Preterm Midwife

Job overview

Join our team to provide compassionate, patient-centred specialist midwifery care for women at risk of preterm birth.

We are seeking a skilled and experienced midwife to join the Preterm Birth Clinic service at King’s College Hospital, based in the Harris Birthright Unit. As a specialist midwife for Preterm Birth, you will collaborate closely with a multidisciplinary team to deliver coordinated and comprehensive care for women at increased risk of preterm labour. This role is key to supporting the national goal of reducing preterm births and improving care quality and outcomes when preterm birth is unavoidable.

This role offers an exciting opportunity to deliver holistic support and assessment for high-risk pregnancies while also allowing for the development of new skills.

Main duties of the job

You will coordinate timely follow-up of screening results, act as a key support contact for patients, and collaborate closely with multidisciplinary teams. This role includes mentoring and teaching ward staff and junior midwives on best practices in managing high-risk pregnancies.

You will develop skills in cervical assessment under supervision, with the goal of becoming a confident practitioner and educator in this area. Responsibilities also include data collection and audit to improve preterm birth services and ensure compliance with the “Saving Babies’ Lives” care bundle.

Be part of a dedicated team committed to delivering integrated, high-quality care and advancing service development in preterm birth management.

Please see JD & Person specification for full details.

Working for our organisation

King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK’s largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of £1 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King’s to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King’s is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone’s contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust’s carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Provide specialist midwifery care to women at risk of preterm birth, ensuring a compassionate and patient-centred approach throughout their pregnancy journey.
• Coordinate and ensure timely follow-up of all preterm birth screening results, liaising closely with relevant clinical teams and patients to communicate outcomes clearly and sensitively.
• Act as a key point of contact for patients, offering ongoing support, education, and advice regarding preterm birth risks and management plans.
• Support, mentor, and provide teaching to ward staff and junior midwives on preterm birth care pathways, best practice guidelines, and the management of high-risk pregnancies.
• Develop skills in performing cervical assessments under supervision, with a long-term aim of becoming a competent practitioner capable of teaching this skill to colleagues.
• Collect, maintain, and analyse data for audits related to preterm birth care, contributing to service improvements and compliance with clinical standards.
• Ensure adherence to the “Saving Babies’ Lives” care bundle recommendations by supporting audit processes, promoting guideline implementation, and participating in multidisciplinary meetings.
• Collaborate actively within the Preterm Birth Multidisciplinary Team to deliver integrated, high-quality care and contribute to ongoing service development.

Communication

• Communicate complex and often sensitive information to women/birthing people and their families with empathy, clarity, and compassion—particularly during periods of heightened vulnerability, anxiety, or distress.
• Identify and overcome communication barriers through appropriate strategies and by accessing specialist services where needed, ensuring inclusive, equitable care that respects the diverse needs of all individuals using the Preterm Birth service.
• Collaborate effectively with colleagues across the multidisciplinary team, including Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary care settings, ensuring timely sharing of relevant information, prompt referrals, and coordinated care to maintain patient safety and continuity.
• Demonstrate confidence and professionalism in all communications with internal and external stakeholders, fostering strong working relationships that support high-quality care.

Person specification

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Extensive understanding of the Saving Babies lives care bundle
• Knowledge of National and Regional guidance related to Preterm care
• Demonstrated experience in multi-disciplinary and multi-agency collaboration

Desirable criteria

• Experience in audit & monitoring outcomes
• Experience in developing protocols, guidelines, and integrated care pathways
• Clinical expertise in Preterm birth

Education & Qualificications

Essential criteria

• Registered midwife
• Current NMC Registered Midwife
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable criteria

• Educated to degree level or equivalent clinical experience

Skills and Competencies

Essential criteria

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• IT literate
• Able to work autonomously as well as part of a wider MDT team

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of leadership and management skills

IMPORTANT

• Check your email account regularly as this is how we will communicate with you
• If you delete the job from any of your accounts, you may be prevented from accessing further communications
• To enquire about your application or inform us of any changes in your circumstances, please contact the named person on this advert
• Please provide email addresses for referees where possible
• Please review the documentation on our recruitment microsite, particularly the Trust’s criminal records checking policy
• All staff have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults and for ensuring they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.
• Please note that the closing date is given as a guide. On occasion, we might close a vacancy early due to a high number of applications being received. You are advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.

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King's College Hospital is part of King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre (AHSC), a pioneering collaboration between King's College London, and Guy's and St Thomas', King's College Hospital and South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trusts.