Here at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, we are proud to provide expert, compassionate care for our local population. We are ranked as the third in the country for research, embedding education and training across the organisation. Our main hub is the Queen Alexandra Hospital, which is one of the largest hospitals on the south coast employing over 8,700 staff.

Our patients come from all walks of life and so do we. We hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds because it makes our hospital stronger. If you share our values and our enthusiasm for getting it right for patients, colleagues, and our community, you will find a home at Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust.

The Named Midwife for Safeguarding Children, in conjunction with the Named Nurses and Named Doctors will deliver a high quality, research based Safeguarding Service that provides training, supervision and expertise on Safeguarding for the Trust. They will work collaboratively with the Designated Professionals as well as with other partner agencies both within and outside the health community.

The post holder will take the lead in developing and maintaining high professional standards in maternity services in order to protect adults, children and families, ensuring the Trust meets its statutory and legal responsibilities to safeguarding adults and children. They will be responsible for enabling and assuring the required uptake of safeguarding training and supervision by midwives. They will provide safeguarding advice and expertise to fellow professionals, and work with a range of statutory and non-statutory agencies to assist in providing a multi-agency approach to safeguarding.

To convey and present complex information, written and verbal, formally and informally, as appropriate.

Work together with Named Professionals in the development of evidence based patient care policies and procedures/audit; addressing the Government’s objectives in relation to safeguarding.

To provide expert leadership and role model a positive culture of improvement and striving for excellence at all times. 

Qualifications and training:

Essential:

• Registered Midwife Degree (or working towards a Masters) or equivalent in-depth knowledge
• ENB997/8, DM260 or an equivalent teaching qualification or experience

Desirable:

• Safeguarding supervision training course
• Management Certificate / Diploma

Skills and Knowledge

Knowledge Requirements:

Essential:

• A minimum of 2 years as a safeguarding specialist 
• A robust knowledge and understanding of the National Agenda.
• A robust knowledge of Safeguarding issues and training.
• Clinical Governance
• Change management
• Standard setting and audit
• Guideline / protocol development
• Analytical skills
• Research skills
• Reflective skills
• Clinical supervision skills

Desirable:

• Complaints management
• NHSLA/NHS Resolution
• Budgetary and resource management
• Interagency working
• Court attendance experience
• Experience in participating in serious case reviews

Other Skills:

• Because of the complex, contentious and high-risk nature of safeguarding the post holder will be required to have:
• Negotiating and influencing skills to effectively engage with all members of the Trust as well as external agencies / professionals to promote and deliver the Safeguarding Children agenda. 
• Excellent leadership and motivational skills are required to engage staff and other agencies in an area that is often highly distressing and contentious in nature.
• Supportive and counselling skills are also required to address the needs of staff who are regularly involved with children who are physically and sexually abused or neglected and their families.
• The ability to manage and prioritise their own caseload is essential as is an understanding and knowledge of budgetary management in order to ensure that service provision is cost effective e.g. relative cost / value of recommended external training courses etc.
• The role entails frequent periods of intense concentration to enable report writing, strategy development, supervision etc. in an environment that can be frequently interrupted due to the unpredictable nature of the work. Deadlines for this work vary considerably ranging from an immediate response to the medium or long term.
• Because of the nature of Safeguarding, the post holder is continually exposed to highly distressing and emotional abuse and neglect issues in their role as advisor / supervisor, when attending case conferences, strategy meetings and conducting serious case reviews, etc.

Experience

• Awareness of clinical and policy developments in the safeguarding children agenda.
• Minimum of 3 years at Band 6 or above.
• Recent experience of children’s services is desirable.

Contractual Requirements

A full driving licence.

Outline of Working Conditions

• Although the post is office based working with a VDU, the post holder is regularly required to travel to all sites within the Trust and also to various outside venues e.g. social services departments, meetings hosted by the CCG or THSA etc.
• The post holder may be subject to verbal aggression e.g. angry parents etc.

The corporate safeguarding service at Portsmouth Hospitals has undergone an exciting period of change and is settled into a positive culture where each member is valued and respected. 

Working in partnership with patients, colleagues and external stakeholders, you will have the opportunity to provide leadership within a system which supports and celebrates its members. 

We welcome the unique contributions that you can bring in terms of your education, opinions, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity and expression, nation of origin, age, languages spoken, veteran’s status, colour, religion, disability, sexual orientation, and beliefs.