Responsibilities
* Provide daily clinical and operational management of neonatal units and support the professional development of staff.
* Work in partnership with all multidisciplinary teams and provide support to nursing and support workers.
* Lead and develop nursing staff, including absence management, training needs identification, and completion of appraisals.
* Collaborate with the Neonatal Matron to develop best‑practice standards and ensure consistency across the directorate, providing senior nursing cover for neonatal units as required.
* Ensure staff compliance with Trust safeguarding policies and procedures.
* Act as an expert practitioner, role‑modeling advanced communication and nursing skills, and apply expert knowledge and decision‑making in caring for premature and ill newborn babies.
* Recognise deteriorations in clinical conditions and initiate a rapid, appropriate response.
* Be accountable for nursing practice and promote continuous improvement of staff knowledge and professional competence.
* Resolve patient or parent complaints relating to clinical care or operational issues within the area.
* Assess neonates and families for psychological and social needs, implement agreed management plans, and arrange appropriate referrals.
* Promote communication between primary and secondary healthcare providers, including the non‑statutory sector of children’s hospices.
* Participate in discharge planning from hospital to community services and families’ homes, ensuring seamless and effective care transition.
* Ensure all incidents are reported and documented in line with the Trust’s Risk Management Policy, and participate in clinical governance activities and quality improvement initiatives.
* Maintain a safe working environment, perform risk assessments and manage risks on a shift basis.
* Develop robust systems to ensure timely discharge and complex care data are auditable, and keep records up to date.
* Support the Neonatal Matron in recruitment and retention activities where required.
* Identify and investigate conduct, discipline, and performance issues within the team in accordance with trust policy, liaising with the Matron and HR.
* Develop ward/unit policies and guidelines, ensuring implementation, auditing, and compliance with best practice.
* In conjunction with the Matron, nurse in charge, and medical team, optimise cot usage and facilitate timely admission and discharge of babies.
* Be flexible with scheduling to provide cross‑cover when and where needed, assisting in adjusting staffing levels to meet demand and deliver a cost‑effective service.
* Ensure familiarisation with trust and division objectives, and meet key performance indicators, particularly in relation to saving lives and staff performance reviews.
Equal Opportunities: We are committed to equal opportunities and believe diversity drives innovation and excellence. We welcome applications from the global majority, veterans and underrepresented communities, valuing the perspectives they bring.
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