clinical leader

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and compassionate leader to join our Maternity Services as Matron for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). This pivotal role will drive our commitment to reducing health inequalities, improving outcomes for women, babies and families, and creating a truly inclusive culture for everyone who uses our services and works for us.

Responsibilities

• Lead the delivery of local, regional and national priorities to address inequalities in maternity care across County Durham and Darlington.
• Champion initiatives that improve outcomes for women, babies and families who are most at risk of health inequalities, including those experiencing deprivation, complex social circumstances and minority ethnic and LGBTQ+ backgrounds.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, partner organisations and the Durham and Darlington MNVP to design and deliver inclusive, person‑centred maternity services.
• Use data and intelligence to identify inequalities, develop targeted interventions and monitor progress toward national maternity strategy targets.
• Provide senior midwifery leadership in service development, quality improvement, staff education, audit and the implementation of national transformation programmes such as Better Births.
• Coordinate integrated working across health and social care, support Family Hubs, service redesign and collaborative improvement projects to enhance care for women, babies and families.
• Review clinical care pathways to identify and close service gaps for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled and marginalised communities.
• Advise on safeguarding, domestic abuse, substance misuse, learning disabilities, cultural considerations, asylum seekers, mental health and housing issues.
• Lead advocacy for vulnerable families; support specialist midwife networks and debrief families and staff following emotionally or clinically challenging events.
• Embed high clinical standards, audit compliance and achievement of public health agenda KPIs, driving safety, well‑being and positive birth experiences.
• Liaise with commissioners and partners on integrated pathways, the Best Start in Life work plan and the Pre‑Birth and Under 1 group.
• Represent the maternity service within workforce equality, diversity and inclusion forums, review action plans, staff surveys and local WDES and WRES agendas.
• Support the NHS Stop Smoking Service alignment with the tobacco‑dependency‑in‑pregnancy agenda and the Healthy Start Voucher scheme.
• Provide senior midwifery input to the establishment of Family Hubs, parent‑infant mental health programmes, breastfeeding support and evidence‑based parenting programmes.
• Drive continuous quality improvement, use data to demonstrate service impact and secure trust‑wide development strategy.

Qualifications

• Statutory registration as a Registered Nurse on Part 1 of the NMC Register, with a valid UK NMC PIN.
• Relevant experience and recent community midwifery experience at an appropriate level.
• Proven track record in in‑service training, leadership and clinical governance.
• Professional qualification: degree or Master’s level (or equivalent), management or leadership qualification, and a recognised teaching qualification.
• Knowledge of midwifery developments nationally, regionally and locally; strategic partnership working and experience developing guidelines and protocols at a multidisciplinary level.
• Awareness of the public health agenda, safeguarding of children and adults policies and procedures.
• Good IT skills, effective communication, presentation and conflict‑management skills.
• Ability to manage budgets, lead change initiatives, work under own initiative and meet deadlines.
• Working knowledge of the CQC and experience of working with other professionals across organisational boundaries.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion

The position encourages active participation from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic, LGBTQ+, disabled and marginalised communities. We particularly welcome applications from disabled and BAME candidates, recognising the under‑representation of these groups within our workforce.

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