Job summary
As an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Paramedic) within the Southwest Neonatal Advice and Retrieval Service (SoNAR), you will provide autonomous, expert care for critically ill and vulnerable newborn infants requiring stabilisation and transfer across the Southwest Neonatal Network.

Working across the four pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice, you will combine advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, independent prescribing, leadership, education, quality improvement and research to support the delivery of a safe, effective and compassionate neonatal critical care transport service.

You will lead neonatal transfers, undertaking advanced decision-making and delivering evidence-based care in dynamic and challenging clinical environments. Working collaboratively with neonatologists, transport nurses, ambulance services, aviation providers and referring hospitals, you will help ensure the highest standards of neonatal transport care across the region.

In addition to clinical practice, you will contribute to service development, workforce development, governance, audit, research and regional education programmes that support continuous improvement across the neonatal network.

A key aspect of the role is supporting infants and families during periods of crisis and uncertainty, providing compassionate, family-centred care whilst promoting psychological safety, professional collaboration and positive team culture.

Main duties of the job
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Paramedic) in Neonatal Critical Care Transport provides autonomous, expert clinical care for critically ill and vulnerable newborn infants requiring stabilisation and transfer across the South West Neonatal Network. The post holder will lead neonatal retrievals, undertaking advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, prescribing, treatment planning and complex decision-making in dynamic clinical environments.

Working within the multidisciplinary SoNAR team, the ACP (Paramedic) will provide clinical leadership, support safe and effective patient transfers, and deliver high-quality family-centred care. The role also contributes to education, workforce development, clinical governance, quality improvement, research and service development, helping to shape and improve neonatal transport services across the region.

About us
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.

With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.

Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice

• Lead the assessment, stabilisation, retrieval and transport of critically ill and vulnerable newborn infants across the South West Neonatal Network.
• Undertake advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, prescribing and management of complex neonatal patients.
• Practise autonomously within the ACP scope of practice, making independent clinical decisions in unpredictable and challenging environments.
• Deliver high-quality, compassionate and family-centred care throughout the retrieval and transport journey.

Leadership and Service Delivery

• Provide clinical leadership during neonatal retrieval missions and support the development of the wider multidisciplinary transport team.
• Contribute to service planning, innovation and operational development within SoNAR.
• Support the delivery of strategic objectives and continuous improvement across the neonatal transport service.

Education and Workforce Development

• Support the education and development of transport team colleagues, learners and network staff.
• Contribute to regional education programmes, simulation training and clinical supervision activities.
• Promote a culture of continuous learning, reflective practice and professional development.

Quality Improvement and Governance

• Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
• Contribute to policy, guideline and pathway development.
• Support incident review, service evaluation and the implementation of evidence-based practice across the service.

Research and Evidence-Based Practice

• Critically evaluate evidence and support the implementation of best practice.
• Contribute to research, audit and service evaluation activities relevant to neonatal transport and advanced clinical practice.
• Support the dissemination of learning and improvement across the neonatal network.

Working for SoNAR

• Work collaboratively with neonatal units, maternity services, ambulance services and other healthcare partners across the South West.
• Promote psychological safety, compassionate leadership and effective multidisciplinary working.
• Represent SoNAR professionally, contributing to the delivery of a safe, responsive and effective neonatal transport service.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential

• HCPC registration as a Paramedic with no restrictions on practice (A/I)
• Master's degree in Advanced Clinical Practice or currently engaged with equivalent Level 7 qualification
• Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
• Evidence of advanced clinical assessment, decision-making and diagnostic reasoning education (A/I)

Desirable

• Clinical supervision, mentoring or educational qualification (A/I)
• Leadership or management qualification (A/I)
• Research or quality improvement qualification (A/I)
• Postgraduate qualification relevant to neonatal, paediatric, critical care, retrieval or pre-hospital medicine (A/I)

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Essential

• Advanced neonatal and/or paediatric critical care knowledge
• Excellent communication skills in complex and sensitive situations
• Independent prescribing skills and knowledge
• Ability to lead complex clinical retrievals autonomously
• Excellent organisational, prioritisation and problem-solving skills
• Understanding of human factors, situational awareness and crew resource management
• Ability to promote psychological safety and compassionate leadership

Desirable

• Knowledge of neonatal transport standards and service specifications
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodology
• Knowledge of educational programme delivery

Experience
Essential

• Significant experience working as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner or equivalent advanced practice clinician
• Experience managing high-acuity and critically ill patients autonomously
• Experience leading clinical teams in dynamic or high-pressure environments
• Experience supporting patients and families during complex or emotionally challenging situations
• Evidence of service improvement, governance or quality improvement activity
• Neonatal intensive care retrieval experience

Desirable

• Paediatric critical care experience
• Experience of teaching, supervision or mentorship
• Experience leading regional education, governance or quality improvement initiatives
• Research, audit or publication experience

Leadership, Teamworking, and Professional Values
Essential

• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity and accountability
• Acts as a compassionate and inclusive clinical leader
• Able to lead and contribute effectively within multidisciplinary teams
• Promotes psychological safety, openness and learning culture
• Demonstrates resilience in emotionally demanding situations
• Motivated to contribute to service development and innovation
• Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice
• Demonstrates family-centred and patient-focused care

Desirable

• Evidence of service development and strategic influence

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).

Employer details
Employer name: Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
Address: SoNAR Base, Aztec West, Unit 350 Quadrant Trading Estate, Bristol, BS32 4QA, United Kingdom

Contact: SoNAR Lead Nurse, Patrick Turton, patrick.turton1@nhs.net, 01173429466

Closing date: 30 October 2026