Job Advert
Caithness is an area of dramatic scenery, with beautiful shorelines, cliff top walks and an opportunity to experience rare insect, flower and bird life. It has a lot to offer for those interested in exploring the wonders of nature on land and at sea, as well as local historical and archaeological sites. Could Caithness be the place for you?
Caithness Integrated Midwifery Team is looking for a midwife who is keen to work as part of a small local team in remote and rural practice. This post offers an exciting opportunity for both newly qualified and experienced midwives who are keen to practice midwife-led care and to develop skills as an autonomous practitioner. The midwifery team provide a service across the hospital and community setting and are based in the Henderson Wing, within Caithness General Hospital, Wick. Henderson Wing is a small maternity unit with 3 inpatient beds, a day assessment area, neonatal stabilisation area, 2 labour rooms and a water birth pool. The service offers local birth for low risk pregnancy and has approx 35 births annually in Henderson Wing. For the management, care and transfer of higher risk pregnancies and sick neonates the midwifery team work closely with the central NHS Highland Obstetric, Midwifery and Neonatal Maternity Unit team based in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness (approx 110 miles away). As with any remote service there are challenges in providing safe and sustainable maternity care, the midwifery team is therefore required to work flexibly to provide a 24/7 service.
There is the opportunity for a newly qualified midwife to be supported through the Flying Start programme in a rotational post working between Caithness Maternity and the busier District Maternity Unit in Raigmore Hospital, Inverness. This will offer the experience of a busy consultant led unit (Raigmore has approximately 2500 births /year) where a newly qualified midwife will be able to build their skill, knowledge and confidence which in turn will support them in working in the remote and rural setting of Caithness.
Interested applicants should ideally be educated to degree level. This is a full-time post of 37.5 hours per week with commitment to flexible shift patterns and on call working. Job share applicants will be considered. A current driving licence is essential and you will be expected to travel efficiently and effectively between various work locations to meet the operational requirements of the service
Informal enquiries would be welcomed by Laura Menzies, Lead Midwife, who can be contacted at Henderson Wing on Tel: 01955 880330 or email: lauraann.menzies2@nhs.scot