Neonatal Lead

Job purpose

Healthwatch Wakefield are looking for a Neonatal Lead to join the Wakefield and Kirklees and Calderdale Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships (MNVP). Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnerships are a team of people working together to improve maternity and neonatal care for local people. They hold responsibility to act as multi-disciplinary working groups with the primary function of embedding the service user experience as a method for review and co-design of maternity services. The groups are made up of an MNVP Lead, lay roles, women and their families, healthcare professionals such as midwives, health visitors, GP’s, local commissioners, charities, and community groups.

The Neonatal Lead will play a crucial role in ensuring that the experiences and needs of families with lived experience of neonatal care are central to the development and improvement of local maternity and neonatal services across Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale.

This role would suit a person who is passionate about developing neonatal care and engaging with families across Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale. The role requires some flexibility in terms of time, but Healthwatch Wakefield also recognise and accommodate, where possible, the other commitments you may have, including work, parenting, and other caring commitments.

Main duties and responsibilities

The Neonatal Lead will be an advocate for the service user’s voice, ensuring it is heard and considered in the planning, review, and improvement of neonatal services. They will actively engage with families with lived experience of neonatal care, to gather feedback and understand their experiences.
They will build strong relationships with providers, commissioners, and other stakeholders to ensure that the service user voice is heard and influences decisions.
They will work to identify areas where services can be improved and advocate for changes that will enhance the quality of care for neonatal service users.
They will work closely with the Maternity and Neonatal Voices Partnership Leads, share engagement information with the MNVP Leads in order to support them feeding in to local and national meetings and events, in order to share the service user voice and provide independent scrutiny.

Key responsibilities

• Be one of the points of contact for neonatal enquiries to the MNVPs.
• Lead on engagement with families with lived experience of neonatal care.
• Work closely with the Wakefield and Kirklees and Calderdale MNVP Leads, for example sharing engagement data so that this can be fed into local and regional strategic meetings.
• Input as required to MNVP social media.
• Work in collaboration with the Yorkshire and Humber Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN), as part of the Co-Production Meeting.
• Organise at least three community based listening events per year, one in each locality – Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale.
• Attend already established neonatal community groups in order to gain knowledge and insight into the experiences of those attending.
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General Responsibilities

• Support a positive team environment, ensure compliance with policies, and promote equality and diversity.
• Participate in internal and external meetings as required and appropriate.
• Plan and manage own workload, set targets and deadlines, and be self-supporting with regard to administration and IT.
• Undertake specific identified projects and any other duties consistent with the nature and level of the post.
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Person Specification

Essential

• Have lived experience, that is be a parent whose baby or babies has/have spent time in neonatal care and/or accessed Neonatal services, whether this is recently or in the past.
• Be able to champion and seek out the voices of this group to support them to be heard effectively.
• Experience of leading engagement, particularly with hard to reach groups and communities.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organisational and prioritisation skills.
• Capable of working independently and managing a varied workload.
• Have an understanding of the structure of the NHS and Neonatal services within it, particularly in the Wakefield, Kirklees, and Calderdale areas.
• Experience working with, and developing partnerships with, a range of people, including project stakeholders, diverse community groups, and other organisations.
• Experience in data analysis, both quantitative and qualitative.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, including PowerPoint and Word.
• Commitment to the principles and values of Healthwatch.
• Demonstrates empathy, integrity, and a drive to influence.

Location: The Plex, 15 Margaret Street, Wakefield, WF1 2DQ, and Wakefield, Calderdale, and Kirklees Districts.
Reports to: Operations and Impact Manager
Pension: 5% employer contribution
Benefits: Flexible working, hybrid working, workplace pension

Apply via the Healthwatch Wakefield website.