About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced neonatal nurse looking to take the next step in your career? We have an exciting opportunity for a Junior Sister to join our dedicated team at the Somerset Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. This role is perfect for a motivated and compassionate professional who is passionate about delivering outstanding care to sick and preterm infants and supporting their families during critical times.
As a Junior Sister, you will lead nursing teams on shift, ensuring the highest standards of care for babies requiring intensive, high dependency, and special care. You will work closely with parents and carers, providing emotional support and teaching essential skills to help them care for their baby. This is a role where your expertise and leadership will make a real difference--not only to the infants in your care but also to their families and the wider multidisciplinary team.
You will also play a key role in mentoring junior staff and students, supporting professional development, and contributing to service improvement. If you thrive in a fast-paced, highly specialised environment and are committed to excellence in neonatal care, we would love to hear from you.
Main duties of the job
Lead a team of nurses on shift, managing and delivering neonatal care.Provide specialist clinical interventions, including neonatal life support, blood gas analysis, venepuncture, and cannulation.Support and teach parents, empowering them to care for their baby.Communicate complex and sensitive information to families with empathy and clarity.Supervise and mentor junior staff and students, contributing to training and development.Ensure compliance with infection control, safeguarding, and Trust policies.Participate in discharge planning and multidisciplinary meetings.Deputise for the Sister in charge when required.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
Flexible working options to help you balance work and lifeNHS pension scheme for long-term financial securityGenerous annual leave allowance to recharge and relaxA strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potentialAdditionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description Job responsibilities
In this role, you will:
Assess and monitor infants' conditions, interpreting rapidly changing clinical status and implementing appropriate care plans.Manage emergency situations, including attending deliveries of preterm or sick infants as part of the resuscitation team.Organise and maintain a safe, therapeutic environment for babies and families.Liaise with other professionals such as doctors, midwives, social workers, and counsellors to provide holistic care.Maintain accurate documentation and update electronic records (BadgerNet).Contribute to policy development, audits, and service improvement initiatives.Ensure equipment is maintained and staff are trained in its use.Support the Unit Manager with staffing, patient acuity data, and incident reporting.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse part 1, 7, or 10 of the NMCSpecialist Neonatal Intensive Care Qualification.Degree or working towards a degreeTeaching/Mentorship Qualification
Experience Essential
Post registration experience in neonates.Teaching ability and experience.
Additional Criteria Essential
Knowledge of relevant NHS legislation to include Clinical Governance, COSHH, Risk Management, Infection Control, Waste Management, Manual Handling, Confidentiality and Data Protection.Current knowledge of evidence-based practice in neonatal nursing.Knowledge of Safeguarding ChildrenUnderstanding of the legal and ethical issues relating to babies and children.
Desirable
Able to undertake higher level specialist clinical skills
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 Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
Address Musgrove Park Hospital
Musgrove Road
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 5DA
Employer's website https://www.somersetft.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)