solving and decision-making skills
- Flexibility/adaptability to meet the needs of the service
- Possess individual credibility
- Approachable
- Has strategic vision and demonstrates innovation in practice
- Ability to work under pressure, thinking and acting coherently and with respect for others
- Manage and identify stress in self and others
- Excellent written and verbal skills
- Ability to organise and prioritise own and other workloads
- Understanding of skills and knowledge required to lead and develop team members
- Resource management
- Ability to take the lead in the promotion of evidence-based practice
- Excellent IT skills, including Word, Excel, Power-point, and Outlook
- Knowledge of Fetal Medicine
Statutory Registration
- Registered Midwife
Experience
- Experience of managing and leading a team
- Current issues on healthcare
- Experience of leading, motivation and supporting a team
- Experience of providing training
- Excellent presentation skills
- Experience of delegating workload and monitoring progress
- Evidence of managerial development
- Clinical audit and standard setting
- Experience of managing resources
- Experience of training staff
Special Requirements
- Ability to travel between sites independently
- Full UK Driving licence and access to a car.
Qualifications
- Registered Midwife with current NMC registration.
- Evidence of continuing professional development.
- Relevant post-registration training in Fetal Monitoring and Surveillance
- Recognised management/leadership qualification masters degree or working towards
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
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Fetal Wellbeing Lead Midwife employer: Cddft
At County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and dynamic work environment for our Specialty Doctors in Emergency Medicine. Our commitment to professional development is evident through flexible working hours, opportunities for research funding, and a culture that encourages continuous learning and collaboration within a dedicated team. Join us in making a meaningful impact in the community while advancing your career in a vibrant healthcare setting.
