Job title: Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) Local Clinical Leads

Base: KSS AHSNs (trading as Health Innovation KSS) primary place of business is The Beehive, located in Gatwick/Crawley, West Sussex.

Hours:  0.1 WTE Obstetrician and 0.1 WTE Midwife per LMNS footprint of Kent& Medway / Surrey or Sussex

Terms : The arrangement will be for a minimum duration of 6 months with the potential for extension.

Salary: Contract for services basis

Location: This role will require being on site at hospitals across the Kent, Surrey, Sussex geography

There may be an occasional requirement to attend meetings at the Beehive Office in Crawley, Sussex

Reports to: ABC Workstream Lead under guidance of the Associate Director – Patient Safety

Job Purpose

We are looking for colleagues who share not only our values but also our enthusiasm and commitment to making a difference for our communities. We are united by being dynamic, curious, creative and adaptable. We appreciate the value of evidence and also enjoy trying new and different approaches to solving problems and are comfortable with ambiguity and unanticipated challenges.

ABC Background

We are looking for midwives and obstetricians to join our Clinical Faculty for the Avoiding Brain Injuries in Childbirth (ABC) Programme. This national initiative aims to significantly reduce avoidable brain injuries during childbirth by 2027 through improved clinical practice, teamwork, and communication. Developed and piloted over three phases spanning 2021-2025, the ABC improvement programme was commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care. It has been led by the ABC Collaboration, comprising the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG), and The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute (THIS Institute). The pilot of ABC3 concluded on 30 April 2025.

The ABC Programme focuses on two key clinical challenges: · 

• Detecting and responding to fetal deterioration during labour (IFD) 


• Managing impacted fetal head at caesarean birth (IFH)

For intrapartum fetal deterioration, this includes the implementation of a new Track and Trigger tool that combines maternal and fetal risk factors, real-time observations, labour progress, and fetal heart rate features. This integrated approach supports more timely and effective clinical decision-making, thus reducing the risk of injury to the baby. A suite of training materials and associated tools also underpins the aim of improved multiprofessional team responses to episodes of fetal deterioration.

For the impacted fetal head, this involves the implementation of a training package and structured tool to support improved recognition and management of cases of impacted fetal head.

By implementing the tools with structured training, we’re striving to improve outcomes and experiences for mothers, babies, and families across England. If successful, this programme could reduce litigation costs by up to £1.4 billion annually, alongside significant improvement in care quality.

More details can be found here: Avoiding Brain Injury in Childbirth (ABC) collaboration - THIS Institute - The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute .

Key Responsibilities

• Provide clinical leadership to the implementation of the programme across the region


• Deliver training to trust or site leads on managing intrapartum fetal deterioration (IFD) and impacted fetal head (IFH), ensuring fidelity to the ABC Programme methods.


• Provide ongoing coaching and support (both informal remote support and formal on-site supervision) to Trust training leads to ensure continuous adherence to ABC training methods.


• Support visits to individual trusts/sites to oversee and validate training delivery.


• Collaborate closely with Patient Safety Collaboratives (PSCs) and maternity colleagues, offering clinical insight to support implementation, quality improvement initiatives, and alignment with existing maternity safety and deterioration strategies.


• Participate in monthly reporting meetings with the national Perinatal Deterioration Operational Group (PDOG), providing feedback on training and implementation progress.


• Support effective integration of ABC training into mandatory staff training schedules within trusts/sites


• Support any planned events or cascade of key messages to perinatal colleagues


• Additional deliverables may be required but will be discussed and agreed

General responsibilities

• To act as part of 'one team'.


• To uphold and promote the values of Health Innovation KSS.


• To ensure effective communications within and between project teams and as applicable, be involved in and participate in meetings, team briefings, development days, corporate events etc.


• Ensure up to date knowledge is maintained and comply with current data protection laws and company data protection and confidentiality policies and procedures


• To engage with line manager in regular performance and development reviews against agreed objectives.

Person Specification: ABC Clinical Leads

Education, Qualifications & Training

Essential:

• Professional clinical registration (obstetrics or midwifery)
• Evidence of continuous professional development; record of CPD shows strong self-development ethos and learning

Desirable:

• Managerial or leadership qualification

Knowledge & Experience

Essential:

• Understanding of the aims and objectives of the ABC implementation programme
• Evidence of effective partnership working
• Proven experience of involvement in large scale projects or programmes in the public sector
• Experience of working with a range of clinical staff at all levels
• Experience of clinical transformation projects Experience of multidisciplinary training (ideally perinatal teams)

Desirable:

• Experience of undertaking reviews of national policy.
• Experience of working across system boundaries, e.g. in leadership role, or in change programme

Skills & Abilities

Essential:

• Able to think strategically and analytically 


•  Ability to develop strong working relationships and the ability to adapt and appeal to various audiences 


•  Excellent communication, influencing and negotiating skills.


•  Proficient in use of a range of IT software, including MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint 


•  Drive, energy, enthusiasm and determination. 


•  Creative and lateral thinker 


•  Ability to manage own workload and prioritise work in response to changing requirements and demands


•  Facilitation skills to direct and support teams to achieve change through measurable outcomes


• Ability to travel across Kent, Surrey & Sussex

Desirable:

• Sound knowledge of the NHS, social care, current government policies and change / innovation programmes.

Personal Style & Behaviours

Essential:

• Constructively challenges current practice
• Takes a visible lead
• Has a flexible and adaptable approach to work
• Helps others to develop themselves
• Values diversity and looks for opportunities to improve equality
• Acts with integrity and presents themselves as a good role model
• Smart, professional appearance and outlook

Other requirements

Essential:

• Reliable work record
• Possesses a driving licence.
• Appointment will be subject to evidence of right to work in the UK and an enhanced DBS check, due to the potential for the postholder to be working in an environment with children and vulnerable adults

Values and Behaviours

Health Innovation KSS has developed a clear vision for the direction of the company. A set of values and behaviours have also been developed and agreed to underpin this vision. Our values and behaviours framework can be found below. Applicants and employees will be expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to these values and behaviours, which will be assessed through the recruitment, selection and appraisal processes.

Diversity and Equal Opportunities

It is the desire of Health Innovation KSS to broaden diversity within its workforce.

Health Innovation KSS is an equal opportunities employer and ensures that all new, existing and prospective employees are treated fairly through the principles of equal treatment and promotion of diversity.

This includes:

• ensuring that all individuals who come into contact with Health Innovation KSS, whether as employees, stakeholders or in any other capacity are treated with dignity and respect;

• ensuring that the opportunities Health Innovation KSS provides for learning, personal development and employment are made available on a non-discriminatory basis and;

• providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for employees, stakeholders, visitors and others.

Along with all other Health Innovation networks (HINs), we are committed to a series of pledges to further support the diversity and innovation agenda.

Next Steps

To apply for this role, you must do so by following the application process, below.

You will answer some eligibility questions as well as some which are related to your job. After the job closes, our selection panel will review your application answers and CV. It is our aim to manage our recruitment processes in a fair, consistent and unbiased way. Please be assured that your application and CV will be entirely anonymised, at this stage of the selection process.

The closing date for applications is 12:00 pm on 9th of September 2025.

Interviews are expected to be conducted remotely, via Teams, W/C 22nd September 2025.

No Agencies, thank you.