Job overview

Under the direction of the Lead Midwife for Patient Safety, the post holder will provide practical support and expertise across a wide range of patient safety, quality improvement, and learning activities within Maternity and Women’s Health.

The role supports the delivery of the Quality Governance agenda in line with the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), including incident investigations (PSIIs), risk management, clinical audit, and effectiveness. The post holder will work closely with Quality Governance teams, the Education Team, and the wider service line to support effective learning from incidents, identify trends, and embed improvements into practice.

Responsibilities include supporting governance and education meetings, maintaining systems for identifying and managing risk, and helping deliver national requirements such as Saving Babies’ Lives and the Maternity Incentive Scheme (MIS). The role also involves facilitating complaint and incident investigations and supporting staff through the process.

This is a pivotal role in promoting a culture of safety, learning, and continuous improvement. The post holder will maintain relevant clinical skills and work under the guidance and line management of the Lead Midwife for Patient Safety.

Main duties of the job

Oversee incident management, ensuring all maternity-related incidents are investigated per the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF), applying human factors and SEIPS methodologies.

Support staff affected by incidents (‘second victims’) through debriefs and access to support services, fostering a just and learning-focused culture.

Maintain and monitor risk registers, identify high-risk trends, and produce regular reports for governance meetings.

Support compliance with national standards including CQC, Maternity Incentive Scheme (MIS), and Saving Babies’ Lives, ensuring action plans from investigations, audits, and complaints are implemented and monitored.

Assist in planning governance meetings and preparing reports for internal and external review panels.

Provide training and guidance on quality governance, risk management, and incident reporting to staff, incorporating learning from incidents into practice.

Act as a local expert for digital governance tools (e.g., InPhase), ensuring accurate reporting and escalation of issues.

Promote a transparent, open culture encouraging incident reporting, reflection, and multidisciplinary learning.

Keep up to date with best practices and legislation in patient safety and quality governance to ensure Trust compliance.

The post holder plays a vital role in enhancing patient safety, driving continuous learning, and embedding quality governance within maternity and women’s services.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton.  Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas.

 

You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.