Neonatal Governance Lead Nurse
University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
Closing date: 17 August 2026
Location: Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL7 2JG

Job summary
The Neonatal Clinical Governance & PMRT Lead Nurse plays a vital role in ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality and accountability across the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Derriford Hospital. This Band 7 role provides expert leadership in clinical governance, risk management, incident oversight, and perinatal mortality review processes. Working closely with the Matron, multidisciplinary neonatal teams, maternity governance colleagues and regional partners, the post holder will champion a culture of openness, learning and continuous improvement.

The role leads the coordination of neonatal clinical governance activities, supports compliance with national standards, and ensures that neonatal deaths are reviewed compassionately and robustly in line with the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT). The post holder will be central to embedding evidence-based practice, strengthening safety systems, and ensuring families' voices are heard throughout governance and review processes.

Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.
Main duties of the job

• Lead and coordinate neonatal clinical governance processes, including incident reporting, risk management, audits and quality improvement programmes.
• Oversee Datix incident management, thematic analysis, duty of candour processes and risk register maintenance.
• Lead the PMRT process, ensuring timely, high-quality reviews of neonatal deaths and compassionate engagement with families.
• Support the development and implementation of neonatal clinical guidelines, SOPs and evidence-based practice.
• Work collaboratively with maternity governance, perinatal teams and regional networks to ensure alignment with national standards (CQC, CNST, ATAIN, BAPM).
• Provide governance training, support staff involved in incidents or complaints, and promote a strong safety culture.
• Produce governance reports, present findings at relevant meetings, and monitor action plans to ensure improvements are embedded.

About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Details
Date posted: 03 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year Per Annum Pro Rata
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time
Reference number: 216-LT-DA8115250
Job locations: Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, PL7 2JG, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
The post holder will act as the senior governance lead for Neonatal Service Line, coordinating all aspects of clinical governance, risk management and quality assurance. They will ensure the service meets regulatory requirements and best practice guidance, promoting a culture where patient safety and learning are integral to everyday practice.

Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance
You will lead neonatal governance activities, including incident reporting, audits, quality improvement projects and monitoring of clinical outcomes. You will produce governance reports, support action planning, and ensure business continuity plans are current. You will actively participate in local, maternity and regional governance forums to ensure neonatal services remain compliant with CQC, CNST, ATAIN and BAPM standards.

Risk Management
You will coordinate risk management processes, oversee Datix incident reviews, support duty of candour, and provide thematic analysis of incident trends. You will maintain the neonatal risk register, initiate immediate safety reviews, and contribute to clinical audits and risk assessments. You will lead the implementation of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) within neonatal services.

Perinatal Mortality Review (PMRT)
You will lead and coordinate timely, highquality reviews of neonatal deaths in line with PMRT guidance. This includes facilitating multiprofessional review meetings, ensuring accurate data entry, monitoring actions, and supporting compassionate family involvement. You will work closely with the perinatal bereavement team to ensure families receive sensitive followup and that their voices inform learning.

For further information please see attached job description.

Person Specification
Knowledge - Essential

• Demonstrable postregistration experience in neonatal care
• Experience of clinical audit, risk management and governance processes
• Understanding of neonatal care standards and evidence-based practice
• Knowledge of clinical governance framework

Knowledge - Desirable

• Demonstrable experience in clinical governance or patient safety role
• Evidence of working toward MSc

Qualifications - Essential

• Registered Nurse with NMC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Recognised Qualified in Speciality qualification
• Leadership & Management training

Qualifications - Desirable

• Training in risk management
• Postgraduate qualification in clinical governance, quality improvement

Aptitude & Abilities - Essential

• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written
• Competent in facilitating meetings and multidisciplinary review
• Excellent organisational and interpersonal skills and able to work as a team leader

Aptitude & Abilities - Desirable

• Proven ability to use Quality improvement tools

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. 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.

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

Employer contact details
Interim Matron for Neonatal and Transitional Care
sarah underwood
s.underwood3@nhs.net
01752439076