Job summary
Are you a passionate and experienced children's nurse with a specialist interest in cleft lip and palate? We are seeking a highly motivated Band 7 Specialist Nurse to lead and coordinate care within our regional cleft lip and palate service.
This is a unique opportunity to take on a senior clinical leadership role in a well-established multidisciplinary team, delivering specialist, family-centred care to babies, children and young people across the region. You will play a key part in service development, staff supervision, and ensuring the highest standards of care through evidence-based practice and collaborative working.
Join our dynamic team and make a meaningful impact on the lives of children and families affected by cleft lip and palate across the region.
- Interview Date Thursday 29 May 2025
- 37 Hours 30 Minutes/Week
- You will be redirected to Trac to apply for the vacancy. Please expand the job details section and read all of the information before applying for the vacancy.
NO AGENCIES PLEASE
Main duties of the job
As a Senior Lead Specialist Nurse you would work closely with the Lead Clinician to facilitate the planning, organisation and delivery of services and to support the clinician in their role to lead the service.
As part of the role you will be involved in the national Cleft Steering Group and with that group support the delivery of a high quality service by all members of the team. There is an expectation you will be the nursing representative on the CSG and to communicate between the CSG and the Specialist Nursing Group.
The role will have a responsibility and provide highly specialist nursing advice and care for their own caseload of cleft lip and palate patients which would include assessing their care needs and the developing, implementing and evaluating programmes of care. The senior nurse will also contribute to the strategic nursing direction of the trust and must work within Trust policies and procedures.
About us
Our staff oversee over 6,500 patient contacts every day, delivering high standards of healthcare from the following sites:
o Freeman Hospitalo Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI)o Health Innovation Neighbourhood (on the former Newcastle General Hospital and Centre for Ageing and Vitality site)o Newcastle Dental Hospitalo Newcastle Fertility Centreo Northern Centre for Cancer Care, North Cumbriao Northern Genetics Serviceo Cramlington Manor Walks
These include a range of flagship services which deliver cutting-edge care (supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic services in both radiology and pathology) and are a catalyst for innovation to support pioneering clinical practice in the NHS.
We also have offices at Regent Point in Gosforth and community sites.
Please see attached information on what Staff Benefits we have to offer at our Trust under 'Documents to download' or 'Supporting documents'.
For further information on The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust please visit: Careers | Newcastle Hospitals | NHS | Newcastle Hospitals and Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide advanced clinical expertise in the care and management of children with cleft lip and palate.
- Act as team leader, supporting and supervising Band 6 nurses and other team members.
- Coordinate regional care pathways, liaising with surgical teams, speech and language therapists, psychologists, and community services.
- Lead service development initiatives, quality improvement projects, and clinical audits.
- Deliver education and training for families, professionals, and students.
- Contribute to regional and national networks to support cleft service development and best practice sharing.
About You:
- Registered Childrens Nurse with NMC registration.
- Significant post-registration experience, including specialist cleft or craniofacial care.
- Proven leadership and team management experience.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working across acute and community settings is desirable.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust define a nurse specialist as a qualified nurse where the primary purpose of role is to provide guidance and support based on advanced level knowledge to patients, carers and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.
Within the sphere of specialist practice:
- Demonstrates significant advanced knowledge and skills within speciality and sphere of practice.
- Take a lead role facilitating the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.
- Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Have corporate identity as an expert within specialist area.
- Lead and provide training and education across the organisation in relevant area of practice.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide advanced clinical expertise in the care and management of children with cleft lip and palate.
- Act as team leader, supporting and supervising Band 6 nurses and other team members.
- Coordinate regional care pathways, liaising with surgical teams, speech and language therapists, psychologists, and community services.
- Lead service development initiatives, quality improvement projects, and clinical audits.
- Deliver education and training for families, professionals, and students.
- Contribute to regional and national networks to support cleft service development and best practice sharing.
About You:
- Registered Childrens Nurse with NMC registration.
- Significant post-registration experience, including specialist cleft or craniofacial care.
- Proven leadership and team management experience.
- Excellent communication, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience working across acute and community settings is desirable.
The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust define a nurse specialist as a qualified nurse where the primary purpose of role is to provide guidance and support based on advanced level knowledge to patients, carers and health professionals concerning a specific disease/condition.
Within the sphere of specialist practice:
- Demonstrates significant advanced knowledge and skills within speciality and sphere of practice.
- Take a lead role facilitating the planning, delivery and evaluation of care pathways for a designated group of patients.
- Support the development of nursing practice within the specialist field and contribute to the body of nursing knowledge.
- Have corporate identity as an expert within specialist area.
- Lead and provide training and education across the organisation in relevant area of practice.
As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us and for our patients, and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement. If it works for the service, we will do our best to make it work for you.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- oRegistered Nurse (appropriate to branch)
- oCurrent NMC registration
- oDegree level / Master's level study, or a combination of equivalent specialist study / experience
- oMeets Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for mentorship if relevant to role
Desirable
- oMaster's Degree
- oManagement experience / qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- oExtensive post registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice
- oExtended clinical practice underpinned by training and assessment
- oAudit / research experience
- oEvidence of on-going continuous professional development
- oKnowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
- oHas understanding / experience of adult / child safeguarding
Desirable
- oEvidence of leading programme(s) of education and / or training
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- oGood IT skills
- oEffective report writing skills
- oAble to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
- oEffective organisation and time management skills
- oCurrent driving licence if relevant to role
- oMoving and handling patients and objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids
Person Specification
Qualifications & Education
Essential
- oRegistered Nurse (appropriate to branch)
- oCurrent NMC registration
- oDegree level / Master's level study, or a combination of equivalent specialist study / experience
- oMeets Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) requirements for mentorship if relevant to role
Desirable
- oMaster's Degree
- oManagement experience / qualification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- oExtensive post registration experience, some of which will be at a senior level within the required specialist area of practice
- oExtended clinical practice underpinned by training and assessment
- oAudit / research experience
- oEvidence of on-going continuous professional development
- oKnowledge and understanding of relevant NHS policy or project specific policy context
- oHas understanding / experience of adult / child safeguarding
Desirable
- oEvidence of leading programme(s) of education and / or training
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- oGood IT skills
- oEffective report writing skills
- oAble to work independently and across disciplines as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
- oEffective organisation and time management skills
- oCurrent driving licence if relevant to role
- oMoving and handling patients and objects in line with Trust guidelines using appropriate aids
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.
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).
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.
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).
