Developing the next generation of midwifery leaders
For Celena Biggs, becoming a midwife was an ambition she had held since childhood.
Celena is a Band 7 community midwife team leader at North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust, leading a team that provides continuity of care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period.
Participation in the North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme, delivered through a collaboration between the North West Regional Maternity Team and the NHS North West Leadership Academy, provided Celena with the confidence, knowledge and self-awareness to step fully into leadership, helping her recognise the value of her own strengths while equipping her to influence change within her organisation and local community.
A childhood dream
“I’ve always wanted to be a midwife. I don’t know what it was, but when I was picking my options at school, I went for the sciences because I knew when I was 13 that I wanted to be a midwife.”
The ambition stood out within her family. There were no doctors, nurses or healthcare professionals to inspire her path.
While studying for her A-levels, Celena became pregnant, and although her determination to become a midwife remained intact, practical realities meant that pursuing the profession had to wait. Celena’s encounters with maternity services as a young parent shaped her understanding of what good care should look like.
“My experience of midwifery as a teenager wasn’t really a positive one. I felt like I was judged for being a teenager. I feel like they weren’t compassionate with me.”
Celena stresses that not every health professional she encountered made her feel this way. Many were supportive and kind, but during a period when she felt frightened and vulnerable, some interactions remained with her long after the experience ended.
“I think that experience made me determined that I wouldn’t want anybody else to feel like that.”
What emerged was an early understanding of a principle that would later define both her clinical work and leadership approach: the way professionals make people feel can stay with them for years.
Pursuing the dream
“When I was 35, and my life was more settled, I decided to pursue my dream of becoming a midwife.”
However, the entry requirements for midwifery had changed significantly since her original plans to enter the profession.
“I enrolled at a night college and did an access course and re-sat my maths GCSE and a science GCSE and made sure that I had all the entry requirements that were needed.”
She secured a position as a maternity support worker at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, working alongside midwives and doctors across maternity services.
“I had some doubts before I started. I thought this was a massive commitment; is it really what I want to do? But I started working there, and it very quickly cemented that this is 100% what I was born to do.”
The role gave her first-hand exposure to the realities of maternity care and helped develop practical experience, professional relationships and confidence within clinical environments.
“I was really fortunate that once I’d got all the entry requirements, Bolton seconded me to do my midwife training. So I got a fully funded place at university.”
The arrangement removed one of the most significant barriers facing mature students and parents undertaking professional degrees: financial pressure.
“I still got a wage coming in so I could support my family and I qualified as a midwife when I was 39.”
Following her qualification, Celena returned to Bolton as part of her secondment agreement.
“I walked back into Bolton, not as a maternity support worker. I walked back in as a midwife.”
Eventually, Celena moved to Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (Now North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust) as part of Team RIVER, supporting vulnerable families experiencing challenges such as social care involvement, language barriers and teenage pregnancy.
“I absolutely love it. I’m dead passionate about midwifery. I love the continuity model. I love working with the families and getting to know the families.”
Leadership was always part of the plan
“From being a maternity support worker, my nickname was matron. Leadership was always part of the plan for me.”
Although midwifery had been Celena’s ultimate ambition, leadership was never far behind. When a secondment opportunity arose to lead Team OCEAN, a team supporting women with lower levels of vulnerability, providing consistent care throughout pregnancy, birth and the postnatal period, Celena’s manager encouraged her to apply.
“My manager at the time was really supportive and said to me, ‘I think this is perfect for you. It’s a step in the right direction.”
She secured the position, gaining her first leadership experience within the NHS.
During her secondment, Celena’s matron and deputy head of midwifery received an invitation to nominate midwives to participate in the North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme.
The programme, delivered collaboratively by the North West Regional Maternity Team and the NHS North West Leadership Academy, was designed to support emerging maternity leaders and strengthen leadership capability across the region.
“I felt flattered because I thought they really do believe that me going on this programme is going to help me and in turn help the women and help the trust.”
North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme
As maternity services continue to evolve, developing the next generation of compassionate and capable leaders has never been more important. The North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme provides aspiring leaders with opportunities to strengthen their leadership skills, learn from experienced colleagues and build networks across the region. Commenting on the programme, Claire Matthews, Regional Chief Midwife, NHS England North West, said:
“It has been an absolute delight and privilege to see the growth, confidence and ambition demonstrated by participants throughout the Next Steps in Midwifery Leadership programme. By combining a nationally recognised NHS Leadership course with face-to-face learning workshops tailored to the realities of maternity services, this programme has empowered emerging leaders to recognise their potential and take meaningful steps forward in their careers. The future of maternity services depends on strong, compassionate and inclusive leadership at every level, and the regional team will continue to support organisations and individuals to build a sustainable midwifery leadership pipeline across the North West.”
Claire Matthews, Regional Chief Midwife, NHS England North West
Coming into the programme, one of Celena’s primary objectives was gaining confidence in navigating some of the more complex aspects of management.
“The course helped me see my strengths and the strengths of others. I’m quite loud and bubbly and outspoken, but there were others on the course who were not like that, but that didn’t make them any less of a good leader because their strengths were something else that weren’t my strengths.”
Face-to-face events brought participants together with senior leaders from across the region, including highly experienced chief midwives.
“Listening to their stories really made you think, ‘Well, if they can do it, I can do it.”
Another aspect of the programme that left a lasting impression was discussions around speaking up, courage and professional responsibility.
“We listened to stories about whistleblowing and standing up for what’s right and saying ‘this is wrong’ and having the courage to do that. It made me think, ‘That’s me. I can do that.”
For Celena, relationships developed during the programme became a valuable legacy.
“Having one-to-one conversations with other midwives from different trusts and building those relationships and contacts was really good. We’ve got a little WhatsApp group, and we’re all still in touch with each other.”
During her time on the North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme, the role Celena was covering on secondment was advertised permanently. Building on the confidence and experience she had gained, she applied for the position and was successful.
Turning learning into action
For Celena, one of the strongest indicators of impact has been the confidence to put ideas into action.
Managing attendance concerns, sickness processes and performance discussions can be among the most challenging responsibilities for new leaders. The programme helped her approach those conversations differently.
“It’s given me more confidence as a leader to have those difficult conversations, particularly around sickness absence and performance management. I feel comfortable saying this is for me to support you and make sure that I can keep you in work and keep you happy and keep you productive.”
The programme has also strengthened Celena’s confidence to build partnerships beyond traditional NHS boundaries. As part of the programme’s final assessment, Celena has led a collaboration with Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service that helps expectant and new parents understand home safety.
“Lymm has no children’s centres. So I’ve got midwives running antenatal clinics in a fire station and a library. We created a session about bringing a new baby home and how to make your home safe, which combines the safety expertise of the fire service and maternity services.”
Celena has also started a new project working with Babyzone, a charity that provides support and developmental activities for babies and young children.
“I said, why don’t we run a clinic at Babyzone and get the parents in while they’re pregnant so they can see all the facilities and support? It’s about innovation. The learning from the programme has made me not scared of saying my ideas to improve things.”
Looking ahead
Although leadership development has accelerated her progression, Celena remains deeply connected to the clinical aspects of her role.
“I’m really happy doing what I’m doing now because I love patient contact. I also love my team but I don’t think it will be forever. I do think that eventually I will start looking at maybe stepping up as a ward manager and eventually a matron. I know that getting all this experience now will only help me get where I need to be in the future.”
Reflecting on her journey, Celena’s message to aspiring leaders is straightforward: Many people underestimate their own potential.
“I never ever thought that I’d have this job so early in my career. If you have the opportunities to do any sort of learning or leadership programmes, just go for it. Even just going for the interview experience. Don’t be scared of it.”
Celena Biggs’ story demonstrates precisely why investing in leadership development matters. The North West Midwifery Next Steps in Leadership Programme strengthened her confidence, enhanced her leadership capability, helped her understand her strengths, broadened her professional network and provided the encouragement needed to translate ideas into action. When talented clinicians are given the opportunity to grow, the impact reaches far beyond the individual participant, creating lasting benefits for organisations, staff and the people they serve.