A Named Midwife for Safeguarding Children is a highly specialised and senior leadership role within maternity services, dedicated to protecting vulnerable pregnant women, babies, and families from harm. This critical profession sits at the intersection of clinical midwifery, child protection, and multi-agency partnership working. Professionals in these jobs act as the designated expert and strategic lead for all safeguarding matters within their maternity service, ensuring the highest standards of practice and compliance with statutory legislation. The core responsibility of a Named Midwife is to provide expert advice, guidance, and supervision to midwives and the wider multidisciplinary team. They are the go-to authority for complex safeguarding concerns, including child protection, domestic abuse, parental substance misuse, and the welfare of vulnerable adults. A typical day involves analysing complex cases, supporting staff in risk assessment and management, and ensuring a 'Think Family' approach is embedded in all care pathways. They play a pivotal role in developing, implementing, and auditing robust safeguarding policies and procedures specific to the maternity setting. A significant part of the role focuses on education and cultural change. Named Midwives design, deliver, and evaluate mandatory and specialist safeguarding training programmes to ensure all staff are competent, confident, and up-to-date with best practices. They also provide formal safeguarding supervision, creating a safe space for reflective practice and professional development, which is crucial for staff managing emotionally challenging cases. Externally, the role requires extensive multi-agency collaboration. The Named Midwife works closely with partners such as Social Care, Health Visitors, the Police, and voluntary sector organisations to coordinate care, share information appropriately, and contribute to a seamless protective network around the family. They often represent the maternity service at safeguarding board meetings, contribute to serious case reviews, and produce detailed reports for case conferences and court proceedings. Typical requirements for these highly specialised jobs include active registration as a Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and substantial post-registration experience, including significant expertise in safeguarding within maternity. Essential skills include expert knowledge of child protection legislation, exceptional communication and diplomacy for challenging conversations, strong leadership and teaching abilities, and proficiency in audit, data analysis, and report writing. The ideal candidate is resilient, analytical, and possesses the confidence to escalate concerns and offer constructive challenge to ensure the safety of children is always paramount. For dedicated midwives seeking to influence systemic change and provide ultimate advocacy for the most vulnerable, Named Midwife for Safeguarding Children jobs offer a uniquely impactful career pathway.
