About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, motivated and compassionate Neonatal Sister / Charge Nurse to join the Special Care Baby Unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital within County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
Our Special Care Baby Units at CDDFT provide high-quality family-centred neonatal care for babies requiring special care and high dependency support. Working closely with maternity, paediatric and regional neonatal network colleagues, we are committed to delivering safe, effective and responsive care for babies and their families.
We are seeking an enthusiastic Band 6 Neonatal Sister / Charge Nurse who will combine excellent clinical expertise with strong leadership skills to support the day-to-day management of the special care baby unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The successful candidate will act as a clinical role model, provide professional support to colleagues, contribute to service development and quality improvement initiatives, and ensure the delivery of high standards of care at all times.
Applicants must be a Registered Nurse with a current UK NMC registration and have significant post registration neonatal experience. The Qualification in Specialty (QIS) in Neonatal Care is essential for this role.
Main duties of the job
The Neonatal Sister / Charge Nurse will provide visible clinical leadership and coordinate the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality neonatal care across the service. They will support the Ward Manager in the operational management of the special care baby unit and act as the nurse in charge throughout their shift.
The post holder will be responsible for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating complex care for babies requiring special care and high dependency support, ensuring care is evidence-based and family-centred. They will provide clinical expertise during emergency situations, support the stabilisation of sick and preterm infants, and work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to promote excellent patient outcomes.
The successful candidate will supervise, support and develop junior staff, students and newly appointed team members, fostering a positive learning environment and promoting professional development. They will contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality improvement initiatives and service development projects, ensuring that national standards and best practice are consistently achieved.
This role requires excellent communication, leadership and organisational skills, together with the ability to manage workload pressures, support colleagues and champion high standards of neonatal care.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.
We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.
Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.
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Job description Job responsibilities
We are delighted to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Neonatal Sister / Charge Nurse to join our established Special Care Baby Unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital within County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.
This leadership role is ideal for an experienced neonatal nurse who is passionate about delivering outstanding patient care while supporting the development of staff and services. Working within our special care baby unit at Darlington Memorial Hospital, you will provide expert clinical care and operational leadership within a supportive and progressive neonatal environment.
The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating clinical activity, managing patient flow and acuity, supporting safe staffing, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based care. As a senior member of the nursing team, you will act as nurse in charge on a regular basis and provide professional leadership, guidance and support to colleagues across the neonatal service.
You will play a key role in supporting Family Integrated Care, promoting infant feeding, encouraging parental involvement and ensuring families receive compassionate support throughout their neonatal journey. You will work closely with medical, nursing and allied health professional colleagues to ensure effective multidisciplinary care and positive patient outcomes.
The post holder will contribute to education and workforce development by supporting preceptorship, mentorship and the ongoing training of nursing staff and students. There will be opportunities to participate in clinical audit, quality improvement programmes, governance activities, research and service development initiatives that enhance standards of care.
We are committed to supporting career progression and professional development. The successful applicant will have access to leadership development programmes, clinical supervision, specialist neonatal education and opportunities to participate in Trust-wide and network-based projects.
This role requires a dynamic and adaptable individual with excellent communication skills, strong clinical credibility and a commitment to continuous improvement. The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to lead by example, influence practice positively and maintain high standards of professional conduct in accordance with the NMC Code.
If you are an experienced neonatal nurse looking to take the next step in your career and make a meaningful contribution to neonatal services, we would welcome your application.
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Significant post-registration neonatal nursing experience Experience of caring for babies requiring special care and high dependency support Experience of coordinating shifts and managing clinical workload Experience supporting junior staff, students and new team members Experience working within a multidisciplinary team environment
Desirable
Experience acting as nurse in charge Experience participating in audit, quality improvement or service development work Experience in neonatal stabilisation and emergency care Experience contributing to governance activities
Statutory Registration Essential
Registered Nurse on part 1 of the NMC register Valid UK NMC PIN
Special Skills & Knowledge Essential
Advanced neonatal clinical knowledge and skills Strong leadership and decision-making abilities Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ability to coordinate and prioritise complex workloads Knowledge of neonatal clinical governance and patient safety principles Ability to lead and motivate staff Understanding of Family Integrated Care principles Ability to recognise and escalate deterioration appropriately Commitment to evidence-based practice and continuous improvement
Desirable
Understanding of workforce planning and resource management Knowledge of neonatal network standards and national guidance Experience undertaking audit, research or quality improvement activities
Special Requirements Essential
Ability to work flexibly to meet service needs Ability to work across Trust neonatal sites Commitment to professional development and leadership responsibilities Demonstrates Trust values and behaviours
Desirable
Participation in Trust-wide or regional neonatal projects Involvement in teaching, education or practice development programmes
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse (RN) or Registered Sick Children's Nurse (RSCN) Current NMC registration Qualification in Specialty (QIS) in Neonatal Care Evidence of ongoing professional development
Desirable
Teaching and Assessing/Mentorship qualification Leadership or management qualification Degree level study or working towards degree / masters level qualification
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Address Darlington Memorial Hospital NHS Trust
Hollyhurst Road
Darlington
County Durham
DL3 6HX
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.cddft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)