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Job summary

Main area
Maternity
Grade
Band 7
Contract
3 years (Fixed term or secondment opportunity)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Job share
37.5 hours per week (Flexible working requests considered on an individual basis)
Job ref
279-8312140-SEP26
Employer
University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
PRH, RSCH, SRH, WH
Town
Worthing
Salary
£49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
06/10/2026 23:59

Employer heading

University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust logo

Professional Midwifery Advocate

Band 7

 About our Trust

Candidate Information Pack

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values. We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme  for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

 

Job overview

As part of our commitment to supporting staff and strengthening maternity services ahead of the Independent Maternity Review, we are establishing a new Professional Midwifery Advocate (PMA) Team across University Hospitals Sussex.

We are recruiting PMAs across UHSussex, with one post aligned to each site: Princess Royal Hospital (PRH), Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH), Worthing Hospital (WH) and St Richard's Hospital (SRH).

Each PMA will have a designated site base while working collaboratively across the Trust under the leadership of the Professional Perinatal Advocate (PPA) Lead, delivering a consistent restorative approach across maternity and neonatal services.

These newly created roles will provide visible support in clinical areas through restorative conversations, hot debriefs, real-time support and compassionate leadership, helping colleagues navigate a period of learning, transformation and cultural development.

Successful candidates will strengthen Professional Midwifery Advocacy through case management, professional development, training and embedding best practice within the A-EQUIP framework.

The PMA team will help ensure accessible advocacy support, promoting staff wellbeing, learning, service improvement and a resilient workforce.

These three-year fixed-term opportunities offer experienced PMAs the chance to develop their leadership, quality improvement, workforce development and strategic influence.

Participation in the Manager on Call rota is required.

Main duties of the job

  • Delivering and facilitating Restorative Clinical Supervision 

  • Supporting colleagues through complex cases, incidents, Coroner's inquests and high-profile reviews 

  • Providing visible clinical support and restorative leadership within clinical areas 

  • Supporting trainee PMAs and newly qualified PMAs 

  • Developing and strengthening the Trust-wide PMA/PNA network 

  • Leading and contributing to Quality Improvement initiatives 

  • Supporting workforce wellbeing, retention and engagement 

  • Collecting evidence and demonstrating the impact and value of Professional Midwifery Advocacy across the organisation 

  • Promoting a restorative culture that extends across maternity, neonatal, medical and support worker teams 

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack https://www.uhsussex.nhs.uk/resources/candidate-information-pack/

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the future direction of Professional Midwifery Advocacy within University Hospitals Sussex. The successful candidates will help demonstrate the value of professional midwifery advocacy roles, ensuring advocacy remains at the heart of workforce wellbeing, learning and service improvement. 

As a three-year fixed-term opportunity, these posts provide an excellent platform for career development, allowing experienced PMAs to broaden their leadership, quality improvement, workforce development and strategic influence while enhancing their professional portfolio. 

Applicants must hold the Professional Midwifery Advocate qualification and demonstrate a commitment to the A-EQUIP model, restorative clinical supervision and compassionate leadership. 

If you are passionate about supporting colleagues, driving positive cultural change and helping create the conditions for staff and families to thrive, we would love to hear from you. 

Join us and help shape a restorative, compassionate and sustainable future for maternity and neonatal services across University Hospitals Sussex. 

Internal applicants should note that this opportunity will be offered on a secondment basis. Before applying, internal colleagues must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they can be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not automatic and must be agreed between the colleague, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager

Person specification

Essential

Essential criteria
  • Registered Midwife with active NMC PIN
  • Professional Midwifery Advocate
  • Significant post reg experience in range of clinical settings/roles
  • Recent experience of working in Perinatal Services
  • Knowledge of Trauma Informed Care approaches
  • Understanding of professional and current issues in maternity and neonatal services
Desirable criteria
  • De-briefing/Coaching/Restorative training or equivalent experience
  • Leadership/Management training or equivalent experience
  • Experience of Quality Improvement

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
  • Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role)

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident leaderArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardCare Leaver CovenantStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Application numbers

This advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Rosie Jennings
Job title
Perinatal Workforce Matron
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01273 696955
Additional information

Please do get in touch with Rosie via email ([email protected]) if you would like to discuss the role further.

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