Band 7 Neonatal Charge Nurse

We are seeking an experienced, dynamic and compassionate neonatal nursing leader to join our team and play a pivotal role in delivering outstanding care for babies and their families. The successful candidate will provide visible clinical and operational leadership within the neonatal service, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and family-centred care in line with Royal Free London's World Class Values.

The postholder will have joint responsibility with the other Neonatal Unit Charge Nurses and Ward Manager for the operational management and service delivery of the Neonatal Unit and Caring Together Scheme. They will be responsible for leading and developing nursing practice, maintaining high standards of quality, safety and patient experience, and supporting staff to deliver evidence-based care. They will oversee workforce planning, staff development, performance management and service improvement initiatives, while promoting a positive culture of learning, inclusion and continuous improvement.

The ideal candidate will be an effective team player who can work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, inspire and develop others, manage change and drive improvements in patient safety and service delivery. They will demonstrate strong leadership, sound professional judgement and a commitment to excellence, innovation and compassionate care.

Join the Royal Free London Neonatal Team

Are you passionate about providing outstanding care to newborn babies and their families? The Royal Free London Neonatal Unit offers an exciting opportunity to work within a highly skilled, supportive, and innovative multidisciplinary team across one of the UK’s largest NHS trusts. We provide care for babies requiring intensive, high dependency, and special care services, while promoting family-integrated care and continuous quality improvement.

We are committed to staff development, wellbeing, and career progression, offering excellent training and leadership opportunities. Join us and help shape the future of neonatal care while making a real difference to the lives of babies and families every day.

To have joint responsibility with the other Neonatal Unit Charge Nurses and Ward Management team for the operational management and service delivery of the Neonatal Unit and Caring Together Scheme. This includes the line management of all neonatal unit staff; the management and monitoring of resources within a defined budget and the delivery of the Trust's corporate agenda.

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's biggest and most innovative trusts. Across three main hospitals, our dedicated army of staff care for over 1.6million patients, treat more than 200,000 in A&E, deliver over 8,000 babies and carry out more than 17million tests.

Our size, scale and influence offer you unrivalled career opportunities and a forward-thinking approach to working that works around your lifestyle. From flexible hours and generous benefits, to next level training, we make it easier to take your career to the top. For more information please follow link

• Date posted: 23 October 2026
• Pay scheme:
  Agenda for change
• Band:
  Band 7
• Salary: £55,524 to £62,652 a year per annum inclusive of HCAS (Pro-rata if LTFT)
• Contract:
  
  Permanent
• Working pattern:
  Full-time
• Reference number: 391-RFL-8186495-A
• Closing date: 04 November 2026

• Demonstrable ability to meet the Trust shared commitments.
• Registered Children's Nurse / RGN
• NMC Registration
• Neonatal Qualification in Specialty (QIS)
• Degree in Nursing or equivalent evidence of academic achievement; evidence of ongoing professional development relevant to neonatal care and leadership
• Current neonatal clinical competence, including Neonatal Advanced Life Support or equivalent relevant training
• Mentorship, practice assessor/supervisor or equivalent educational qualification
• Experience of working in neonates, some of which is at a junior managerial level.
• Experience managing competing priorities, changing workloads, staffing pressures and operational demands within a complex clinical environment.
• Experience of managing staff performance, appraisal, attendance and wellbeing in line with Trust policies.
• Experience identifying training needs and supporting workforce development programmes.
• Experience of working within a team and of developing good working relationships with internal and external staff at all levels
• Experience of managing safeguarding…