NHS Band 7 Midwifery Team Leader: Role Overview and Importance
A Band 7 Midwifery Team Leader holds a pivotal role in modern maternity care within the NHS. This position bridges clinical excellence and leadership, ensuring that midwifery teams deliver safe, compassionate, and high-quality care to mothers and babies. As a Band 7 leader, you are responsible for supervising midwives, managing rotas, coordinating care, and promoting a positive culture within the team.
This role requires a high level of clinical expertise, emotional intelligence, and operational knowledge. You’ll also play a crucial part in quality improvement projects, staff development, and safeguarding processes.
In 2025, the typical salary range for a Band 7 Midwife in the NHS is approximately £43,742 to £50,056 per annum, depending on experience and location, with access to NHS pension schemes, generous annual leave, and continuous professional development opportunities.
20 Interview Questions and Sample Answers for a Band 7 Midwifery Team Leader
Tell us about yourself and why you want this Band 7 Team Leader role.
This is your opportunity to show passion for leadership, experience in clinical care, and dedication to improving maternity services. Mention key career milestones and your readiness to lead.
What leadership experience do you have in midwifery?
Highlight experience managing shifts, mentoring junior staff, handling conflict, or leading audits and projects.
How do you handle staff conflict within your team?
Demonstrate emotional intelligence. Say you approach conflict promptly, listen to both sides, mediate impartially, and promote a collaborative team environment.
Describe a time you led a quality improvement initiative.
Use the STAR method. For example, explain how you implemented a new handover tool to reduce communication errors during shift changes.
What would you do if a junior midwife repeatedly failed to follow protocols?
Explain your escalation process: provide feedback, offer support/training, document concerns, and involve HR or senior leadership if needed.
How do you prioritise tasks during a busy shift?
Talk about using clinical judgment, triaging based on urgency, delegating effectively, and staying calm under pressure.
What is your experience with risk assessment and safeguarding?
Emphasise knowledge of safeguarding protocols, multidisciplinary working, and examples where you escalated concerns appropriately.
How do you motivate your team?
Discuss positive reinforcement, involving staff in decision-making, supporting development, and celebrating successes.
Can you give an example of when you handled a complaint from a patient?
Describe how you listened to the patient, acknowledged their concerns, apologised if needed, and took corrective action while feeding back to the team.
What would you do if your team was short-staffed for a night shift?
Mention contacting the on-call manager, reallocating duties, possibly stepping in clinically, and ensuring patient safety remains the priority.
How do you ensure clinical governance is upheld?
Reference audits, policy updates, reflective practice, incident reviews, and encouraging an open, learning culture.
Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision quickly.
Use a clinical scenario – e.g., transferring a mother to theatre – and how you led the team, communicated effectively, and followed guidelines.
How do you stay current with maternity practice and policies?
Mention CPD, e-learning, maternity updates from the Royal College of Midwives, and participating in professional networks.
What’s your leadership style?
Be honest – maybe you use a transformational style focused on coaching and empowerment, while adapting to circumstances.
How would you support a newly qualified midwife struggling with confidence?
Discuss mentorship, regular one-to-ones, feedback, and gradually increasing their responsibilities with support.
How do you handle stress and support staff wellbeing?
Talk about self-care, debriefing sessions, promoting psychological safety, and leading by example.
How do you approach diversity, equality, and inclusion in your team?
Demonstrate awareness of unconscious bias, inclusive recruitment, supporting staff from diverse backgrounds, and culturally competent care.
Describe your experience with audits and service development.
Talk about initiating audits, analysing data, reporting outcomes, and implementing service improvements.
How would you manage change within the team, such as introducing a new protocol?
Discuss effective communication, involving staff in planning, providing training, and reviewing impact.
Why should we choose you for this Band 7 role?
Summarise your leadership, clinical excellence, ability to foster team morale, and commitment to improving patient outcomes.
Final Tips: Nail Your NHS Interview with Confidence
Preparing for an NHS Band 7 interview means blending clinical knowledge with leadership maturity. Research your Trust’s values, bring real examples that demonstrate the 6Cs of nursing (care, compassion, competence, communication, courage, commitment), and practice speaking clearly under pressure. Confidence, self-awareness, and an authentic passion for midwifery leadership will always stand out.
Before your interview:
Review the job description thoroughly
Know your numbers – read up on recent maternity KPIs
Practice STAR technique answers with a friend or mentor
Dress professionally and arrive early
Ask thoughtful questions about team development or future initiatives
Remember: You’ve earned this opportunity. Believe in your experience, prepare with intention, and let your leadership potential shine. You’ve got this!
