Job summary
We are delighted to be able to offer an opportunity for a highly motivated, ambitious individual to join our well-integrated neonatal team. These two permanent posts are ideally suited for doctors with extensive experience in tertiary neonatal medicine and neonatal transport, who aim to contribute to neonatal services as a long-term career aim. As a key member of our team, you will be involved in the clinical care of a wide variety of infants within a premier tertiary surgical neonatal unit covering the North East of England. Our busy, high-profile unit manages approximately 6,000 deliveries per annum and provides around 3,000 intensive care days, while proudly housing the regional fetal and maternal medicine service and serving as the regional neonatal surgical unit.

Working Pattern & Out-of-Hours (OOH) Expectations
The successful applicant will participate in a fully compliant, prospective, senior middle-grade (Tier 2) rota. This role carries heavy out-of-hours responsibilities to maintain the BAPM standard and 24/7 safety of our tertiary and transport networks:

• Resident Night Shifts & Weekends: You will be expected to undertake regular resident night shifts and comprehensive weekend working as part of the master departmental rota.
• Transport On-Calls: Dedicated on-call slots will be assigned for the Northern Neonatal Transport Service (NNeTS), providing regional tertiary retrieval cover for the North East.

Main duties of the job
Specialty Doctor workforce

We recognize that the Specialty Doctor role is a distinct, highly valued, and respected career choice. Unlike traditional rotational training posts, this permanent SAS position offers you a stable, geographically fixed career milestone without sacrificing professional growth.

Here is what we offer to specifically support our Specialty Doctor workforce:

• Protected Career Development & SPA Time: Your job plan will include dedicated Supporting Professional Activity (SPA) time. You will be actively encouraged to lead clinical audits, quality improvement projects (QIPs), and neonatal simulation training.
• True Work-Life Stability: Say goodbye to six-month rotations and long commutes. This permanent post offers geographic stability, allowing you to settle into the local community, build deep professional relationships, and enjoy a predictable, sustainable rota.
• Modernised Contract Benefits: Benefit from the fully refreshed SAS contract terms, including competitive, progressive pay scales, generous annual leave, protected study leave budgets, and a firm commitment to your physical and mental well-being.

About us
For an informal discussion and further information regarding the opportunity and Directorate, please contact: Claire Granger on 01912139770, or via email at claire.granger@nhs.net

Job responsibilities
As a key member of our team, you will be involved in the clinical care of a wide variety of infants within a premier tertiary surgical neonatal unit covering the North East of England. Our busy, high-profile unit manages approximately 6,000 deliveries per annum and provides around 3,000 intensive care days, while proudly housing the regional fetal and maternal medicine services and serving as the regional neonatal surgical unit.

Person Specification
Education, Qualifications and Specialist Skills
Essential

• Primary Medical Qualification.
• MRCPCH (full qualification or equivalent postgraduate training)
• NLS

Desirable

• Higher Degree
• ARNI

Clinical Experience
Essential

• Extensive experience in tertiary neonatal medicine (Level 3 NICU) and neonatal transport services (at least 2 years neonatal middle grade)
• Proven competence in advanced tertiary neonatal procedures (e.g., cooling, complex ventilation, surgical pre-/post-operative management).
• Evidence of a substantial commitment to the specialty.

Management and Administration Experience
Essential

• Clear understanding of clinical governance, risk management, and service development within a tertiary setting.
• Evidence of involvement in authoring or reviewing clinical guidelines.

Desirable

• Direct working knowledge of Badgernet and national frameworks like NNAP.
• Evidence of having implemented change.
• Experience in developing and implementing new technologies.

Teaching
Essential

• Experience in delivering formal undergraduate teaching
• Ability to teach clinical / technical / practical skills.
• Excellent clinical leadership and communication skills, with a commitment to undergraduate medical education.

Desirable

• Attendance at courses to develop teaching skills.
• Postgraduate qualification in medical education.

Research
Essential

• Evidence of involvement in and understanding of research methodology and publication of findings.

Desirable

• Higher degree.

Audit
Essential

• Evidence of participation in audit.

Desirable

• Evidence of having changed practice as a result of audit.

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).

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