Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Neonatal Team Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

If you are ambitious, confident, self-motivated and compassionate, looking to develop your career in neonatal nursing and make a difference, this post offers you the opportunity to play a key role as part of a new and developing team.

There has never been a more exciting time to join our neonatal team as we expand our neonatal service. The New Neonatal Unit has opened since November 2025.

The Ward Manager has overall responsibility for the provision of excellent care, leadership and management for the patients, relatives and visitors who are cared for within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The post holder will incorporate the provision of care to patients and families in accordance with the unit philosophy and provide standards of care that are in line with the Trust Values.

The post holder will also lead the ward contribution at Directorate level in accordance with the Nursing Strategy and the Trust Nursing Strategy.

The Ward Manager has a fundamental role in the delivery of high standards of nursing Care, ensuring the environment is conducive to wellbeing.

Main duties of the job
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership:

The post holder will be expected to:

• Works closely with the Lead Nurse/Head of Nursing regarding all quality performance and management issues
• S/he will be a visible and accessible presence in the clinical areas for patients, relatives and staff.
• Act as a resource of specialist knowledge and expertise in order to ensure optimum and appropriate care delivery to the infant and their family.
• Lead by example and act as a positive role model for all staff, taking responsibility for own professional development.
• Provide leadership that promotes patient focused care.
• Providing clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the Highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review.
• Role model standards of care and expected behaviour through participation in direct patient care.
• Maintain professional standards of conduct and behaviour, which are consistent with Trust and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards and requirements.
• Actively contribute to, and support agreed developments within the Directorate.
• Contribute to business planning within the Directorate.

About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarize yourself with all requirements of the job

Job responsibilities
Organisation and Delivery of Care

The post holder will be expected to:

• Ensure nursing related documentation is appropriate, accountable.
• Ensure that the nursing contribution within the neonatal service contributes to quality indicators and is meeting NHS government targets.
• Work closely with the Infection Control Team to ensure robust audit, action planning and change management to minimize the risk of health care acquired infections and to strengthen measures to prevent/control spread of infection with the ward/department.
• Ensure that the use of risk assessments and health and safety management, utilising the Trusts adverse incident reporting system to improve the quality of patient care.
• Ensure the skills and knowledge to deliver care are identified and available within the specialty.
• Ensure that the inter-professional approach to care is developed whilst patient and carer contributions are encouraged and acknowledged.
• Contribute to and support clinical effectiveness and innovative practice within the provision of care.
• Contribute to the development of clinical governance systems and structures, ensuring clinical area representation as appropriate.
• Ensure that safeguarding and vulnerable adult legislation is adhered to by staff.
• Participate in the implementation and delivery of the standards set within the Trust Nursing Strategy.
• Offer specialist knowledge in neonatal care to outside agencies

Operational Management:

The Post Holder will participate in:

• The management of pay and non-pay resources to meet the Divisions financial duties and targets with support from the Lead Nurse.
• Maximising the use of staff resources to match patient requirements.
• Identifying equipment priorities to support the care of patients and safety of their physical environment, undertaking risk assessments to evidence short falls.
• Ensure the efficient use of bank and agency staff, monitoring quality and spend.
• Act in a manner to consistently support equality and diversity in all interactions.
• Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, accurate and in line with data protection act 1998 and Caldecott policy.

Please see JD and PS for more details.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse
• Neonatal qualified in speciality (QIS)
• Teaching and assessing experience
• Current NLS certificate
• Leadership course/training
• Relevant experience in an acute neonatal setting

Desirable

• Masters degree or working towards
• Research experience
• Formal managerial qualification
• NLS instructor

Experience

Essential

• Ability to effectively lead change
• Experience of taking charge of a department and leading and managing a team
• Experience in neonatal care as Band 7
• Management of clinical risk and quality improvement

Desirable

• Experience in recruitment and selection of staff
• Experience in performance and sickness management

Knowledge

Essential

• Teaching & presentation skills
• Knowledge of change management and application
• Demonstrates ability to find new ways of working and advance practice
• Knowledge of National Neonatal policies & guidelines
• Awareness and involvement in clinical audit & research & evidence based practice
• People management & motivational skills
• Understanding of PSIRF framework and national drivers
• Knowledge of managing clinical incidents and complaints

Desirable

• Participation in Neonatal Interest Groups
• Research and audit experience
• Experience in writing business cases
• Roster management Experience in resource /budget management

Skills

Essential

• Experience of working in a busy & demanding role
• Strong leadership skills, able to motivate staff and build effective teams
• Able to work well under pressure, demonstrating a calm and resilient approach
• Good level of IT ie Email/Internet
• Ability to forward think & risk manage

Desirable

• Project leadership skills
• Evidence of excellent IT skills
• Quality improvement skills

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.