Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Risk and Governance Lead
The closing date is 06 July 2026
An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Neonatal Team Luton and Dunstable Hospital.
If you are ambitious, confident, self‑motivated and compassionate, looking to develop your career in neonatal nursing and make a difference, this post offers you the opportunity to play a key role as part of a new and developing team.
There has never been a more exciting time to join our neonatal team as we expand our neonatal service. The New Neonatal Unit has been opened since November 2025.
The post holder will need to have strong team‑building skills and be able to demonstrate how they motivate and lead. They will be required to work flexibly as a member of the neonatal team to ensure standards are being maintained, evaluated and where necessary improved. As a Sister/Charge Nurse you will work collaboratively with all members of the multi‑professional team, ensure that the baby and family have a satisfactory experience by investigating incidents, discussing with families and staff involved as well as supporting other governance aspects.
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
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Maintain high standards of clinical care across neonatal services.
- Support nursing and medical staff in the development of new policies and procedures which are evidence based.
- Oversee the management of the service in conjunction with the senior clinical team, supporting capacity and clinical decision making.
- Work in partnership with the Senior team to monitor the delivery of high standard care across Neonatal Services.
- Lead in conjunction with the senior clinical team on patient safety and governance.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Ensure nursing care delivery is based on current research and/or best practice.
- Support and encourage a holistic approach to nursing care delivery.
- Support staff in identifying and setting standards, care bundles and quality of nursing care and assist all members of the clinical team in developing or implementing assessment tools to evaluate the care given.
- Maintain own clinical skill base by working closely with new and identified individual members of staff (as required) to promote their personal development in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care given.
- Facilitate the implementation of a robust system of Clinical Supervision across sites in partnership with the Lead Nurse and Practice Development team.
About us
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.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job responsibilities
Act as a role model for the designated staff/department in respect of neonatal care and management.
Act as an advocate for babies, families or relatives who require support, guidance or advice to ensure informed decisions are made about their care where required.
Ensure that agreed standards are known and followed to provide a safe environment for babies, their families, relatives and staff.
Integrate recognised best practice into everyday practice.
Be aware of the implications of Health Service policy, in connection to nursing practice, educating service users and staff as appropriate.
Work in collaboration with the Senior clinical team, medical staff and the wider multidisciplinary team in providing professional support and advice for regular review of local guidelines, Trust policies and standards in relation to practice.
Work in partnership with the Senior Nursing Team to identify and facilitate nursing research audits within the department. Use results to facilitate improvements in practice and documentation by all staff.
Lead on the coordination and preparation of learning and investigation tools and other clinical incident investigations and reports alongside partner teams as appropriate to ensure effective review and learning.
Be proactive in identifying, preventing, recording, documenting, reflecting, evaluating, action‑planning risk incidents and above all promoting a culture of practiced risk assessment within the department via a clinical governance pathway.
Management Responsibilities
- Understand the importance of effective cost management, waste reduction and maximising value from resource management.
- Be a key part of the senior nursing management team and deputise for the Lead Nurse when necessary.
- Maintain regular contact, attend meetings with other teams within Trust and network areas of value in providing support and advice to ensure that objectives are met and outcomes achieved.
- Manage own workload/projects in an effective and efficient way.
- Participate in quality initiatives and audit as requested by Lead Nurse.
- Handle complaints, accidents and incidents with professionalism in accordance with local/Trust policy.
- Ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all times.
- Participate in interviews, staff recruitment, disciplinary and department meetings and service reviews when requested to do so.
- Provide regular reports on educational programmes, project development and associated outcomes to the Senior team, Trust colleagues and external organisations as appropriate.
- Monitor sickness and absence for nursing staff and participate in any stage 2 meeting as required.
- Perform staff appraisal and nursing revalidation as indicated and provide support and guidance for staff.
- Manage capacity/activity with advanced decision‑making skills.
Clinical Governance and Quality
- Lead on the preparation and coordination of the Neonatal Governance dashboard and Trust quality reports in conjunction with the senior team.
- Ensure that the Trust and national quality initiatives are fully implemented across neonatal services.
- Promote awareness and monitor compliance amongst colleagues regarding Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and standards.
- Ensure that investigation of incident reports relating to nursing issues are completed and actioned.
- Be responsible for, in conjunction with the lead nurse, the implementation and monitoring of clinical quality indicators, including but not limited to CQC outcomes, quality and accuracy of documentation, improving the patient experience, HSIB reviews and PSIRF and complaint investigation.
Communication
- Maintain clear, accurate, legible contemporaneous patient documentation at all times.
- Ensure and maintain an effective communication within the multi‑disciplinary team to achieve an optimum level of service to babies and families.
- Ensure that effective communication exists between all nursing colleagues, medical staff, multidisciplinary teams, families and their relatives, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.
Professional Development and Educational Responsibilities
- Participate in the staff appraisal process with the aim of enhancing individual personal development using reflective practice.
- Encourage all staff to use reflective practice to enhance individual performance and improve care delivery.
- Critically reflect regularly on own performance and strive towards excellence at every opportunity.
- Maintain own clinical and professional credibility by keeping own practice up‑to‑date in line with current trends and best practice through personal development and the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.
- Maintain standards of conduct and dress to sustain the public confidence in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and Trust policies.
- Abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice.
- Provide evidence of periodical registration to practice.
- Represent department and/or Trust at local, regional and national forums/network to identify and share best practice.
- Be aware of all Trust initiatives and policies, especially those relating to clinical practice.
- Book annual leave, report sickness/absenteeism in accordance with Trust policy.
- Maintain own NMC revalidation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
- Registered Nurse
- Neonatal qualified in speciality (QIS)
- Teaching and assessing experience
- Current NLS certificate
- Masters degree or working towards
- Research experience
- NLS instructor
Experience
- Ability to effectively lead change
- Evidence of involvement in project management
Knowledge
- Knowledge of National Neonatal policies & guidelines
- Awareness and involvement in clinical audit & research & evidence based practice
- People management & motivational skills
- Understanding of PSIRF framework and national drivers
- NMC code of Professional Conduct
- Proven leadership and managerial ability
- Evidence of changing practice in a clinical setting
- Experience of standard setting and clinical audit
Skills
- Experience of working in a busy & demanding role
- Ability to manage own time & priorities and that of others effectively
- Ability to adhere to Trust's Health & Safety Policies and guidelines
- Ability to cope & work under pressure & in stressful situations
- Ability to forward‑think & risk‑manage
- Excellent interpersonal & communication skills
- Project leadership skill
- Evidence of excellent IT skills
- Quality improvement skills
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.
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
