Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse in Chester

Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse

Band 8a

Main area Safeguarding Grade Band 8a Contract Permanent Hours Full time - 37.5 hours per week Job ref 210-2026-764

Site Countess of Chester Hospital Town Chester Salary £57,528 - £64,750 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit.

Job overview

Working Full time: 37.5 hours per week

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and passionate Registered Midwife to join our Integrated Safeguarding and Complex Care Team as the Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse.

This is a key statutory role within the Trust, providing professional leadership, expert advice and assurance across safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse. Working closely with colleagues across maternity, safeguarding, children's services, adult services and partner agencies, you will help ensure that some of the most vulnerable women, babies and families receive the right support at the right time.

As a senior member of the safeguarding team, you will lead on the development of policies, pathways and practice improvement initiatives, support staff managing complex safeguarding concerns, and provide assurance that the Trust continues to meet its statutory safeguarding responsibilities. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced safeguarding practitioner with strong leadership skills to influence practice across the organisation and make a real difference to patient outcomes

Main duties of the job

The Named Midwife for Safeguarding and Trust Lead for Domestic Abuse will provide expert safeguarding leadership, advice and support across the Trust, ensuring compliance with statutory requirements, national guidance and best practice. The post holder will lead on safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse agendas, supporting staff to identify, assess and respond to risk effectively.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing specialist advice and guidance on safeguarding the unborn and domestic abuse.
• Leading the development and implementation of safeguarding policies, pathways and practice improvements.
• Supporting and influencing clinical teams to deliver safe, effective and person-centred care.
• Working collaboratively with partner agencies to safeguard vulnerable women, babies and families.
• Leading on safeguarding assurance, audit, reporting and performance monitoring.
• Delivering education, supervision and support to staff across the organisation.
• Representing the Trust at local, regional and national safeguarding forums.
• Leading on Domestic Homicide Reviews, safeguarding reviews and learning dissemination where required.
• Supporting the Trust to meet its statutory safeguarding responsibilities and commissioning requirements.
• Contributing to the strategic direction of safeguarding and complex care services across the organisation

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values. An applicant guide to help and support you through your recruitment journey can be accessed at the bottom of this page.

If you have a disability that meets the definition set out in the Equality Act 2010, and you can show that you meet the ‘essential’ criteria described in the person specification for an available position, please answer ‘YES’ to the question: ‘Do you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme?’

Please inform the team if you have any special support needs to be considered as part of the interview and selection processes.

The trust offers a Guaranteed Interview Scheme to any armed forces community applicants who meet the essential criteria for the post.

If a DBS is required for your role, you are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee applies which is payable to the DBS Service.Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costswill be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa.

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet immigration rules

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Person specification

Qualification

• Current NMC registration as a Registered Midwife
• Post Graduate Study / Masters (relevant to field of practice) or equivalent experience.

Knowledge and experience

• Safeguarding experience at Band 7.
• Understanding of working with complex family situations.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
If the role is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 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.

Enhanced DBS check applications that are submitted with omitted or incorrect information will be withdrawn. In the event errors are identified on your original application, a new application will need to be submitted and you will be required to pay the DBS application fee again.

The cost of the DBS application will be deducted from your salary over the first three months of employment.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. Applicants requiring sponsorship may wish to determine the likelihood of obtaining sponsorship for this position by assessing themselves against the criteria on the gov.uk website - Check if you need a UK visa - GOV.UK

The Trust will not sponsor where the starting salary does not meet these immigration rules

For further details on skilled worker sponsorship, please consult the UK Home Office guidance: Skilled Worker visa: Overview - GOV.UK. Additionally, the New guidance for overseas applicants | NHS Employers provides helpful information on the recruitment process for candidates applying for roles in the UK.

Overseas candidates are responsible for their travel expenses.

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependent's (over 18 years old) will also be subject to this requirement.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

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