Clinical Director Maternity

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Managing the workforce within the Maternity Directorate, including responsibility for all senior and junior doctors to ensure the operational effectiveness of clinical services.
  
  
• Service delivery and quality standards set out in National Guidance and local contracts.
  
  
• Capacity management, including delivery against target length of stay and patient throughput, and effective utilisation of facilities.
  
  
• Financial performance targets delivering the required income and expenditure plan and identifying and delivering the Maternity cost improvement plan and deliver the Maternity incentive Scheme targets.
  
  
• Ensuring governance is embedded within the Maternity services and all staff understand their responsibility for service quality and patient safety and that mechanisms are in place to monitor patient safety and measure clinical outcomes.
  
  
• Ensuring the facilities (beds, theatres, outpatients and ultrasound assets) are used flexibly to enable contract activity to be delivered within the resource plan.
  
  
• Manage the Maternity services to meet the CQC domains of Safety, Caring, Responsiveness, Effectiveness and Well led.

• Support and where necessary lead the recruitment process for consultants and trust grade doctors.

• Efficiently deploy staff to ensure legal, cost-effective use of resources to deliver high quality services.
  
  
• Play a leading role in the integration of NHS, academic and research activities and support the Trust and other partners in their mission to operate under the principles of an Academic Health Science Centre.
  
  
• Ensure appropriate high-quality training for all staff and safeguard the working environment of staff in training.
  
  
• Ensure that the skills and talents of staff are utilised within the Maternity services towards the delivery of the best possible clinical service.
  
  
• Operate robust systems for annual appraisals for all staff within the Maternity services and ensure individual appraisals and objectives align to the clinical, performance and business requirements of the Directorate.
  
  
• Encourage team working, including action to deal with colleagues in difficulty and trouble.
  
  
• Manage the job planning process and ensure all job plans are reviewed annually and reflect the needs of the service.
  
  
• Promote and embed the Trust values and ensure all staff within the Maternity services act in accordance with the values.
  
  
• Communicate and align the Trust vision and strategic objectives to all staff within the Maternity services and ensure that team and individual objectives are aligned to the broader Division and Trust wide objectives.
  
  
• Create opportunities to enhance staff engagement and empowerment in the operational running of the Directorate and their full involvement in determining the annual and strategic plans for the Maternity services.
  
  
• Ensure appropriate ‘induction programmes’ and exit interview processes are established and utilised.
  
  
• Ensure that effective communication processes are in place so all staff are fully aware and engaged in the main issues facing the Maternity services.
  
  
• Manage the performance, competence and conduct of staff within the Maternity services.

• Co-ordinate audit within the Maternity services, in conjunction with the designated audit lead and audit department and compile an annual audit report for the Maternity services.
  
  
• Implement clinical effectiveness programmes throughout the Maternity services and in collaboration with colleagues outside of the Maternity clinical directorate to ensure effective clinical services.
  
  
• Implement effective risk management processes within the Maternity services.
  
  
• Promote a learning culture within the Maternity services, in particular ensuring that all staff are adequately developed and trained. To make sure all Consultant staff have the relevant CPD and CME requirements.
  
  
• Ensure services are provided in line with Improving Outcomes Guidance.

In delivering these responsibilities the Clinical Director for Maternity will be supported by the Divisional Medical Director and Clinical Leads.

• Work with the Directorate Manager and Director of Midwifery to develop the clinical strategy for the Clinical Directorate, in conjunction with the Divisional Director and Divisional Director of Operations.
  
  
• Ensure an inclusive, patient-focused approach to service development.
  
  
• Identify opportunities for service improvement and optimisation of the utilisation of facilities within the Directorate.
  
  
• Work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical colleagues across the Trust to ensure effective and efficient delivery of services.
  
  
• Ensure any proposed developments and/or service changes are considered in the context of the NHS Operating Framework and are discussed and agreed with the Divisional Director and Divisional Director of Operations to ensure the proposal does not have a negative financial or operational impact on the Clinical Directorate, the Division, other Clinical Directorates or the Trust.
  
  
• Encourage cross speciality working to achieve the most effective and inclusive approach to the achievement of the Trust’s aims and objectives.
  
  
• Ensure the Maternity services comply with the Trust’s Governance standards, and legal and statutory requirements, including Working Time regulations, Health & Safety, Standing Orders and Standing Financial Instructions.

• Promote a positive profile of the Trust’s services both internally and externally.
  
  
• Contribute towards the development of the Divisional Clinical Strategy.
  
  
• Actively lead service improvement programmes within the Clinical Directorate.