Carmen Cross
Lymington,Hampshire
Summary
Senior Management and Quality Governance Leader experienced in service review, clinical records analysis, safeguarding oversight, and board reporting. Improved governance frameworks and enhanced service performance across women’s, family, and community services through effective collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. Achieved reductions in sickness rates and enhanced staff satisfaction while optimising financial performance.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
Maternity reviewer
Self Employed
Lymington, Hants
05.2025 - Current
- Conducted comprehensive reviews of maternity care services, identifying key improvement areas to enhance patient outcomes.
- Collaborated for 9 months on Nottingham review of maternity services, contributing insights under leadership of Donna Ockenden.
- Reviewed clinical records, facilitating multidisciplinary discussions to achieve higher grading and finalise care assessments.
- Provided input into leadership and governance chapters of the final review as part of a wider team.
Quality Governance Lead
Hampshire and IOW NHS Foundation Trust
Southampton, Hampshire
09.2023 - 12.2025
- Provided leadership of the quality and governance agenda within Public Health women and Families divison
- Collaborated with matrons, service managers, and leads to deliver high-quality care, clinical safety, and effective clinical governance.
- Established reporting framework for Board to ensure clarity in governance and accountability in new role.
- Maintained the risk register to enhance visibility for all levels up to the board.
- Support senior staff to undertake investigations, clinical reviews, audits providing advice throughout.
- Initiated monthly meetings to monitor finance, health rosters, training data, and complaints, encouraging staff participation for training and development.
- Worked With teams to reduce spend and ensure safe clinical practice through monitoring of pay and non pay.
- Led large geographical areas including Portsmouth, Southampton, and the Isle of Wight.
- Conducted health visits and provided nursing care to children and families.
Programme Recovery Manager
University Hospitals Dorset
03.2022 - 03.2023
- Conducted initial assessment of service readiness for quality assurance visit in colposcopy, identifying significant gaps and extensive waiting lists, presenting findings to the board and collaborating with team, PHE, and commissioners for six months to address concerns.
- Streamlined Covid swabbing service by consolidating operations from two sites to one and establishing governance on staffing, aiding new manager in transition.
- Supported the Covid medicines delivery unit in transforming the service from ad hoc consultant support to a fully functioning and paid service.
- Supported surgical division by providing leadership to enhance operational efficiency and oversight, collaborating with teams to identify issues and present recommendations to the board.
Head of Midwifery (The Royal Bournemouth Hospital)
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust (now merged Trusts)
04.2015 - 03.2022
- I was employed as the Head of Midwifery, Directorate Manager and Named Safeguarding Midwifery
- CQC rating from Requires improvement (2015) moving to Good (2018) with leadership outstanding – recognition of the Governance structure and leadership.
- Worked with Donna’s findings and Redesigned the maternity structure – previously very lean and no focus on Governance or education – ultimately improved reporting to Board and training.
- Reviewed series of SI’s as instructed by DON on commencement in post, enhancing governance and safety.
- Instigated RCM ‘Caring for you’ campaign so staff had an ability to raise concerns and work with the senior team – successfully engaged CEO and DOM in the project - Short listed 3 years running for the award and won in 2019.
- Through leadership and staff engagement significantly reduced staff turnover – 20% - 2%
- Achieved £147K saving in first year through close review of cross charges, maintaining budget without overspend.
- Developed future leaders through targeted training and mentorship programmes, fostering staff progression.
- Oversaw daily operations during tenure
- Recommended Donna Ockendon to undertake external review following my internal review.
Lead Midwife/Deputy Head of Midwifery
Imperial College Health Care Trust
05.2012 - 02.2015
- Managed both Imperial maternity sites (initially Queen Charlottes and then St Mary’s as Deputy HOM.
- Led various initiatives during tenure, enhancing service delivery.
- Collaborated with Jacqui Dunkley-Bent, Director of the women and children’s division, to identify solutions for operational issues, resulting in successful recruitment open day, Staff Awards Evening, and additional projects.
- Expanded service provision in response to demand, including development of FGM services.
- Development of Transitional care and appropriate coding/finance.
- Understanding of HR processes – with presenting and hearing cases up to dismissal.
- Employment Tribunal – attendance as an investigated manager – case not up held.
- Worked on shift at night to gain an understanding of out of hours culture.
Antenatal Matron – Project Manager
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
01.2009 - 03.2012
- Led project management initiatives identifying skills gaps in senior staff, recommending targeted training, resulting in the development of a deputy operational manager, 2 matrons, and 1 senior matron, with 25% of the team opting out of additional responsibilities.
- Streamlined AN services based on user and staff feedback, reducing waits, incidents, and complaints.
- Reduced sickness rates from the highest in the Trust to the lowest – by leading the Matron team into pro-actively managing.
- Identified a more efficient way of roster management – resulted in significant saving – clinical time back to the ward. Including ownership of the clinical leads.
- Successfully identified talented leaders
Interim Community Manager – Interim Head of Midwifery
University Hospital Lewisham
03.2011 - 02.2012
- Accepted the position of Interim Head of Midwifery to provide leadership.
- Collaborated with CEO on strategic initiatives to enhance midwifery services.
- Successfully recruited to 3 Matron posts.
- Funding and recruitment to Safeguarding Lead Midwife post.
- Funding for additional Midwifery posts.
- Identified failings in Education and Training - recruiting appropriate educators.
- Engaged MSLC to identify key issues impacting service delivery.
- Seconded as community manager; escalated serious failings to Director of Nursing within 2 weeks.
Labour Ward Co-ordinator
Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Labour Ward Co-ordinator
Royal Surrey County Hospital
Inpatient Midwife/RCM Steward
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Integrated Midwife/RCM Steward
St Richards Hospital
Staff Nurse on Emergency Surgical Admissions
Queen Alexandra Hospital
Education
A systems approach to investigating and learning from patient safety incidents
HSSIB
01-2024
Prince Foundation -
ARM Group
01-2010
MA - Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care
Chichester University
01-2008
Bsc - Midwifery
Southampton University
01-2002
Advanced Diploma - Adult Nursing
Southampton University
01-2000
Skills
- Clinical governance frameworks
- Quality improvement
- Service management
- Risk management
- Board reporting
- Incident investigation
- Audit review
- Clinical documentation review
- Safeguarding oversight
- Workforce planning
- Stakeholder engagement
- Regulatory adherence
- Change management
- Data analysis
- Communication skills
- Problem-solving
- Analytical and critical thinking
Timeline
Maternity reviewer
Self Employed
05.2025 - Current
Quality Governance Lead
Hampshire and IOW NHS Foundation Trust
09.2023 - 12.2025
Programme Recovery Manager
University Hospitals Dorset
03.2022 - 03.2023
Head of Midwifery (The Royal Bournemouth Hospital)
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Trust (now merged Trusts)
04.2015 - 03.2022
Lead Midwife/Deputy Head of Midwifery
Imperial College Health Care Trust
05.2012 - 02.2015
Interim Community Manager – Interim Head of Midwifery
University Hospital Lewisham
03.2011 - 02.2012
Antenatal Matron – Project Manager
Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust
01.2009 - 03.2012
Labour Ward Co-ordinator
Royal Hampshire County Hospital
Labour Ward Co-ordinator
Royal Surrey County Hospital
Inpatient Midwife/RCM Steward
Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Integrated Midwife/RCM Steward
St Richards Hospital
Staff Nurse on Emergency Surgical Admissions
Queen Alexandra Hospital
A systems approach to investigating and learning from patient safety incidents
HSSIB
Prince Foundation -
ARM Group
MA - Management and Leadership in Health and Social Care
Chichester University
Bsc - Midwifery
Southampton University
Advanced Diploma - Adult Nursing
Southampton University