Bracken Birth Centre Lead Midwife

The Bracken Birth Centre Lead Midwife is responsible for providing strong clinical, professional and operational leadership to ensure the delivery of safe, effective, compassionate and personalised maternity care within Bracken Birth Centre. The post holder will work collaboratively with Midwifery Matrons, senior midwives, obstetricians, neonatologists, maternity support workers and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure services are responsive, well coordinated and aligned with local and national maternity priorities. The post holder will have overall responsibility for the day-to-day management and operational delivery of the birth centre, ensuring appropriate staffing levels, effective deployment of resources and the maintenance of a safe clinical environment. They will lead workforce planning, rostering, annual leave management and sickness absence management to ensure the service remains operationally effective and provides high-quality care at all times. As an experienced clinical leader, the post holder will maintain credible clinical practice within the maternity service, acting as a role model and expert resource for staff. They will provide professional leadership and support to midwives, maternity support workers and student midwives, promoting excellence in clinical practice, accountability and continuous professional development. The post holder will oversee appraisals, supervision, training and competency development, fostering a positive and inclusive culture that supports staff wellbeing, learning and retention. The Bracken Birth Centre Lead Midwife will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining standards of care through clinical governance processes, audit, quality improvement initiatives and compliance with Trust policies and national maternity standards. They will lead investigations, support the management of incidents and complaints, implement learning from reviews and audits, and ensure actions are embedded within practice to continuously improve patient safety and experience. The post holder will champion the philosophy of physiological birth, informed choice and personalised maternity care, ensuring women and families are empowered to make informed decisions regarding their care. They will promote evidence-based practice and support the delivery of safe, respectful and compassionate care that places women, babies and families at the centre of all decision-making. Working proactively with internal and external stakeholders, the post holder will contribute to service development, policy implementation and strategic maternity objectives. They will support the delivery of national maternity transformation programmes, promote innovation and identify opportunities to improve outcomes and experiences for women, families and staff. The post holder will be responsible for the effective management of budgets, equipment and supplies within the birth centre, ensuring resources are used efficiently and in accordance with Trust financial procedures. They will also participate in the maternity on-call rota and deputise for the Midwifery Matron when required, providing senior leadership and decision-making support across the maternity service. Through visible leadership, expert clinical knowledge and a commitment to continuous improvement, the Bracken Birth Centre Lead Midwife will ensure the birth centre remains a safe, welcoming and high-performing environment that delivers outstanding care for women, babies and their families.