Practice Development Midwife

Overview

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Practice Development Midwife

The closing date is 20 February 2026.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Practice Development Midwife. This role is based on the Bedford site of Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust (cross site).

This is a pivotal role within the Clinical Service Line (CSL). The aim of this post is to co-ordinate the training requirements for the CSL to enable staff to deliver safe high quality care. Along with the Education team, the Practice Development Midwife will support practice learning in all clinical areas to ensure clinical competency and development of skills. They will also be responsible for populating and updating the maternity Training Needs Analysis and support delivery of training and learning related to the Maternity Incentive Scheme standards.

The Practice Development Midwife will work with the Deputy Head of Midwifery for Workforce & Education, Clinical Risk Manager and specialist midwives to maintain relevant databases to ensure compliance with standards, and to deliver high quality training to the Multidisciplinary Team.

The post holder will provide evidence based advice to all practitioners to develop excellence in midwifery practice thereby enhancing client care in line with Clinical Governance. They will support the education and development needs of staff in the maternity unit. The post holder should be motivated, have good clinical knowledge, and have excellent communication and teaching skills to ensure the theory to practice transition is smooth.

Main duties of the job

• Lead the provision of clinical skills education for the CSL; ensuring multidisciplinary team members have the appropriate knowledge and skills to provide safe and effective evidence based
• Facilitate practice learning to the highest quality through teaching, assessing, administration and practice-based work whilst supporting the Trust\’s Clinical Governance Agenda.
• Work in close collaboration with external agencies (Pan East of England clinical facilitators), with the clinical and organisational multidisciplinary team of the Trust and link with Higher Education Institutions to influence educational strategy
• Working in all areas within the Maternity department to include: Labour Ward, Triage, Orchard Maternity, Day Assessment Unit, Antenatal Clinic and the Community Base to provide clinical support and practice based learning.
• Work towards ensuring clinical quality, clinical effectiveness and priorities for improving patient clinical outcomes remain one of the top priorities within the clinical area and department and shall facilitate and support the adoption of this culture.
• Prioritise, organise and ensure the delivery of coordinated training programmes considering National documents underpinning local guidance, service needs and professional development needs.
• Facilitate a corporate approach to education across the Directorate.

About us

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values: We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience – we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences. Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job.

Job responsibilities

The Job Description and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

To lead innovation and development in practice identifying any resource support and working with relevant personnel.

To facilitate the development and acquisition of clinical skills and knowledge of midwives and other maternity staff to an advanced level.

To populate and maintain the Training Needs Analysis for the maternity department and submit to the Trust Education Team.

Maintain good communication and liaison with the link Universities, ensuring their involvement with the in-service education programme and to ensure close links between theory and practice.

To attend Trust CPD Panel Meetings and represent the Maternity department.

To oversee CPD courses both in house and external, and to map progress of the staff on the courses to ensure full benefit to staff member and to the service. To report this progress to Consultant Midwife and Midwifery Managers.

Work with key stakeholders identifying priority areas for practice development by planning, evaluating and supporting implementation to ensure consistency in practice.

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

• Qualified Midwife, UK NMC Registration
• SSSA Trained, current Practice Assessor
• Evidence of ongoing CPD
• MSC or evidence of Level 7 Learning
• Teaching Qualification
• Management or leadership qualification

Experience

• Midwifery Experience
• Recent Delivery Suite Experience
• Confident providing both high and low risk care
• IT literate
• Experience of teaching/presenting to large groups
• Experience of change management projects

Skills

• Evidence of teaching and developing staff
• Ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• Able to motivate/influence staff
• Evidence of decision making and communication

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.

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Cross site (Luton and Dunstable Hospital / Bedford Hospital)

Cross site (Luton and Dunstable Hospital / Bedford Hospital)