Band 7 Neonatal Charge Nurse

Band 7 charge nurse post on the Royal Free London Neonatal Unit, sharing operational leadership of the unit and the Caring Together Scheme with the other charge nurses and ward manager. The postholder leads nursing practice, oversees quality and safety, and manages workforce planning, staff development and service improvement. The role carries line management of all unit staff and a budget, covering intensive, high dependency and special care babies and their families.

Applicants need NMC registration and a neonatal qualification in specialty, plus mentorship or an equivalent qualification.

• Provide visible clinical and operational leadership across the neonatal service
• Share joint responsibility with the other charge nurses and ward management for operational management and service delivery of the Neonatal Unit and Caring Together Scheme
• Line manage all neonatal unit staff
• Manage and monitor resources within a defined budget
• Lead and develop nursing practice
• Maintain high standards of quality, safety and patient experience
• Support staff to deliver evidence-based care
• Oversee workforce planning, staff development and performance management
• Lead service improvement and change, driving improvements in patient safety
• Promote a culture of learning, inclusion and continuous improvement
• Work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams
• Deliver the Trust's corporate agenda

• Neonatal Qualification in Specialty (QIS)
• Degree in nursing or equivalent academic achievement, with ongoing neonatal and leadership development
• Current neonatal clinical competence, including Neonatal Advanced Life Support or equivalent
• Mentorship, practice assessor or supervisor qualification, or equivalent

• Registered children's nurse or RGN with current NMC registration

• Neonatal nursing experience, some at junior managerial level
• Managing staff performance, appraisal, attendance, wellbeing and training needs
• Managing competing priorities, workloads, staffing pressures and safe staffing escalation, including rostering and workforce planning
• Managing safeguarding children concerns, referrals and procedures
• Leading or contributing to change management, quality improvement, audit or service development, within clinical governance and patient safety systems including PSIRF
• Collecting and presenting data, and working with teams, parents and carers on discharge planning

• Strong leadership and communication skills to inspire staff and set a clear vision for neonatal care
• Analytical, problem-solving and organisational skills, with confident use of Word, Outlook and Excel

• Demonstrable commitment to Trust shared commitments and to equality, diversity and inclusion
• Compassionate, approachable, family-centred, resilient and a credible role model
• Flexible, adaptable, able to lead change and committed to quality improvement

• Master's qualification or equivalent, or working towards one
• Experience managing resources, budgets or delegated financial responsibilities

• High cost area supplement (HCAS) included in pay
• Flexible hours
• Training and career progression, including leadership opportunities
• Staff development and wellbeing support