Job Description

Are you enthusiastic, highly motivated experienced neonatal nurse and looking to join a friendly team?An exciting opportunity has arisen for a compassionate and caring neonatal nurse qualified in speciality to join our well established and friendly neonatal multidisciplinary team.We are a friendly Level 1 Special Care Baby Unit with 12 cots; 1 Intensive Care stabilising cot, 2 High Dependency and 9 Special care cots. We are part of the East of England Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN) and work closely with our tertiary centre and our team at the Luton and Dunstable site who are a level 3 Neonatal Intensive care Unit (NICU). We provide excellent care for preterm babies from 30 weeks' gestation and for sick new-born babies. We provide stabilisation for babies born at lower gestations prior to transfer to NICU.We are passionate about working in partnership with parents ensuring family integrated care and are working towards our silver accreditation with Bliss.You will be joining a team who work a variety of shifts including internal rotation to night duty, weekends and bank holidays. In return for your commitment, we will support your personal development and career progression.Main duties of the jobOur Neonatal Unit is looking for highly motivated, enthusiastic individual to join our friendly and well established Neonatal team as a Band 6 Junior Sister.Within this role you will provide clinical and professional leadership for the unit, with a responsibility for the delivery of high standards of care for all babies and their families accessing our service.You will be responsible for the safe day to day running of the unit and facilitate effective communication between all members of the multi-disciplinary team.As an experienced neonatal nurse you will be a role model providing support, sharing your knowledge and facilitating teaching and supervision to more junior members of staff and students.About usBedfordshire 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.We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. Please ensure that you make your application as soon as possible.All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.Please review all documents attached to this advert to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.Date posted28 April 2025Pay schemeAgenda for changeBandBand 6Salaryxc2xa337,338 to xc2xa344,962 a year per annumContractFixed termDuration9 monthsWorking patternFull-timeReference number418-NUR8198-SJJob locationsBedford Hospital South WingKempston RoadBedfordMK42 9DJJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

• To provide high quality holistic care to babies who need special/high dependency and prioritise workload according to changing clinical need throughout the shift.
• To work in partnership with the multidisciplinary team to assess and plan the care for the infant providing individual patient care.
• Use clinical specialised skills, evidence based practice and current theoretical knowledge within all aspects of neonatal care
• Stabilise babies requiring intensive care along with the multidisciplinary team in preparation for transfer to tertiary centre.
• To take charge of the shift as required and make appropriate staff allocation that demonstrates the understanding of workload/activities and skill mix of the team.

Job descriptionJob responsibilitiesThe and Person Specification are attached to this job, please review for the full details and responsibilities

• To provide high quality holistic care to babies who need special/high dependency and prioritise workload according to changing clinical need throughout the shift.
• To work in partnership with the multidisciplinary team to assess and plan the care for the infant providing individual patient care.
• Use clinical specialised skills, evidence based practice and current theoretical knowledge within all aspects of neonatal care
• Stabilise babies requiring intensive care along with the multidisciplinary team in preparation for transfer to tertiary centre.
• To take charge of the shift as required and make appropriate staff allocation that demonstrates the understanding of workload/activities and skill mix of the team.

Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential

• RN/RSCN with NMC PIN
• Evidence of CPD
• Holds the Intensive and Special Care of the newborn course (ENB 405)
• Teaching and assessing course or equivalent

Desirable

• Current NLS certificate
• Management course
• leadership qualification

ExperienceEssential

• Experience is neonatal care setting
• Able to work under pressure to meet demands
• Experience in mentoring students and preceptor to newly qualified and those on the Intensive Care of the Newborn course
• Be organised and can prioritise care delivery

Desirable

• Shift co-ordination experience
• Experience of managing and motivating a team
• Participation in clinical audit
• Experience of change management

KnowledgeEssential

• Fully aware of safeguarding legislation and local policies and procedures
• Aware of the NMC code of conduct
• Legible, accurate and concise handwriting skills
• Basic IT skills, Microsoft word etc
• Able to use online systems such as Badgernet.
• Willingness to undertake further study and development
• Awareness of the "Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services"

Desirable

• Participation as a Neonatal link nurse
• Awareness of the Neonatal Critical Care Transformation Review

SkillsEssential

• Ability to work independently and make autonomous decisions.
• A good level of analytical and problem solving skills - ability to respond to unexpected demands.
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence based practices
• Demonstrates ability to perform wide range of clinical skills
• Demonstrates understanding of clinical audit and clinical effectiveness
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal - able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information

Desirable

• Quality, service improvement and redesign course (QSIR)
• Experience in quality improvement
• Is committed to and demonstrates ability to teach successfully

OtherEssential

• Adheres to Trust Health & Safety policies and guidelines
• Willingness to work a fully flexible rota including night duty

Desirable

• Be available to cover staffing shortfalls if required

Person SpecificationQualificationsEssential

• RN/RSCN with NMC PIN
• Evidence of CPD
• Holds the Intensive and Special Care of the newborn course (ENB 405)
• Teaching and assessing course or equivalent

Desirable

• Current NLS certificate
• Management course
• leadership qualification

ExperienceEssential

• Experience is neonatal care setting
• Able to work under pressure to meet demands
• Experience in mentoring students and preceptor to newly qualified and those on the Intensive Care of the Newborn course
• Be organised and can prioritise care delivery

Desirable

• Shift co-ordination experience
• Experience of managing and motivating a team
• Participation in clinical audit
• Experience of change management

KnowledgeEssential

• Fully aware of safeguarding legislation and local policies and procedures
• Aware of the NMC code of conduct
• Legible, accurate and concise handwriting skills
• Basic IT skills, Microsoft word etc
• Able to use online systems such as Badgernet.
• Willingness to undertake further study and development
• Awareness of the "Toolkit for High Quality Neonatal Services"

Desirable

• Participation as a Neonatal link nurse
• Awareness of the Neonatal Critical Care Transformation Review

SkillsEssential

• Ability to work independently and make autonomous decisions.
• A good level of analytical and problem solving skills - ability to respond to unexpected demands.
• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence based practices
• Demonstrates ability to perform wide range of clinical skills
• Demonstrates understanding of clinical audit and clinical effectiveness
• Strong communication skills both written and verbal - able to provide and receive highly complex, sensitive information

Desirable

• Quality, service improvement and redesign course (QSIR)
• Experience in quality improvement
• Is committed to and demonstrates ability to teach successfully

OtherEssential

• Adheres to Trust Health & Safety policies and guidelines
• Willingness to work a fully flexible rota including night duty

Desirable

• Be available to cover staffing shortfalls if required

NHS