Neonatal Nurse

Job responsibilities

Clinical Duties

Promote a baby focused, family centred ward environment at all times.

Promote family involvement in care planning, ensuring parents and carers are kept informed of treatment and progress, together with any necessary family education.

Sound knowledge of local & national Child Protection procedures.

Provide clinical leadership for ward teams in order to facilitate a high standard of evidence based individualised nursing care from admission to discharge.

Provide clinical leadership for the care of high dependency and Intensive care babies during the acute phase and when stabilised.

Liaise with other Neonatal centres and Community teams to provide effective shared care as required.

Act as a resource providing clinical information for other areas, throughout the organisation where children are treated.

Act as advocate for all inpatient babies and ward attenders.

Act as key worker as required to provide specific expertise & leadership in identified areas.

Provide telephone advice for parents requesting information and support.

Management & Leadership

Contribute to the planning, monitoring and control of Ward resources, assisting the Ward Manager to keep expenditure within budgets.

Assist the Ward Manager to optimize nursing resources by even distribution of staff annual leave and matching skill mix to workload.

Provide information and advice for action towards achieving Organisational objectives.

Attend Ward, Divisional and Corporate meetings on behalf of Ward Manager, as required, in order to disseminate information up and down the Divisional line management structure.

Assist the Ward Manager to collect and organise ward information for incorporation into the divisional service plan.

Contribute to the recruitment and selection of quality staff for the Ward, identifying future job requirements for profiling to complement the Ward teams.

Contribute to the planning, organisation and evaluation of work, ensuring excellent induction of new staff including effective Preceptorship for newly qualified nurses, nurses new to the area, and mentorship for student nurses on Ward placement.

Create, maintain and enhance productive working relationships within and outside the Ward, by minimising unproductive conflicts and promoting positive team working. Inform the ward manager of unresolved and potential problems.

Manage all Neonatal bed related issues, liaising with the Maternity department, and other Neonatal units as necessary.

Knowledge of current NHS priorities.

Education & Development

Attend annual IPR and complete a personal development plan, with agreed learning objectives.

Responsible for own personal and professional development and assist the Ward manager in the development of junior staff as required.

Attend relevant internal and external training days in accordance with ward training plan.

Contribute to the development of teams, individuals and self to enhance performance.

Facilitate staff development to achieve ward objectives using the principles of IPR and PDP. Monitor staff performance and report progress to the Ward Manager at regular intervals.

Knowledge of current health care related developments, ensuring that nursing practice is up to date, evidence based and cost effective.

Clinical Governance

Ensure National and Safeguarding Children guidelines are adhered to at all times.

Investigate complaints and untoward incidents in accordance with Trust policies and procedures. Provide accurate, timely and professional statements. Support the Ward Manager in improving systems to prevent recurrence.

Undertake audits as required to facilitate the maintenance and improvement of patient care.

Review the standard of Ward nursing documentation at regular intervals.

Review Neonatal policies and procedures at regular intervals, ensuring they are evidence based.

Maintain services to meet contract and quality standards, take corrective actions and inform the ward manager of unresolved problems.

Ensure staff compliance of Trust policies and procedures. Undertaking counseling as appropriate and report difficult cases to the Ward Manager for further action.

Responsible for own professional registration and assist the Ward Manager in ensuring that all qualified nurses have valid NMC Registration and practice in accordance with the NMC code of professional conduct, and in addition have enhanced DBS clearance.

Ensure Health and Safety guidelines are adhered to within the ward environment at all times.

Qualifications

Essential

• First level RN/RM/RSCN
• Diploma / Degree in Professional Nursing studies NMC registered
• Neonatal intensive care course
• Evidence of continuous professional development, NLS 4 yearly
• IT Skills/ Knowledge of Lorenzo

Desirable

• Mentoring & Assessors Qualification

Experience

Essential

• 2 years recent experience in Neonatal care
• Recent ICU experience including qualification

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates knowledge of evidence based practices
• Demonstrates ability to perform wide range of clinical skills
• Demonstrates understanding of clinical audit and clinical effectiveness
• Demonstrates understanding of resource management
• Demonstrates a good understanding of Risk Management processes
• Demonstrates knowledge of current issues within NHS
• Able to effectively plan and delegate duties
• Able to manage personal time effectively
• Demonstrates belief in practising family integrated care
• Ability to recognise potential clinical problems and instigate a satisfactory solution

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Able to work as a decisive, supportive, innovative & proactive team member
• Can demonstrate possession of excellent interpersonal skills
• Able to remain calm and influence the team at all times
• Is committed to and demonstrates ability to teach successfully
• Able to adapt to changing circumstances and demonstrates ability to influence change successfully
• Shows initiative: able to think positively and stimulate high clinical standards within a progressive team climate
• Able to achieve individual and team objectives in timely manner

Other

Essential

• Work a fully flexible rota and be available to cover staffing shortfalls if required
• To rotate to night duty if required

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).