Patient Counselling and Education Participate in compassionate and informative counselling alongside the breech midwife, offering.....
Patient Counselling and Education Participate in compassionate and informative counselling alongside the breech midwife, offering women and services users the latest evidence-based research on external cephalic version, physiological breech birth and caesarean section options. Your initial role in the consultation will be to observe and absorb, gaining insight into effective communication to support woman/services users in decision making and choices. Clinical Mentorship Working closely with our Breech Specialist Midwife and lead consultants for breech, to learn the intricacies of the breech pathway, through shadowing and supervised practice, youll develop proficiency in presentation scans, and ECVs. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of our breech pathway and guidelines, incorporating guidelines from resources such as RCOG and NICE. Participate in structured training sessions on Monday and Tuesday afternoons, where youll learn to safely perform external cephalic versions (ECVs) and conduct safety checks and assessments. Additionally, youll maintain accurate contemporaneous records of assessments, procedures and follow-up plans. Roles and responsibilities Ensure the smooth running of a weekly clinic liaising with antenatal clinic administrative staff if there are any changes or extra requirements for the clinic. Where holidays fall on the day of breech clinic a replacement clinic day is organised in a timely fashion. The breech information Padlet, guidelines and trust website are updated to reflect current evidence and research and presented using the agreed Trust. Data collection on excel spread sheet and a yearly presentation of the breech service to the multidisciplinary team. Prompt referral to the breech clinic is key to a successful service. The Breech Midwife will keep up a momentum of awareness throughout the unit of the service including the USS department, MDAU consultant obstetricians, antenatal clinic and community midwives. To ensure that counselling and any information provided to women is relevant and evidence based the breech midwife will keep up to date with current changes to practice by attending relevant study days and self-directed learning. Work with the clinical skills team, HOM, senior midwives, consultant midwives and obstetricians to promote a safe and evidenced management of the breech. Participate in the risk management of breech births to ensure safe and informed provision of care. To act as a clinical lead within the designated area and to provide expert clinical midwifery care whilst working within the multidisciplinary team. Lead on standard setting and audit to implement change that meets patient requirements and improves standards. To ensure the efficient running of the service. The post holder will ensure that care provided is within the philosophy of our Maternity Service. PROFESSIONAL To observe NMC rules and guidance, ensuring these are adhered to by all staff. To foster and develop a working environment within which midwives can work as autonomous practitioners, accountable for their practice and in accordance with the NMC Rules and Code of Practice (2015). Implement Trust and local policies and contribute to any proposed changes to midwifery working practices or procedures. To monitor and maintain good standards of care within maternity services to implement recommendations from Government or Professional bodies in relation to maternity care. To develop and maintain efficient and effective communication and working relationships with other professional groups and colleagues. Flexible and willing to undertake duties (within sphere of practice) in other areas of the unit as required. CLINICAL To work within an agreed job plan to meet service needs, to be agreed within three months of taking up post and reviewed annually and maintain records of activity Under the supervision of a clinical trainer, provide a high-quality assessment, scanning and ECV for women referred to the breech service, in liaison with the multidisciplinary team and other health agencies. With support from a clinical trainer, commence training as a Breech Specialist Midwife Provide support for the Breech clinics in accordance with local protocols. Contribute towards and liaise with the multidisciplinary maternity team in the management of caseload, referring on as required. Undertake Face to face follow-up clinics. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous records of assessment, care, treatment, and follow up. Use effective communication and interpersonal skills to provide information, explanation, and reassurance to women, and their families, and build an environment of trust and rapport, enabling empowerment. Deal sensitively and supportively with women/service-user issues and concerns. Collaborate with PALS/complaints service as appropriate and take a pro-active approach to resolving issues and learning from feedback. To act as an advocate for women and in partnership with them, support their choice of delivery, planning and implementing care in partnership with the multi-disciplinary team, continually assessing and determining appropriate courses of action. Using specialist expert knowledge, experience and practice, continually update and develop advanced midwifery practices and skills to provide and perform accurate midwifery assessments and procedures. This will involve care during the antenatal period, performing ultrasound presentation scans under supervision (until competent), interpretation of CTGs pre and post ECV, undertaking ECVs under supervision, venepuncture, accurate documentation and prescribing and administering drugs in accordance with Patient Group Directives. To engage in the full training for undertaking presentation ultrasound examinations and ECV training, until you are fully competent in both areas. Communicate complex and sensitive information to women and their families, enabling them to make informed choices about their care. Use empathy and reassurance at times of vulnerability and emotional distress overcoming communication barriers where they occur and acting as advocate for women. Identify deviation from normal and refer to appropriate pathway and/or other appropriate members of the multi-disciplinary team. Identify emergency situations and respond appropriately. Adhere to the statutory requirements of the Midwives rules and Standards (NMC 2015). Being able to work on the labour ward, postnatal ward, antenatal ward, birth centre and in antenatal clinic (where the clinical support is required), when the breech clinic is not busy. Be able to counsel women, with the most up to date research on the risks and benefits of an ECV, vaginal breech birth and or Caesarean section. MANAGEMENT Ensure that all adverse clinical risks are recorded and reported using the appropriate incident reporting system and forms. Take verbal complaints and diffuse wherever possible and escalate if appropriate. In conjunction with the management team, participate in the short- and long-term strategic development of the service. To ensure that working conditions are clean and safe in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure information relating to this is reviewed, updated and readily available to all staff. Ensure that an appropriate level of medical expertise is always available, informing the consultant on call where appropriate. Attend any meetings appropriate to your area/role, ensuring effective communication within the team and leading on actions are undertaken. To be assertive/confident and able to deal with conflict and difficult situations. To adhere and implement the trust policy for cleanliness and infection control. Assume responsibility for the safe custody of drugs in accordance with the Trust policies and statutory rules/guidelines. LEADERSHIP To act as an effective role model and demonstrate effective organisational and leadership skills, including motivation of staff EDUCATION Act as a role model providing mentorship, preceptorship and support for midwives. To assist in orientation programmes and familiarise staff with the organisational and clinical demands of maternity services. Attend all mandatory training and those relevant to the role. Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward. Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions. This job description may be subject to change according to the varying needs of the service. Such changes will be made after discussion between the post holder and his/her manager. All duties must be carried out under supervision or within Trust policy and procedure. You must never undertake any duties that are outside your area of skill or knowledge level. If you are unsure, you must seek clarification from a more senior member of staff.
