Role Summary
Key Responsibilities
Provide specialist safeguarding leadership within maternity services, acting as the main point of contact for staff, patients, and partner agencies on safeguarding concerns.
Support midwives and wider maternity staff in the early identification, assessment, and management of safeguarding issues affecting women, babies, and families.
Offer professional safeguarding advice, guidance, and supervision to colleagues, promoting confidence and consistency in safeguarding practice.
Work collaboratively with internal safeguarding teams, children’s and adult services, and external partner agencies to ensure effective information sharing and multi-agency working.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and monitoring of safeguarding policies, procedures, and pathways in line with national and local guidance.
Deliver safeguarding training, education, and updates to maternity staff, embedding best practice and ensuring compliance with statutory requirements.
Lead on safeguarding audits, data collection, and analysis, using outcomes to inform service improvement and quality assurance.
Participate in safeguarding reviews, serious case reviews, and learning events, ensuring that learning is shared and embedded within maternity services.
Support a culture of openness, accountability, and continuous improvement in safeguarding practice.
Act as a professional role model, demonstrating compassionate leadership and a commitment to the safety and wellbeing of women, babies, and families.
We work flexibly across sites to support each other, and during periods of annual leave or sickness you may be asked to provide cross-cover for our Barnstaple team. This is usually achievable from your own base, ensuring continuity of support while maintaining flexibility for you.
About the Role
For more information on the Job Description and Responsibilities please click the link below.
More detail about the role
We are seeking an experienced and motivated midwife to join our team as a Band 7 Safeguarding Lead Midwife. In this pivotal role, you will provide expert leadership and guidance on all aspects of safeguarding within maternity services. Working closely with multidisciplinary teams, you will ensure that safeguarding practice is embedded in everyday care, supporting colleagues to identify, assess, and respond to concerns relating to women, babies, and families.
You will act as the key link between maternity services and internal/external safeguarding partners, offering professional advice, supervision, and training to strengthen safeguarding knowledge and confidence across the workforce. With a strong understanding of safeguarding legislation, policies, and procedures, you will contribute to service development, audit, and governance to ensure high standards of safe, compassionate, and responsive care.
This is an exciting opportunity for a skilled and passionate midwife who is committed to promoting the safety and wellbeing of vulnerable families, while driving forward best practice within maternity safeguarding.
This role includes a small on-call element, where you may occasionally be asked to support the unit clinically during periods of escalation.
Working Pattern: Weekly 18.75 hours
Interview Date: To Be Confirmed
For further information please contact: Nikki Soper, Midwife on nicola.soper@nhs.net
As an inclusive employer, the Royal Devon values diversity and is committed to creating a culture of inclusivity where everyone can be themselves and reach their full potential. We believe in fostering a sense of belonging and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities. We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce that reflects the communities we serve.
Preference will be given to staff with ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust reserves the right to close vacancy when sufficient applications have been received.
The Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was established in April 2022, bringing together the expertise of both the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust and Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust.
About Us
Stretching across Northern, Eastern and Mid Devon, we have a workforce of over 15,000 staff, making us the largest employer in Devon. Our core services, which we provide to more than 615,000 people, cover more than 2,000 square miles across Devon, while some of our specialist services cover the whole of the peninsula, extending our reach as far as Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
We deliver a wide range of emergency, specialist and general medical services through North Devon District Hospital and the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital (Wonford). Alongside our two acute hospitals, we provide integrated health and social care services across a variety of settings, including community inpatient hospitals, outpatient clinics, and within people’s own homes. We also offer primary care services, a range of specialist community services, and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC).
Our state-of-the-art equipment, leading technologies and strong links to local universities put us at the forefront of research and innovations, enabling us to provide world-class care to our local communities.
Our values are at the heart of everything we do, click here to find out more
It has never been a more exciting time to join the Royal Devon, as you will help to shape our services as we continue along our integration journey.
Benefits
Looking after you is important to us.
We strive to help our staff create a healthy work-life balance through flexible working schemes and our family friendly policies.
If you are starting out in the NHS, you’ll start with 27 days paid annual leave (plus bank holidays), rising to 33 days plus bank holidays.
You will benefit from access to our own comprehensive occupational health services, including counselling, onsite wellbeing activities and groups.
We will work together to maintain a culture that develops and supports you and your team.
This might include funding for a care certificate, a degree or leadership qualifications. Or it might include days off to study, engage in CPD or rotational placements to help you hone your skills. Wherever you are heading in the NHS, we will help you get there.
Salary is not the only financial benefit
You will have access to an extensive range of staff discounts on shopping, fitness and leisure options and you can spread the cost of technology and home appliance purchases from major retailers. You will also have access to other benefits including:
- National discount services such as the Blue Light Card and Health Service Discounts.
- Salary sacrifice options including our OFSTED rated outstanding nursery onsite at Exeter
- Car lease schemes.
- The NHS Pension scheme (one of the most generous and comprehensive in the UK).
- Cycle to work scheme
These are just a few of the benefits available – if the role is something you are interested in, we would love to hear from you.
