Job overview
This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.
As our Neonatal Matron (Band 8a), you will be a highly visible and authoritative leader, championing excellence for babies, families, and staff across Worthing and St Richard’s hospitals. This is a unique opportunity to join the Nursing Leadership team, where you will drive improvements in patient safety, quality, and experience, while helping shape the future of neonatal services. We are looking for someone with proven clinical expertise, inclusive leadership, and a passion for service transformation—someone who thrives on collaboration, values diversity, and is committed to developing others. You will be working in an environment where your voice matters, you are heard, your ideas are valued, and your leadership will inspire positive change. Join us and help deliver “excellent care every time” at University Hospitals Sussex.
Main duties of the job
As the Neonatal Matron, you will lead by example—providing visible, compassionate, and authoritative leadership across neonatal services at Worthing and St Richard’s hospitals. You will be responsible for driving high standards of patient care, supporting and developing your team and ensuring the best possible experiences for babies and their families. Your role will involve improving nursing practice, leading service transformation, managing resources and staff and ensuring patient safety and quality.
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The role encompasses a wide range of focus areas. These include inclusive leadership, upholding professional standards, and ensuring accountability across teams. The Matron is responsible for governance, patient safety, and quality, working to maintain and improve standards of care. Workforce planning and resource management are also central, ensuring that staffing and resources are effectively allocated to meet service needs.
Another key aspect of the role is enhancing patient experience and actively working to reduce health inequalities. The Matron oversees performance and operational matters, ensuring that services run smoothly and efficiently. Embracing digital and information technology is important, supporting the adoption of new systems and processes to improve care delivery.
Education, training, and development are integral, with the Matron supporting the ongoing professional growth of staff. The role also involves engagement with research and development, promoting evidence-based practice. Collaborative working and clinical effectiveness are emphasised, fostering strong relationships both within the division and with external partners. The Matron leads on service improvement and transformation, driving continuous improvement to ensure the highest quality of care.
Person specification
Experience/Qualifications
Essential criteria
1. Registered General Nurse
2. Experience at ward manager level or equivalent managerial role
3. Ability to work across professional teams
4. Post registration qualification
Desirable criteria
5. Masters or working towards
6. Leadership or management qualification or equivalent experience
Skills
Essential criteria
7. Evidence of excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills
8. Evidence of ability to co-ordinate and motivate the multidisciplinary team
9. Evidence of experience in co-ordinating and chairing meetings and recording accurate notes
10. Evidence of experience of conflict resolution
11. Plan, manage, monitor resources (staff management and financial management)
Desirable criteria
12. Proven experience of audit, benchmarking or research and the ability to use results to inform change and development
13. Experience of management of change
People Management and development
Essential criteria
14. Experience in management of sickness/absence in accordance with Trust policy
15. Experience of managing teams including the requirement to monitor and manage conduct and performance
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Essential criteria
16. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
17. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Specific Requirements
Essential criteria
18. Computer literate, proven ability to use Word and Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
Desirable criteria
19. Understanding of budgetary management in previous roles
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications