Detailed job description and main responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

• To lead a specialised coordinated, efficient and empathic service for women and their families following the loss of their baby or non-viable fetus. Respond to emotional and psychological needs of women and their families. 
• To provide clinical support for staff who are providing bereavement support for a woman and her family ensuring excellent patient care, whilst recognising the emotional needs of colleagues 
• Specialist lead role in creating a pathway for multi professional care of patients experiencing pregnancy loss using expert knowledge and skills. 
• Ensure bereavement and patient information resources are available.
• Identified specialist midwife in respectfully and sensitively taking postmortem consent, requiring expert skills and knowledge to explain complex and sensitive information. 
• Support families through issues related to the disposal and funeral / farewell rituals, including postmortems and registration. 
• Responsible for highly specialised advice regarding investigations and results, liaising with specialist services. 
• Offer expert emotional support following discharge; debrief patients in complex and sensitive circumstances and offer support planning in the next pregnancy. 
• To co-ordinate and participate as required in debrief appointments with the Consultant Obstetrician, Gynaecologist or Neonatologist for additional support as required.
• Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of the legal requirement both before and after pregnancy loss and ensure these are fulfilled, in conjunction with parents and the appropriate bodies.
• Lead as a specialist educational resource for the multi-disciplinary team on physical, psychological and administrative aspects of bereavement care ensuring all changes are disseminated as necessary. 
• Identify and deliver staff training needs, providing development opportunities. Present highly developed specialist information which is complex and sensitive on mandatory training days for midwives and health professionals.
• Professional lead ensuring the HTA is adhered to in Maternity. 
• Maintain effective communications between professionals and parents, encouraging the appropriate use of specifically designed documents, protocols and policies. 
• Work alongside the specialist midwives for antenatal newborn screening and fetal medicine in the provision of complex, sensitive and at times contentious information when breaking bad news to families and interpreting complex results. Specialised empathic and the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills, taking into account cultural and religious beliefs are required in these emotive circumstances. 
• Participate in the Annual baby Remembrance Service, Wave of Light, Baby loss Awareness week. To co-ordinate and provide access to the Book of Remembrance.
• Lead on implementation of the NW stillbirth guidance and attend regular Cheshire and Merseyside special interest group meetings.
• Support the MBRRACE Lead in the reporting of perinatal mortality cases onto the MBRRACE database. Ensure timely completion of fetal surveillance information.
• Core member of the Perinatal Mortality Review Group. Work alongside the Lead Midwife for Perinatal Mortality Reviews in the investigation, review and publication of reports following pregnancy loss and share learning outcomes with staff.
• Lead on implementing the National Bereavement Care Pathway for the service, assessing the service in relation to the standards and developing any action plan required to improve the service to meet the standards

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

• Maintain Professional Registration. 
• Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body
• Have in depth knowledge and expertise on a range of midwifery procedures and practices; underpinned by theoretical training, practical experience and evidence-based practice.
• Attend relevant training and development in order to maintain and develop skills and knowledge   required for revalidating as a practising midwife.
• Undertake annual mandatory training updates and other relevant courses in line with trust and local policies.
• Attend specialist short courses appropriate to clinical midwifery.
• Present an appearance that promotes a positive profile of the midwifery service and the Trust, in line with the Trust uniform policy.
• Supports and promotes equality, diversity and the rights of women, the public and colleagues within the health care environment. Acts as an advocate for women.
• Have knowledge of and contribute to the development of the Nursing & Maternity Strategy within the Trust.

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

• To ensure that a full range of bereavement related information is available in a variety of formats, e.g. on the intranet, resource packs, displays, leaflets etc. and that these are regularly refreshed and updated.
• Take a lead role in writing of policies and guidelines for care of families. 
• To develop and review / monitor any patient information leaflets relevant to bereavement within STHK.
• To work towards achievement of the NHSLA / CNST standard

LEADERSHIP

• As Lead Midwife for Bereavement, co-ordinate the midwifery care with the team / staff member for the woman.
• Maintain the smooth running of the bereavement service, prioritising care during peaks of activity, maintaining a focus of concentration on individualised care and taking into account the requirements of the wider maternity service.
• Provide support and mentoring for other midwives, student midwives and support staff.
• Support, motivate and lead by example, facilitating development of clinical skills of junior staff.
• Be an active member of the senior midwifery team.
• Participate in the investigation of complaints.
• Actively participate in the induction programme for doctors, midwives and nursing staff providing an overview of the service
• Pro-rata participation in the Helicopter bleep rota 

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSIBILITIES

• To be personally responsible for ensuring participation in in-service training programmes, including mandatory requirements and continuing professional development needs. Ensuring the on-going development of skills and knowledge required of a Midwife. (CPD).
• Ensure that professional knowledge is continuously updated and contribute to staff training sessions. 
• Lead as an education resource for medical, midwifery and nursing staff on physical, psychological and administrative aspects of bereavement care. 
• Presenting highly developed specialist information which is complex and sensitive on mandatory training days for midwives and health professionals 
• Identify and deliver staff training needs, providing development opportunities.

SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN & ADULTS RESPONSIBILITIES

• All employees have a duty and a responsibility to protect and safeguard children and vulnerable adults.  
• The postholder must have an excellent working knowledge of local safeguarding children and vulnerable adult procedures and act in accordance of these at all times.  

RESEARCH & AUDIT

• To ensure bereavement support is evidence based and is a co-ordinated and efficient service ongoing review of bereavement information support files in clinical areas.
• To undertake audits and provide yearly statistics with regards to bereavement support.
• To evaluate the service and provide an annual update to the Directorate on progress.
• To establish links with other post holders both regionally and nationally in order to share good practice.
• To link with national programmes of work in relation to bereavement