About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Neonatal Team Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
If you are ambitious, confident, self-motivated and compassionate, looking to develop your career in neonatal nursing and make a difference, this post offers you the opportunity to play a key role as part of a new and developing team .
There has never been a more exciting time to join our neonatal team as we expand our neonatal service. The New Neonatal Unit has been opened since November 2025.
The post holder will need to have a good team building skills and be able to demonstrate how they motivate and lead. He/she will be required to work flexibly as a member of the neonatal team to ensure standards are being maintained, evaluated and where necessary improved. As a Sister/Charge Nurse you will work collaboratively with all members of multi-professional team, ensure that the baby and family have a satisfactory experience by investigating incidents; discussion with families and staff involved as well as supporting other Governance aspects.
If you are a motivated leader with a passion for patient care and service excellence, we want to hear from you. Join us and make a real difference in a hospital that values innovation, collaboration, and compassion.
Main duties of the job
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
To maintain high standards of clinical care across neonatal services
To support nursing and medical staff in the development of new policies and procedures which are evidence based
To oversee the management of the service in conjunction with the senior clinical team, supporting with capacity and clinical decision making
To work in partnership with the Senior team to monitor the delivery of high standard care across Neonatal Services
Lead in conjunction with the senior clinical team on patient safety and governance
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The post holder will:Ensure nursing care delivery is based on current research and/or best practice.
Support and encourage a holistic approach to nursing care delivery.
Support staff in identifying and setting standards/care bundles/quality of nursing care and assist all members of the clinical team in the development or implementation of assessment tools to evaluate the care given.
Maintain own clinical skill base by working closely with new and identified individual members of staff (as required) in order to promote their personal development in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care given.
Facilitate the implementation of a robust system of Clinical Supervision across sites in partnership with the Lead Nurse and Practice development team.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.
Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job
Job description Job responsibilities
The post holder will:
Act as a role model for designated staff/department in respect of neonatal care and management.
Act as Advocate for babies/families or relatives who require support, guidance or advice to ensure informed decisions are made about their care where required.
Ensure that agreed standards are known and followed to provide a safe environment for babies their families, relatives and staff.
Integrate recognised Best Practice into everyday practice.
Be aware of the implications of Health Service policy, in connection to nursing practice, educating service users and staff as appropriate.
Work in collaboration with Senior clinical team, medical staff and the wider multidisciplinary team in providing professional support and advice for regular review of local guidelines, Trust policies and standards in relation to practice.
Work in partnership with the Senior Nursing Team to identify and facilitate nursing research audits within the department. Use results to facilitate improvements in practice and documentation by all staff.
Lead on the coordination and preparation of Learning/Investigation tools and other clinical incident investigations and reports alongside partner teams as appropriate to ensure effective review and learning
Be proactive in identifying, preventing, recording, documenting, reflecting, evaluating, action planning risk incidents and above all promoting a culture of practiced risk assessment within the department via a clinical governance pathway
MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILIES:
The post holder will:
Understand the importance of effective cost management, waste reduction, maximising value from resource management
Be a key part of the senior nursing management team and deputise for the Lead Nurse when necessary
Maintain regular contact, attend meetings with other teams within Trust and network areas of value in providing support and advice to ensure that objectives are met and outcomes achieved.
Manage own work load/projects in an effective and efficient way
Participate in quality initiatives and audit as requested by Lead Nurse
Handle complaints, accidents and incidents with professionalism in accordance with local/Trust policy
Ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all time
Participate in interviews, staff recruitment/disciplinary/department meetings and service reviews when requested to do so
Provide regular reports on educational programmes, project development, and associated outcomes, to the Senior team, Trust colleagues and external organisations as appropriate.
Monitor sickness and absence for nursing staff and participate in any stage 2 meeting as required
Perform staff appraisal and nursing revalidation as indicated and provide support and guidance for staff
Manage capacity/activity with advanced decision making skills
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND QUALITY
The post holder will:
Lead on the preparation and coordination of Neonatal Governance dashboard and trust Quality reports in conjunction with the senior team
Ensure that the Trust and national quality initiatives are fully implemented across neonatal services.
Promote awareness and monitor compliance amongst colleagues regarding Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and standards
Ensure that investigation of incident reports relating to nursing issues are completed and actioned
Be responsible for in conjunction with the lead nurse the implementation and monitoring of clinical quality indicators. This will include but not exhaustive
o CQC outcomes
o Infection control no avoidable infection strategy
o Quality and accuracy of documentation
o Improving the patient experience
o HSIB reviews
o PSIRF and Complaint investigation
COMMUNICATION:
The post holder will:
Maintain clear, accurate, legible contemporaneous patient documentation at all times.
Ensure and maintain an effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team to achieve an optimum level of service to babies and families.
Ensure that effective communication exists between all nursing colleagues, medical staff, multidisciplinary teams, families and their relatives, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
The post holder will:
Participate in the staff appraisal process with the aim of enhancing individual personal development using reflective practice.
Encourage all staff to use reflective practice in order to enhance individual performance and improved care delivery.
Critically reflect regularly on own performance, and strive towards excellence, at every opportunity.
Maintain own clinical and professional credibility by keeping own practice up-to-date in line with current trends and best practice through personal development and the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.
Maintain standards of conduct and dress to sustain the public confidence in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and Trust policies.
Abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice.
Provide evidence of periodical registration to practice.
Represent department and/or Trust at local, regional and national forums/ network to identify and share 'Best Practice'
Be aware of all Trust initiative and policies, especially those relating to clinical practice
Book annual leave, report sickness/absenteeism in accordance with Trust policy.
Maintain own NMC revalidation
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
oRegistered Nurse oNeonatal qualified in speciality (QIS) oTeaching and assessing experience oCurrent NLS certificate
Desirable
oMasters degree or working towards oResearch experience oFormal managerial qualification oNLS instructor
Experience Essential
oConfident & adaptable role model oAbility to effectively lead change
Desirable
oEvidence of involvement in project management
Knowledge Essential
oKnowledge of National Neonatal policies & guidelines oAwareness and involvement in clinical audit & research & evidence based practice oPeople management & motivational skills oUnderstanding of PSIRF framework and national drivers oNMC code of Professional Conduct
Desirable
oParticipation in Neonatal Interest Groups oProven leadership and managerial ability oEvidence of changing practice in a clinical setting oExperience of standard setting and clinical audit
Skills Essential
oExperience of working in a busy & demanding role oAbility to manage own time & priorities and that of others effectively oAbility to adhere to Trust's Health & Safety Policies and guidelines oAble to cope & work under pressure & in stressful situations oAbility to forward think & risk manage oExcellent interpersonal & communication skills oGood written & documentation skills
Desirable
oProject leadership skill oEvidence of excellent IT skills oQuality improvement 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 Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address Bedfordshire Hospitals FT
Lewsey Road
Luton
LU4 0DZ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.bedfordshirehospitals.nhs.uk/working-here/ (Opens in a new tab)