Job summary
This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced neonatal leader to shape the future of neonatal care at Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. As Practice Development Matron (Neonates), you will drive excellence, innovation and compassionate, evidence-based practice across the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, ensuring consistently safe, high-quality care for babies and their families.
You will be a visible and credible clinical leader, combining expert neonatal knowledge with a strong commitment to developing others. Working closely with the Children and Young People's Matron, ward and unit leaders, and the multidisciplinary team, you will lead practice development, embed best practice and foster a positive learning culture where staff feel supported and empowered.
Operating at both clinical and strategic levels, you will lead the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical guidelines, audit, research and quality improvement initiatives. Using data, benchmarking and family feedback, you will drive improvements in outcomes and experience. You will also support education, competency development and career progression, helping to build a skilled, confident and motivated neonatal workforce.
This role offers a committed neonatal nurse leader the opportunity to lead meaningful change and make a lasting difference for babies, families and staff.
Main duties of the job
To understand the role in more detail, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.
About us
We are an award-winning NHS Foundation Trust working alongside health and social care colleagues across the county to provide acute and community healthcare services to more than 420,000 people across Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood, and parts of Derbyshire and Lincolnshire.
We put the patient at the heart of everything that we do and it is our aim to make sure that every patient is treated as we would want a member of our own family to be treated. At the same time, we expect our staff to be caring, kind and courteous to each other and to look out for each other. We believe that we are truly a clinically-led organisation.
We are proud that our Trust colleagues have voted us the best acute Trust to work for in the East Midlands for seven years running in the National NHS Staff Survey, while the Care Quality Commission has rated our Trust as 'outstanding' for care and our King's Mill Hospital as the only 'outstanding' NHS-run hospital in the East Midlands.
Not all of our roles are eligible for visa sponsorship. To find out which roles are eligible, please refer to the shortage occupation list found here:
Skilled Worker visa: eligible healthcare and education jobs - GOV.UK
Home Office guidance has changed as of 9th April. Anyone that requires switching visa type may not be eligible for sponsorship even if the role is on the shortage occupation list.
Details
Date posted
10 February 2026
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 7
Salary
£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
12 months
Working pattern
Part-time
Reference number
214-W&C
Job locations
King's Mill Hospital
Sutton In Ashfield
Mansfield
NG17 4JL
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To understand the role in more detail, please refer to the attached job description and person specification.
Person Specification
Knowledge Requirements
Essential
* Ability to respond to, prioritise and analyse complex problems/situations and ensure effective interventions are put in place.
* Ability to generate and present reports and documents.
* Deal effectively with clinical issues within defined procedures/guidelines
* Demonstrate insight in the use of data to influence patient care and services
Desirable
* Demonstrate knowledge of current issues related to NHS strategy and policy
* Use of clinical benchmarking to influence patient care
* Ability in the use of appraisal, personal development review and training needs analysis
* Use of the knowledge and skills framework
Qualifications
Essential
* Registered Nurse
* Qualified in Speciality in Neonatal Care
* NLS trained
* Qualification at First Degree level
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Continuing professional development/reflective profile
* Teaching and Assessing qualification
Desirable
* Completion of all local competency packages
* Research training/experience
* ECDL
* Masters level qualification
Further Training
Essential
* Willingness to undertake further training
Experience
Essential
* Managerial experience at band 7 in the NHS
* Evidence of participating in organisational change that has led to changes in quality
* Proven track record in leadership and management
* Evidence of leading Trust wide projects
Desirable
* Audit or research within the clinical area
* Formal teaching of groups of staff
* Has undertaken packages relevant to role and Specialty
Contractual Requirements
Essential
* Flexible and adaptable
* Enhanced CRB clearance
* Ability to work inline with the 6 C's
* Enthusiastic and well-motivated
* Confidence
* Recruitment and selection of staff
Desirable
* Successful implementation and management of a nursing change process
* Evidence of formal teaching experience
* Attendance at conferences / study days
Person Specification
Knowledge Requirements
Essential
* Ability to respond to, prioritise and analyse complex problems/situations and ensure effective interventions are put in place.
* Ability to generate and present reports and documents.
* Deal effectively with clinical issues within defined procedures/guidelines
* Demonstrate insight in the use of data to influence patient care and services
Desirable
* Demonstrate knowledge of current issues related to NHS strategy and policy
* Use of clinical benchmarking to influence patient care
* Ability in the use of appraisal, personal development review and training needs analysis
* Use of the knowledge and skills framework
Qualifications
Essential
* Registered Nurse
* Qualified in Speciality in Neonatal Care
* NLS trained
* Qualification at First Degree level
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Continuing professional development/reflective profile
* Teaching and Assessing qualification
Desirable
* Completion of all local competency packages
* Research training/experience
* ECDL
* Masters level qualification
Further Training
Essential
* Willingness to undertake further training
Experience
Essential
* Managerial experience at band 7 in the NHS
* Evidence of participating in organisational change that has led to changes in quality
* Proven track record in leadership and management
* Evidence of leading Trust wide projects
Desirable
* Audit or research within the clinical area
* Formal teaching of groups of staff
* Has undertaken packages relevant to role and Specialty
Contractual Requirements
Essential
* Flexible and adaptable
* Enhanced CRB clearance
* Ability to work inline with the 6 C's
* Enthusiastic and well-motivated
* Confidence
* Recruitment and selection of staff
Desirable
* Successful implementation and management of a nursing change process
* Evidence of formal teaching experience
* Attendance at conferences / study days
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).
Additional information
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
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's Mill Hospital
Sutton In Ashfield
Mansfield
NG17 4JL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)
Employer details
Employer name
Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address
King's Mill Hospital
Sutton In Ashfield
Mansfield
NG17 4JL
Employer's website
(Opens in a new tab)