Date posted: 15 July 2026
Closing date: 21 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year, per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 297-8059557
Job locations: Gateshead Health NHS Foundation trust, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Gateshead, NE9 6SX, United Kingdom

Job Summary
We are looking for a dedicated, Senior Neonatal nurse to join our team in caring for patients on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead.

Main duties of the job

• Oversees and undertakes the assessment of neonatal patient care needs, and the planning, implementation and evaluation of care in the neonatal unit
• Responsible for ensuring care in the neonatal area is consistent with local and national policies and protocols, and leads on the use of evidence based guidance to improve clinical practice.
• Participates in the development, implementation and monitoring of local and national policies and protocols
• Acts as a source of expert advice in clinical neonatal nursing practice.
• Responsible for the safe administration, storage and ordering of drugs in the Neonatal Unit
• Responsible for health promotion and health education within Neonatal Unit

About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the BAME network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our armed forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

• Oversees and undertakes the assessment of neonatal patient care needs, and the planning, implementation and evaluation of care in the neonatal unit
• Responsible for ensuring care in the neonatal area is consistent with local and national policies and protocols, and leads on the use of evidence based guidance to improve clinical practice.
• Participates in the development, implementation and monitoring of local and national policies and protocols
• Acts as a source of expert advice in clinical neonatal nursing practice.
• Responsible for the safe administration, storage and ordering of drugs in the Neonatal Unit
• Responsible for health promotion and health education within Neonatal Unit.
• Communicates effectively with parents / carers, relatives and members of the multi-disciplinary and management teams, in styles appropriate to people and situations.
• Ensures accurate record keeping and the maintenance of patient confidentiality in line with local and NMC guidelines.
• Minimises potential for conflict and complaint, resolving disputes locally wherever possible and making appropriate referral to the management team as necessary.
• Ensures that documentation completion is undertaken in line with National and local guidelines
• Act at all times as the patients / family advocate
• Be aware of the requirements for diversity and equality all for clients and staff groups, ensuring that all staff are aware of the systems in place to support this agenda
• Identifies opportunities to develop and improve services for individual patients and client groups, using clinical audit and research to ensure that practice is evidence based and ensuring patient, public and staff involvement in evaluation and development.
• Ensures that high standards of ward / area cleanliness are maintained and policies for the control of infection implemented.
• Assesses and manages risk responsibly, ensuring the safety of the work environment and work processes, for patients, staff and visitors
• In collaboration with the leadership team, ensures that statuary and mandatory training needs are met.
• Participates in staff appraisal and personal development planning and on the recruitment, induction and development of new staff.
• Supports the implementation and evaluation of educational programmes for pre and post registered and non-registered staff and maintains the quality of the Neonatal Unit as a learning environment.
• Provides professional leadership to the Neonatal Unit nursing team, creating a sense of common purpose and developing the teams ability to achieve service and organisational objectives.
• Takes charge of clinical shift in the Neonatal Unit, acting as resource for junior staff and MDT members.
• Is accountable for the quality of own practice and for delegating duties to other members of the team.
• Adheres at all times to the Nursing and Midwifery Council Codes of Professional Practice.

The post-holder will be trained in and maintain expertise in the use of the following equipment:

• Blood Gas Analyser
• Ventilators
• Infant Flow Drivers
• Incubators
• Moving and Handling of Equipment
• Respiratory equipment e.g. suction and humidifiers
• Intravenous infusion devices
• Emergency Equipment e.g. Resuscitation equipment

Additional responsibilities:

• Maintain accurate records in accordance to NMC and Gateshead Health NHS Foundation trust.
• Risk identification, reporting and management, and for dealing with complaints.
• Policies and procedures for safeguarding adults and children.
• ICE system
• Neonatal and maternal Badgernet
• Intranet, Internet and email, Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook).
• Use, maintenance and storage of equipment and systems

Workload and accountabilities:
Workload is determined by the needs of the service. The post holder will be responsible to the Unit Manager/Matron and Head of Midwifery for clinical guidance and professional management, work review and formal appraisal of performance.

Clinically and professionally expected to make autonomous decisions on a daily basis, including provision of advice to junior staff and other multi-disciplinary team members in clinical decision making.

The post holder has discretion to make decisions regarding patient care within clinical/professional guidelines and as part of multi disciplinary team.

Promote good relationships with parents / carers, public and staff in verbal and written communication.

Actively listen and seek parent opinions on aspects care delivery.

Maintain effective professional communication with members of the multi-disciplinary care team, management team, wards and departments in Gateshead health NHS Foundation Trust and associated agencies and organisations, internal and external

Maintain patient and staff confidentiality at all times.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Adult Nurse/ Child Branch
• Nursing Degree
• Neonatal Intensive Care Course/QIS
• Neonatal Advanced Life Support
• NMC Registration

Experience
Essential

• Minimum 3 years post registration experience in neonatal Intensive care unit/SCBU

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 contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Ward Manager; Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
Kelly Arnett
kelly.arnett@nhs.net
01914452156