Senior Sister / Charge Nurse NICU in Bedford

Are you ready to lead with compassion and excellence? At Luton and Dunstable University Hospital, our vision is clear: to deliver the best patient care, supported by the best clinical knowledge and expertise, using the most advanced technology, and always with kindness and understanding. As Ward Manager, you will embody this vision every day. You will put patients first, champion continuous improvement, and embrace the diversity of our people as a strength. You will value the contribution of staff, volunteers, members, governors, and partners, while managing resources effectively and taking responsibility for actions both individually and collectively. This role carries 24-hour responsibility for the ward or department, including staffing arrangements, adherence to policies and procedures, and the management of a defined caseload. You will liaise with other agencies and oversee the supervision, deployment, and teaching of staff and students. Flexibility is key, as you will manage your time to fulfil the roles of clinical coordinator and ward manager, which may include periods of rostering yourself as supernumerary. If you are a motivated leader with a passion for patient care and service excellence, we want to hear from you. Join us and make a real difference in a hospital that values innovation, collaboration, and compassion.

Main duties of the job

• Take responsibility for the assessment of care needs, the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of care and rehabilitation for children and their families.
• Explore more efficient and effective ways of providing a high standard of family centred care and utilisation of resources.
• In conjunction with the staff develop a mechanism for setting goals and benchmarking standards of care.
• Develop tools to improve the quality of the service and co-ordinate clinical services across the ward/dept.
• Support systems for sharing good practice within the ward/dept and trust wide.
• Pilot clinical programmes.
• Plan and implement a programme for clinical supervision for all registered nurses working in the ward/dept.

Working for our organisation

Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, Obstetrics-led Maternity and Paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available.

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience - we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. We achieve this by using values based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.

Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering first 6 months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Lead the ward/dept team by an appropriate management style to maintain good morale and a team approach to work.
• Deploy/book staff to meet the workload with an appropriate skill mix for 24 hour cover.
• Hold and maintain the designated budget.
• Influence control of overall ward/dept expenditure.
• Ensure regular risk assessments are carried out to identify clinical risks and prevent incidents.
• Monitor the capability, competence, sickness and absence of staff.
• Ensure compliance to trust policies and procedures amongst the multi-disciplinary team.
• Obtain and analyse statistical information for the area of practice.
• Ensure the accurate input of data to I.T. systems.
• Manage stores and supplies for the area of practice.
• Ensure the proper use of and maintenance of equipment.
• Lead in the selection, interviewing and monitoring of staff.
• Attend and contribute actively to relevant meetings (e.g. ward manager and unit meetings) and working parties.
• Act up for the Lead nurse.
• Take responsibility and lead on designate tasks in key areas care.
• Support band 6 staff with shift leadership and professional development.

Education, Training and Development of Staff

• Guide and support staff in their professional development and clinical competence.
• Reviewing and managing the performance of all staff by identifying their educational and other needs, annual IPR and objectives.
• Ensuring the orientation of staff and preceptorship in in-service training.
• Promote, encourage and participate in research, audit and studies related to the area of practice.
• Implement ward teaching programmes.
• Guide and support staff in the monitoring and assessment for all learners in the clinical area.
• In liaison with universities, provide a successful learning environment for students.
• Participate in a ‘shadowing’ programme of the senior nurse.

Professional and Legal Responsibilities

• Be familiar with and to observe ward, department, hospital and district policies, the NMC Rules and Code of Practice.
• Update own knowledge and skills in order to develop professionally and to contribute to the improvement of the service.
• Take responsibility for the safe storage of records and the maintenance of confidentiality.

Person specification

• Qualifications: Registered Nurse QIS trained with at least 3 years consolidation of learning, Current NLS 4 yearly training.
• Experience: Substantial time working in Neonatal unit, Evidence of involvement in project management.
• Skills: Ability to work and communicate as part of the multidisciplinary team, Good level of IT ie Email/Internet, Ability to prioritise in order to meet deadlines when writing reports, Effectively carries out tasks related to audit and evaluating services, Ability to plan workload and supervise others effectively to meet service needs, Ability to deal with operational issues, Ability to deliver on the Key NICU performance indicators, Project leadership skills.
• Knowledge: Knowledge of teaching and learning, Able to evaluate and analyse results of audit in order to improve the service, Experience in change management and/or quality improvement initiatives, Knowledge of National Neonatal policies & guidelines, Fully aware of the children’s Act & National/Local Safeguarding Children Board legislation.

It is an exciting time to join the newly formed Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. We run two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Our 7,500 staff provide high quality care for a growing population of around 700,000 across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas. You will be joining a friendly, high performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region you will have access to a programme of high quality training and development to help you grow your career. Travel between hospital sites may be required. We have state-of-the art facilities placing us at the heart of cutting edge health care. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology available. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering their first six months in post.