Project Lead - Maternity and Neonatal Methodology Development

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) is the independent regulator of healthcare in Wales. We inspect NHS services and regulate independent healthcare providers to ensure they meet the required standards, policies, guidance, and regulations. Our aim is to drive improvement and safeguard the quality of care.

We are offering an exciting secondment opportunity for a dynamic and experienced project lead - to manage the design and delivery of a new inspection and assurance methodology for maternity and neonatal services in Wales.

About the Role

This is a time limited project, to develop a bespoke inspection approach for maternity and neonatal services. The work spans the full inspection cycle from planning the fieldwork, developing key lines of enquiry, workbooks to capture evidence and reporting on the findings. 

This is not an update or revision of HIW’s existing methodology tools. It is a ground up redesign, informed by national policy, clinical standards, patient safety risk and considering the experience of women, parents and their families. It will also consider the findings and recommendations from the current national Maternity and Neonatal National Assurance Assessment.

The secondment will provide dedicated capacity within a busy function to lead this important project. The work will pave the way forward for what the future model for inspecting NHS services may look like.

The post holder will report to the Head of Partnerships, Intelligence and Methodology and be accountable to a Project Board comprising senior HIW staff, including the Director of Assurance, Head of NHS Assurance and representatives from the Methodology and Clinical teams. The Project Sponsor is the Director of Strategy and Engagement.

Maternity and neonatal services are among the most complex and high-risk areas in healthcare. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape how HIW inspects and assures these services.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development of a new inspection methodology for maternity and neonatal services – shaping HIW’s approach to assurance in these complex clinical areas.
• Apply an effective project management approach to ensure the methodology is delivered within the agreed timescale.
• Implement an advisory panel for the work, which will likely include senior clinicians within both maternity services and neonatal services.
• Triangulate intelligence and advice from clinical networks, Welsh Government, clinical peer reviewers, and other stakeholders to inform the design.
• Ensure the methodology is evidence-based and aligned with Royal Colleges, national policy, clinical standards, and professional guidelines.
• Collaborate closely with clinical peer reviewers to inform the methodology development.

Essential Criteria

• Experience in clinical governance, particularly in maternity, neonatal, or related areas.
• Strong understanding of maternity and neonatal care pathways, including the complexities and risks involved.
• Awareness of relevant healthcare policy in Wales, such as the national Quality Statement for Maternity and Neonatal services.
• Proven ability to engage and communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders, including clinical professionals, policy leads, and internal teams.
• Experience in developing or applying assurance methodologies within a healthcare or regulatory setting.
• Excellent observational, assessment, and analytical skills, with the ability to interpret complex information and translate it into practical inspection tools.

Desirable Criteria

• Demonstrable project management experience, including planning, delivery, and risk management in a healthcare or public sector context.

An opportunity to play a key role in driving forward HIW’s assurance approach for maternity and neonatal services in Wales.  It will provide experience of engaging with various teams across HIW, with a focus on the Partnerships Intelligence and Methodology branch.

This role is a Welsh language skills desirable role.

This post will be subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) enhanced disclosure check.

Travel throughout Wales may be required.

For further information regarding the post contact Richard Hayward - richard.hayward@gov.wales

If you are passionate about improving maternity and neonatal services, we encourage you to apply for this unique opportunity to make a significant impact in Wales. Please submit your expression of interest outlining how you meet the job specific criteria via e-mail to richard.hayward@gov.wales (Head of Partnerships, Intelligence and Methodology) by Monday 8 December 2025.