Specialist Bereavement Neonatal Nurse (XR07) in Leeds

We are seeking a compassionate and dedicated Neonatal Nurse/Midwife to work within the Bereavement Team at the Leeds Centre for Newborn Care. This is a part-time post for 30 hours a week. The post holder will coordinate and lead the care and support of parents and families following the loss of their babies from early and late neonatal death on the neonatal unit. The post holder will need to have advanced communication skills to support families at one of their most difficult and emotional times in their lives. They will provide specialist skills and knowledge to support the neonatal team in the delivery of end-of-life care to infants and families. This will include developing advanced palliative care plans, working in partnership with the family and the multi-disciplinary team to co-ordinate care after death.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will possess expert knowledge of the processes, legalities and requirements following death and will facilitate and contribute to the delivery of care tailored to the family's individual needs.
• The post holder will be a clinical expert in neonatal care who supports the clinical team to deliver high standards of care, creating a safe learning environment for the team to gain knowledge through their guidance and expertise.
• The post holder will work collaboratively with the neonatal palliative care consultant lead, neonatal mortality consultant lead and the wider neonatal multi-disciplinary team.
• The post holder will act as an expert resource for bereavement, be a positive role model and provide sound professional knowledge and leadership to all members of the multidisciplinary team within the neonatal service.

About us:

The Leeds Neonatal Service delivers specialist care to over 1400 babies per year. We have 14 intensive care, 10 high dependency and 16 special care cots across the city. We also have a 13 bedded Transitional care unit on the St James Hospital Site and 6 Transitional care cots integrated into the post-natal Ward on the Leeds General Infirmary Site. We provide care to babies who have complex medical needs.

Job responsibilities:

• The post holder will coordinate the care and support of parents/carers/families following the loss of their baby/babies after being cared for within the Leeds neonatal service.
• The post holder will be responsible for providing complex and sensitive information in a range of circumstances where interpersonal and communication skills are essential.
• They will facilitate and contribute to the delivery of a seamless integrated package of care tailored to the parents' needs.
• In addition, the post holder will support families to complete the Perinatal Mortality Review Tool (PMRT) and will facilitate parental feedback into this process.
• The post holder will work closely with the multidisciplinary team to support implementation and delivery of evidence-based bereavement care aligned to the National Bereavement Pathways (NBP).

Person Specification:

• Significant experience in the specialist area to act as expert practitioner.
• Experience of managing staff.
• Experience of patient service user advocacy role.
• Awareness of current relevant NHS Policy context relating to the speciality.
• Evidence of management and leadership development.
• Knowledge of clinical audit methods.
• Insight into current issues in nursing/professional issues.
• Evidence of working within a neonatal service/area on a regular basis.
• An understanding of the organisational structure and working practices of the organisation.
• Understanding of the local and national nursing agenda.
• Knowledge of the care and management of Children/Young People requiring palliative care.

Skills & Behaviours:

• Organisational skills.
• Ability to communicate complex messages to large groups.
• Conflict management.
• Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Ability to negotiate.
• Flexible.
• Strategic thinker.

Qualifications:

• Registered (Level 1) Nurse/Midwife.
• Qualified in Speciality (Neonatal).
• Recognised teaching qualification.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Significant experience in speciality.
• Experience in a specialist bereavement nurse/midwife post.

Additional Requirements:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to organise and prioritise own and others workload.
• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
• Ability to carry out physical tasks (with reasonable adjustments if necessary).
• Completion of Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure form.
• Eligibility to work in the UK.
• This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.