Overview
ODN Nurse Education Lead role based with South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust. The closing date is 06 November 2025.
Are you an experienced neonatal nurse educator who is motivated and confident and who wants to transition into a role developing and driving strategic plans to support the education and training of the neonatal nursing workforce across the North East North Cumbria region? If so, come and work at the Northern Neonatal Network as our Nurse Education Lead.
In partnership with the Network senior management team and clinical staff in provider services, the post holder will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the Network education provision. The post holder will ensure that training programmes for the care of neonates are provided within region and that there is a consistent and equitable offering across the NENC region. They will establish and maintain links with Higher Education Institutions to ensure excellent ongoing training provision and ensure the network have quality assurance of the education provided by external providers. This post will work with all parties to ensure that local offerings are fit for purpose and compliant with QIS Standards.
Predominantly home based with the expectation of travel to the NNN office at Sunderland Hospital and all neonatal units within the NENC region. Regional and national travel will also be part of this role, working with the National Educators Forum, disseminating new initiatives and being a point of contact for all NNN nursing education queries.
Main duties of the job
The role is fixed term for 12 months, with a possible secondment opportunity.
The post holder will form part of the ODN management team and will be jointly responsible for the development and delivery of a regional strategy for workforce, training and education across all 10 neonatal units within the NNN.
Develop and lead on a network wide framework for neonatal education and training.
Provide advice to the NNN Board and Senior Leadership Team in relation to education and training.
Develop a process for monitoring and reporting regional qualified in speciality (QIS) training requirements of the region and work with the HEIs to ensure there is a clear strategy for development of courses to become standardised and which meet national standards.
Provide professional advice and support to unit-based educators.
As an expert in education and workforce, the role will act as a supportive resource to the neonatal services within the NNN region.
It is an exciting opportunity to drive the neonatal education strategy and agenda within the region, helping to raise standards and equity in both education and in the care provided by the staff in the region with the ultimate aim of improving outcomes for babies and their families.
If you are interested in becoming part of our fantastic team, then we would welcome your application.
About us
Please add your telephone number to your application form so we can contact you quickly if required.
One Team One Trust - There are many reasons to work at our Trust. From our commitment to putting people first to our accessible services and award winning teams. We have a passion for research, innovation and tackling inequalities. We are committed to respect, fairness and civility and promote a compassionate, caring and positive culture / working environment.
We welcome all applications irrespective of peoples race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion/belief, age, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy/maternity and in particular those from under- represented groups. Looking after our workforces health and wellbeing is a priority for us. We also provide access to high quality education, training, career progression and support. Flexible working is supported via our Flexible Working Policy.
The Trust employs around 8,746 people and provides a range of hospital services to a local community of around 430,000 residents. We also provide a range of more specialised services outside this area. We offer our staff outstanding benefits - Fitness Centre (SRH), libraries at both hospital sites, chaplaincy support and access to a Care Co-ordinator to help staff with childcare arrangements. If you use AI, and it poses a risk to the integrity of your individual recruitment process, we may withdraw your application at any stage of the process.
Job responsibilities
PLEASE REFER TO THE ATTACHED JOB DESCRIPTION FOR FULL DUTIES OF THE ROLE.
The Northern Neonatal Network Operational Delivery Network (NNN ODN) encompasses the North East of England and North Cumbria (NENC). Within the NNN ODN there are 8 provider Trusts, and 10 neonatal units, these include 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), neonatal surgery is within one of these NICUs, and 7 Special Care Units (SCUs). In addition, there is one neonatal transport provider to provide safe transfers of premature and sick infants across the NENC, and beyond if required. The ODN is clinical and operational in focus, as its purpose is to support the delivery of high quality care that produces the best possible outcomes for babies and their families. A key element of this is the delivery of regional education and training programmes.
As an Operational Delivery Network, we continue to lead and help deliver the recommendations of the Neonatal Critical Care Review (NCCR) in which developing the expert neonatal workforce is essential to give the highest possible standard of safe, effective care to babies and their families.
The Nurse Education Lead will require a senior level of neonatal experience to work in a challenging and complex environment, where there is a significant focus on developing robust approaches to workforce and education planning as outlined in the NHS Long Term Plan (NHS LTP) and the Neonatal Critical Care Review (NCCR).
In partnership with the Network Manager, Lead Clinician, Lead Nurse and clinical staff in provider services, the post holder will be responsible for the strategic leadership of the Network education provision. This will include leading on the planning and delivery of educational events to meet the objectives of the Network. They will ensure that training programmes for the care of neonates, are provided within region and that there is a consistent and equitable offering across the North East North Cumbria region. They will establish and maintain links with Further Education institutions to ensure excellent ongoing training provision for the specific care pathways.
This role also has a requirement to ensure the ODN have quality assurance of the education provided by external providers including Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Compliance with the QIS Standards is critical and this post will work with all parties to ensure that local offerings are fit for purpose. This requires the post holder to work locally with education providers, unit managers and unit educators.
The Nurse Education Lead will provide support to the Network Medical Education Lead in the provision of stabilisation training and other education events on an ad hoc basis.
This is a fixed term contract/ secondment of 1 year and will be evaluated throughout.
Person Specification
Qualifications
* Current NMC Registration.
* Is in possession of a relevant masters degree or in the process of completing.
* Evidence of ongoing, dynamic continuing professional development within the specialty.
* Recordable teaching/assessing qualification.
* Neonatal Qualified in Specialty (QIS).
* NLS instructor.
* Project or programme management Qualification E.g. PRINCE 2.
Physical Skills
* Car driver with ability to travel to all parts of the region.
* Ability to sit at workstations as necessary to undertake written reviews, arrange meetings and to take part in MS Teams meetings.
* Regular computer use with a requirement for manual dexterity and computing skills.
* Ability to motivate and influence.
* Articulate and confident.
Skills and Knowledge
* Excellent and updated knowledge and understanding of the local region, neonatal units and pathways.
* Strategic vision and operational implementation.
* Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current healthcare policy and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
* Extensive knowledge of neonatal workforce and related national standards with a Clear understanding of National Policy and current issues affecting neonatal services.
* Ability to translate national policy into service improvement.
* Understanding of clinical governance issues in the delivery of care.
* Effective advanced communication skills.
* Excellent relevant neonatal clinical skills.
* Excellent leadership and organisational skills.
* Able to motivate and develop a multi-professional team and be able to work across professional teams and organisational boundaries.
* Self-discipline and good time management to support periods of lone working.
* Ability to delegate and prioritise.
* Excellent verbal and written communication and listening skills.
* Excellent teaching, training, and preceptorship skills.
* Uses evidence to make improvements, seeks out innovation, evaluates impact.
* Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality, promotes high standards to consistently improve patient outcomes.
* Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness.
* Works across boundaries, looks for collective success, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others.
* Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change.
* Effective organiser, influencer and networker.
* Completer/finisher.
* Detailed understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues.
Experience
* Extensive knowledge of specialist areas, acquired through post graduate nurse education or equivalent experience or training plus further specialist knowledge or experience to masters level equivalent.
* Evidence of post qualifying and continuing professional development.
* Member of relevant professional body NMC.
* Evidence of innovating, implementing and evaluating new ways of working.
* Experience of multidisciplinary neonatal education and training.
* Experience of working with Higher Education Institutions.
* Extensive and recent clinical experience at a senior level.
* Experience of teaching clinical neonatal nursing skills.
* Experience of classroom or formal teaching and presenting.
* Experience of simulation scenario teaching.
* Previous experience of research and audit.
* Previous experience of change management and problem solving.
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.
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
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