Quality Lead - Independent Maternity Review

Job summary

University Hospitals Sussex is the subject of an important Independent MaternityReview (IMR), commissioned by the Department of Health on behalf of the Secretary of State. This Isdue tocommencein October 2026 and is expected to last at least 3 years. The review will examineapproximately 1,000cases of stillbirths, neonatal deaths, maternal deaths, neonatal harm due to severe brain injury and severe maternal harm dating back to at least 2018to understand what happened, reach conclusions on the care provided, provide answers for families andidentifylearning for the organisation and wider NHS.The review is, by its' very nature, extremely sensitive and politically charged.Theimpact is expected to be significant forthefamiliesat the heart of the review,current and paststaffand the wider organisation.

The twoQuality Leads willbe recognised as experts in their field,with deep understanding of best practice in investigating and responding to incidents of potential or actual harm or poor patient experience,currentclinical best practice, regulatory and professional standardsfor nurses and midwives.They will have ledinvestigative work in their specialty and been involved in providing sensitive, potentiallychallengingand emotionally demanding debriefs for families suffering healthcare harm.

Main duties of the job

They willwork as part ofa newcentral team which manages theresponse to the review,attendingdaily huddles and the weekly Expert Panel to advise the Trust on how best to meet thediverse range ofrequests and escalations coming into the contact centrefrom the IMR team, families, staffand external bodies.They will be expected toleadresponsestoindividualrequests such asconductingclinicalcase reviews andconductingdebriefs with families,working alongside medical colleaguesin Obstetrics & Gynaecology andNeonatology.They are also expected to support Perinatal Services to takeemergentlearning from the IMR,embed it in the improvement programme for the servicesanddemonstratethe benefitsto our stakeholders. As well astheir depth of knowledgeand experience,the ability to remain calm whilst working under pressure and withhigh levelsof scrutinyarecriticalattributesfor the Quality Leads. The postsrequire significant attention to detail, skills in problem solvinganda level of maturity to foresee andpre-empt risks. The roles shoulddemonstratecompassionate leadership andrestorative principlesin communicating with ourfamiliesand our staff.Commitment to the highest standards of professionalism andthesensitive handlingof confidential information are essential.

• Leadership
• Quality&Safety
• Care of Patients and Families
• Information Management
• Human Resources
• Financial and Physical Resources
• Learning and Development

About us

This vacancy is advertised as a time-limited opportunity is expected to be undertaken on a secondment basis.

Before applying, employees must discuss the opportunity with their current line manager to confirm whether they may be released from their substantive role if successful. Release to undertake a secondment is not an automatic entitlement and must be agreed by all relevant parties: the employee, their current line manager, and the recruiting line manager.

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 abuddy to help new members settle in. We're proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Candidate Pack

Job responsibilities

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.

Key Working Relationships

Internal: IMR& BramberCore team, Perinatal Directorate leadership team, Women Children and CSS Divisional Leadership Team, Maternity and Neonatal governance leads,Clinicians and managers working in Perinatal Services, Digitaland IGTeam, Legal Team, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Team,Professional Standardsand HR, Professional Midwifery and Nurse Advocates in Perinatal Services.

External:IMR team, NHSE Maternity and Obstetric Improvement Advisors, CQC, NMC, Families.

Person specification

Professional Registration

Essential

• Clinical qualification and registration with a professional body
• Educated to masters level or equivalent level of experience

Desirable

• Leadership qualification
• Governance qualification eg investigator training
• Trained in Restorative facilitation
• Clinical supervision training

Experience and Knowledge

Essential

• Experience of working as a midwife or neonatal nurse in multiple NHS organisations, influencing and achieving improvements in quality, safety and patient experience
• Previous senior experience in Maternity or Neonatology including leading investigations into complaints, incidents and near misses, development of clinical guidelines and SOPs and providing debriefs to staff and patients on the outcomes.
• Thorough understanding of good maternity and neonatal governance - PSIRF, Systems thinking/SEIPS, NICE guidelines relevant to the specialty, national audits relevant to the specialty, CQC fundamental standards of care and RCN/RCM professional standards
• Experience of partnership working both within and across organisations and professional boundaries eg ICB, MNVP, RCN/RCM
• Developed understanding of the NHS and current policy and recommendations of previous Maternity and Neonatal reviews
• Evidence of leading difficult conversations with families including dealing with bereavement and healthcare harm
• Evidence of leading difficult conversations with staff, including concerns about practice, wellbeing and behaviours
• Demonstrable previous success in leading and delivering change and performance with and through clinical teams, by engaging them in the strategic direction and delivery plans, establishing clear work priorities with them, delegating effectively, ensuring a capability to deliver, monitoring performance and giving feedback
• Achievement of challenging deadlines whilst maintaining quality and professional standards.
• Understanding of the provision and delivery of healthcare services and of Government strategy for modernising healthcare.
• Knowledge of the structure, functions, culture and values of the NHS and its interrelationship with other agencies.

Desirable

• Leadership role within Maternity-Neonatology governance
• Familiarity with Badgernet IT systems and other clinical systems used to hold patient information
• Previous experience of working on a major external quality and safety review of Maternity or Neonatology

Skills

Essential

• Able to communicate complex and sensitive information verbally to families and staff from diverse backgrounds, including discussing episodes of death and harm.
• Able to communicate complex and sensitive information verbally to families and staff from diverse backgrounds, including discussing episodes of death and harm.
• Able to analyse maternity or neonatal clinical, outcomes and experience data, critically appraise it and draw robust conclusions
• Able to manage own time and reprioritise tasks to meet the needs of a programme of work
• IT literate - able to navigate clinical data systems, patient records, imaging, pathology and statements from multiple professionals to inform judgements about cases.
• Ability to engage and influence senior staff on a course of action, policy or strategy
• Proven leadership and influencing skills with the ability to enthuse, motivate and involve individuals and teams, including those operating with low morale
• Acts independently & able to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Evidence of strong analytical skills; critical reasoning ability and effective problem solving
• Ability to be able to analyse highly complex processes and translate these into measurable initiatives
• Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working

People Management and Development

Essential

• Ability to build constructive, trusting relationships with families who may have had poor experiences in or responses from the Trust and be mistrustful of the service and organisation
• Be able to understand the viewpoints of other professionals and work to resolve differences in understanding or approach
• Able to build confidence amongst staff who may feel discouraged by the outputs of case reviews or by the IMR in general
• Able to manage time of others and support staff to prioritise appropriately
• Able to coach and develop others in their area of expertise and enable transfer of skills and confidence
• Ability to confidently constructively challenge practice or behaviours and support others to change, including those from more senior grades

Specific Requirements

Essential

• Strong political instincts - able to foresee issues and risks and either take action or escalate as appropriate.
• Remains calm and boundaried under pressure
• Preserves confidentiality and acts with discretion
• Champions excellent patient care and compassionate treatment of those suffering healthcare harm

Freedom to Act

Essential

• Identify and adhere to best practice
• Use judgement and discretion to determine the most appropriate way to meet the demands of the review
• Responsible for own professional actions and have sufficient autonomy for the delivery of the role
• Able to interpret national and local guidance and to develop local policies to reflect these standards

Desirable

• Remains calm and boundaried under pressure

Equality Diversity and Inclusion

Essential

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