About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, ambitious Senior Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) to join our neonatal team at Worcestershire Royal Hospital and play a key role in shaping the future of neonatal care.
We are looking for an accomplished ANNP who combines expert neonatal clinical practice with compassionate leadership. You will practise with a high degree of professional autonomy as an integral member of the neonatal multidisciplinary team, working on the middle-grade rota and providing advanced assessment, diagnosis and management for premature and sick newborn babies.
Our Neonatal Unit provides intensive, high-dependency and special care, alongside a 9-cot Transitional Care Unit co-located in the postnatal ward. Our Neonatal Outreach team supports babies and families following discharge, including those requiring ongoing care in the community. We are proud of our multidisciplinary approach, with dedicated family integrated care, education and allied health professional support.
This is an exciting time to join our service. We are developing our ANNP workforce to strengthen senior neonatal clinical cover and support our ambition for a sustainable 7 day ANNP rota. This role offers the opportunity to make a visible contribution to clinical care, workforce development, education, research and service improvement while working within a supportive and forward-looking neonatal team.
Main duties of the job
As Senior Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP), you will:
Provide autonomous, evidence-based assessment and management of premature and sick newborn babies across the neonatal pathway.
Work as part of the middle-grade rota and provide senior clinical leadership within the neonatal multidisciplinary team.
Support safe, effective and family-centred care across the Neonatal Unit, delivery areas, Transitional Care and postnatal services.
Provide supervision, education and mentorship to ANNPs, junior medical colleagues, nurses and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
Contribute to clinical governance, audit, quality improvement, guideline development and research.
Lead and influence service development, helping to embed innovation and evidence-based practice across neonatal services.
This is an exciting time to join our service. We are developing our ANNP workforce to strengthen senior neonatal clinical cover and support our ambition for a sustainable seven-day ANNP rota. This role offers the opportunity to make a visible contribution to clinical care, workforce development, education, research and service improvement while working within a supportive and forward-looking neonatal team.
About us
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is more than 7,000 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us. Our values, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Being open and honest
Ensuring people feel cared for
Showing respect to everyone
We are committed to developing a culture of continuous improvement by embedding the principles of our Improvement System.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
DBS Checks and Costs
Any applicants who are offered posts requiring a DBS check as part of their employment check will have the cost of this check (at the current rate) deducted from their salary. Please see link in Supporting Information section for more details on DBS checks and costs.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Job Purpose
The postholder is an experienced Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) and an integrated member of the neonatal multidisciplinary team.
They will practise with a high degree of professional and personal autonomy, working independently with an agreed scope of practice, with clinical supervision from a Consultant Neonatologist, when required. Care delivery will be evidence-based, underpinned by advanced clinical skills and sound clinical reasoning.
In addition to advanced clinical practice responsibilities, the post holder will lead a designated service portfolio, assuming accountability for the development, implementation, monitoring and reporting of associated objectives, standards and service improvement initiatives across the neonatal service.
The postholder will work on the middle grade rota, holding the neonatal bleep and will work to an agreed job plan.
Key responsibilities
Exercise independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the care of premature, sick newborns.
Make judgements involving complex information, using analysis and interpretation to ensure safe, effective, and family centred care.
Manage and coordinate care in complex clinical situations when a neonatal consultant is not immediately available, escalating appropriately when required.
Act as an independent non-medical prescriber in line with NMC and professional standards.
Provide supervision, teaching, and educational support to members of the neonatal team within the clinical environment.
Participate in relevant research activity to inform and improve clinical care.
Key Duties
The post holder will
Provide continuity of care by sharing patient and family information effectively with the rotating neonatal services team.
Coordinate discharge planning including arranging medical follow up for complex and/or long-term neonatal patients.
Provides day-to-day clinical leadership, guidance, and mentorship to junior medical staff and ANNPs under the supervision of the Neonatal Consultants.
Support the supervision and professional development of junior ANNPs in clinical practice, including participation in annual personal development reviews in collaboration with the neonatal lead consultant.
Undertake clinical review of babies in the Neonatal Unit (NNU), Delivery Suite, Transitional Care Unit, Postnatal ward, and Meadow Birth Centre under the supervision of the Neonatal Consultant.
Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team including paediatrics, nursing, midwifery, obstetrics, and allied healthcare professionals to deliver high quality, family integrated care within neonatal services.
Practices within neonatal guidelines, exercising advanced clinical judgement to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the care of premature and sick babies and their families.
Demonstrates expertise in advanced neonatal skills and knowledge in clinical practice.
Supports the education and skills development of medical, nursing, and allied health professional staff within the neonatal service.
Contributes to neonatal service improvement by engaging in audit, quality improvement and guideline development activities.
Assess the clinical need for admission and transfer, including stabilisation for transport, of preterm or critically ill neonate.
Maintains Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration and revalidation requirements.
Works in line with the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) ANNP Capabilities Framework at Senior/Expert level (2021).
Holds non-medical prescribing qualification and practise within NMC and Royal Pharmaceutical Society standards for prescribers.
Main Duties and ResponsibilitiesClinical Practice AreasNeonatal Unit and Transitional Care UnitDelivery Suite including obstetric theatres. Post Natal Ward and Meadow Birth Centre
Local Delegated Clinical Responsibilities
The postholder will
Undertakes daily responsibilities on the middle grade rota, including holding the bleep.
Participates in daily neonatal ward rounds, engaging with parents/caregivers, medical and nursing team members to provide holistic assessment, formulate differential diagnosis, plan care and evaluate outcomes.
Provide timely senior review for junior medical staff, ANNPs, nursing/midwifery staff as required.
Attend high-risk deliveries and emergency calls to leading the immediate management of sick or premature infants in line with local protocols.
Use advanced knowledge and skills to manage emergency situations within neonatal clinical areas, escalating to the consultant as appropriate.
Apply clinical reasoning underpinned by a comprehensive understanding of neonatal physiology and pathophysiology to plan and manage care episodes from birth to discharge.
Assess the health status of through physical examination, medical history, and social assessment to establish differential diagnosis.
Plan, implement and evaluate care in accordance with best evidence, national guidance, and local protocols.
Provide senior clinical advice regarding admission, transfer, and discharge from neonatal services to optimise patient safety, acuity management and cot capacity.
Request and interpret clinical investigations, acting on results appropriately within scope of practice.
Refer to specialist healthcare professionals and centres, seeking guidance from the neonatal consultant when required.
Liaise with medical and transport teams for neonates requiring transfer to other neonatal or childrens hospitals.
Coordinate the stabilisation of sick and/or extremely preterm neonates for urgent transfer to tertiary centres in collaboration with the local consultant and tertiary / transport teams.
Work with families, neonatal consultants, the multidisciplinary team, community outreach services and relevant community organisations to facilitate safe and effective discharge planning.
Lead discharge planning for complex and/or long-term neonatal patients in partnership with the neonatal community outreach service and neonatal consultants.
Identify and document the psychosocial needs of each family and baby in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Promote family centred care through regular communication with parents about their babys progress and by encouraging active involvement in care planning and delivery.
Ensure all aspects of care and communication are documented accurately and contemporaneously in both written and electronic records.
Practical Procedures
The senior ANNP will perform advanced practical and diagnostic procedures, seeking advice and support from a consultant and in accordance with local and national clinical guidelines. Procedures will include, but are not limited to:
Initiation and ongoing management of neonates receiving mechanical ventilation, including intubation and insertion of alternative airway devices.
Application of ventilation strategies appropriate to clinical conditions, adjustment of ventilation settings and extubation.
Administration of surfactant via endotracheal tube (ETT) or alternative less invasive techniques.
Investigation and management of suspected pneumothorax, including needle aspiration, chest drain placement and removal.
Initiation and prescribing of treatment, intravenous fluids, and parenteral nutrition within local and national guidance.
Advanced resuscitation including emergency drug administration in line with local neonatal guidelines.
Blood sampling via capillary, venous, arterial, and indwelling arterial/venous catheters.
Insertion and removal of intravenous cannulas and longlines (percutaneous central venous lines).
Insertion and removal of peripheral arterial line, umbilical venous lines, and umbilical arterial lines.
Lumbar puncture with interpretation and action of results.
Insertion and removal of urinary catheters and suprapubic aspiration of the bladder when clinically indicated.
Clinical examination and assessment including examination of the newborn.
Ordering, interpretation and acting upon laboratory tests, radiological imaging, and other investigations.
Diagnosis pathophysiology conditions and undertaking dilution and/or exchange transfusion as appropriate.
Performance and interpretation of cranial ultrasound. Electrocardiogram (ECG) and cerebral function monitoring (CFM) recording and interpretation.
Leadership/Management
The senior ANNP fulfils BAPM (2021) Leadership and Management Capabilities Framework while working on the middle grade rota providing clinical leadership under the supervision of the Neonatal Consultants.
Person Specification
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Demonstrates emotional resilience and composure under pressure
- Acts with openness, honesty, and integrity in all professional practice
- Constructive and receptive to challenge; committed to continuous improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to changing priorities and service needs
- Builds and sustains positive, collaborative relationships across teams and services
- Demonstrates empathy, compassion, and support for colleagues, families, and service users
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse, RSCN, RN Child
- ENB 405
- MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice (Neonatal Pathway)
- Recognised mentor/assessor or teaching qualification.
- Independent non-medical prescriber
- Accredited New-born Infant Physical Examination
- Current NLS certification
Desirable
- NLS Instructor
- ARNI qualification
- Counselling/
- Bereavement training
- Qualification in leadership/management
Experience
Essential
- Extensive ANNP experience (Tier 1 rota or equivalent)
- Expert knowledge of neonatal pathophysiology, diagnostics, and evidence-based care
- Advanced clinical decision-making and autonomous practice in complex neonatal cases
- Proficient in advanced neonatal clinical skills (e.g. Intubation, lumber puncture)
- Proven experience implementing evidence-based practice and service improvements
- Active participation in clinical audit, governance, and quality improvement initiatives
- Experience delivering and assessing Neonatal Life Support
- Teaching, mentorship, and supervision of colleagues and trainees
- Clinical leadership with ability to coordinate, influence and support multi-disciplinary teams
- Non- medical prescribing experience Ongoing professional development and maintenance of advanced practice portfolio
Desirable
- Neonatal transport experience
- Cranial Ultrasound competence
- Intubation
- Research
Skills and Attributes
Essential
- Strong clinical leadership and role modelling with a positive, supportive style
- Effective management, organisational, and interpersonal skills
- Highly organised with excellent time management abilities
- Emotionally resilient and able to manage complex, sensitive situations
- Open, honest, and acts with integrity in all professional practice
- Open to constructive challenge and committed to continuous improvement
- Flexible and adaptable to meet changing clinical and service priorities
- Builds collaborative relationships across multidisciplinary and partner services
- Empathetic, supportive, and committed to family-centred neonatal care
Desirable
- Neonatal transport experience
- Cranial Ultrasound competence
- Intubation
- Research
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.
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
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust
Address
Charles Hastings Way
Worcester
Worcestershire
WR5 1DD
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.worcsacute.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)