King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Governance Nurse Lead

The closing date is 26 February 2026

Job summary

Following investment through the Neonatal Critical Care Review funding we are seeking to employ an experienced, motivated, dynamic Neonatal nurse to join our team working cross-site as a Governance and Risk Nurse.

The aim of the role is to enhance the quality and safety of Neonatal care, showing leadership in the management of risk within both units and Care Group and achieve consistency in practice, high standards of care and innovation with a strong patient focus.

You should be keen to influence quality improvement for our babies/ families and staff

Willing to work with the Matrons, Lead Nurse and Clinical Lead for Risk to manage Governance and risk on both units and across the Care Group

Have significant experience post specialist Neonatal course and should hold a mentorship qualification.

We pride ourselves in developing leaders for the future and as such, in return, we will enhance your leadership and management skills through individualised professional leadership and clinical development.

Main duties of the job

The Neonatal Clinical Governance and Risk Nurse is a critical addition to the senior leadership across both sites and will provide leadership as well as contribute clinical knowledge to the clinical service. You will possess excellent communication and demonstrate commitment to patient safety and quality of care. Alongside the senior nursing team, you will be expected to assist in the assessment and improvement of both the Neonatal and Child Health governance and risk management strategy.The role requires a deep understanding of the needs of neonatal patients and the ability to work collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team whilst developing and implementing high quality care to neonates and their family. You will assist in the development and provision of a comprehensive, high quality, family integrated and centred care service within the resources available.The role will include using the Trust InPhase reporting system as well Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF) to investigate and monitor action plans with provision of evidence. You will present reports and trends at the relevant Trust Governance platforms. You will be required to provide assurance and ensure standards are met for the London Operational Delivery Network as well as all external regulatory organisations in relation to safety, quality and key performance indicators for neonates.

About us

The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.

We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.

King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum, including high cost area

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

213-Division-A-7696293-A

Job locations

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS


Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.0 Risk Management

  • Co-ordinate and promote the neonatology risk management processes.
  • Oversee and monitor the staff use of the Trusts incident reporting system i.e. InPhase
  • Be a cohesive member of the Care Group and Trust Governance Team.
  • Promote the Duty of Candour.
  • Oversee national and local service evaluation and reviews and audits.
  • Ensure the timely reporting by staff members of all neonatal clinical incidents.
  • Collate incident statistics and monitor trends from adverse incidents.
  • Communicate relevant findings to promote an environment which learns from incident reporting.
  • Participate in the seamless investigation of all serious untoward incidents as instructed by lead Nurse/Matrons &/or the Trusts Governance and Risk team.
  • Report incidents to other agencies where appropriate via the Trusts Governance and Risk Management Lead.
  • Maintain and monitor the Neonatology Risk Register.
  • Deputise as required at the Child Health Safety and Risk Management Board.
  • Participate in the facilitation of department training programmes in relation to Health Care Governance.
  • Production a risk management report as required.
  • Develop clinical policies and guidelines to support risk management and clinical effectiveness and ensure archiving of all old policies.
  • Participate in relevant clinical audits and risk assessments.

2.0 Complaints Management

  • Work in partnership with the Neonatal Lead Nurse, / Matrons/Clinical Lead to manage the complaints process.
  • Co-ordinate the prompt and succinct management of neonatology complaints within required timeframes.
  • Maintain a high standard of investigation through the co-ordination of multi-professional responses.
  • Within sphere of role, produce written responses to complaints which are considered, factual, empathetic and patient orientated and reflect a document which can be distributed on behalf of the Trust. Arrange and facilitate meetings with parent/carer(s) and their families and key staff members.
  • Maintain a current log of complaints.
  • Support the service to instigate changes in practice or systems in response to issues identified through the Trust complaint procedure.
  • Provide advice for staff on both units and enable frontline staff to manage complaints appropriately.
  • Support the complaints process through ongoing dialogue with the Trusts Patient Advice and Liaison Services Team (PALS).
  • Ensure staff involved in the complaints process are supported in a sensitive manner.
  • Produce timely reports which detail the themes and trends over designated reporting periods e.g., previous quarter.
  • Regularly feedback to the Neonatal Management Team and the staff regarding trends and themes or individual issues.
  • Liaise with and provide any documentation required.
  • Act as the point of contact for the Patient Advice and Liaison Services Team (PALS).
  • Act as the point of contact for families.

3.0 Litigation Responsibilities

  • Work in partnership with the Trust legal department.
  • Ensure that the Trust legal department are involved with the on-going management of legal cases.
  • Support the multi-disciplinary team in the submission of evidence and statements.
  • Maintain a register of ongoing legal cases for Neonatology.
  • Contribute to the professional cohesive management of the litigation process in order to reduce the potentially negative impact to both the family and staff members.
  • Maintain confidentiality relating to patients, staff and the Trust at all times.

4.0 Governance Issues

  • Monitor both units compliance in governance issues.
  • Contribute to the Neonatology Health and Safety Review process.
  • Support the Matron and the Ward Managers with contemporary governance issues as they arise; and assist in the production and monitoring of action plans.
  • Ensure Neonatal Business Continuity plans are in place and up to date.
  • Support the Lead Nurse, Matrons, and Trusts Governance and Risk Lead in major escalation plans.
  • Ensure safety plans & procedures are up to date for the service and workforce.

5.0 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

  • To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for the orientation, supervision and ongoing development of all learners (juniors, student nurses and midwives), in conjunction with Line Manager and Practice Development staff.

  • To act as a mentor to staff and students undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills, completing competency documents.

  • To contribute to the wider educational activities within the Care Group ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities to the Multi-disciplinary team within the Care Group

  • To participate in any research projects conducted in the clinical area as appropriate

  • To assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area and support the continuous quality improvement by audit and surveys and implement changes in the light of findings.

  • To ensure that practice is evidence based and that clinical guideline standards and policies are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with the senior nursing team

  • To act as a clinical resource within both units and across the Care Group as necessary

6.0 Communication

  • Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.

  • Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions

7.0 PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence and ensure clinical currency as new technologies are introduced

  • Ensure own development and continue clinical competency by working a clinical shift in the intensive care or High dependency areas on a regular basis as required by the Senior Nurse/Modern Matro

  • To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and Care Group policies and guidelines and to adhere to these at all times

  • To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the Care Group

  • To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the team leader

  • Participate in own Individual Performance Review and after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking timely reviews for own team of junior staff

  • To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain PREP requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.0 Risk Management

  • Co-ordinate and promote the neonatology risk management processes.
  • Oversee and monitor the staff use of the Trusts incident reporting system i.e. InPhase
  • Be a cohesive member of the Care Group and Trust Governance Team.
  • Promote the Duty of Candour.
  • Oversee national and local service evaluation and reviews and audits.
  • Ensure the timely reporting by staff members of all neonatal clinical incidents.
  • Collate incident statistics and monitor trends from adverse incidents.
  • Communicate relevant findings to promote an environment which learns from incident reporting.
  • Participate in the seamless investigation of all serious untoward incidents as instructed by lead Nurse/Matrons &/or the Trusts Governance and Risk team.
  • Report incidents to other agencies where appropriate via the Trusts Governance and Risk Management Lead.
  • Maintain and monitor the Neonatology Risk Register.
  • Deputise as required at the Child Health Safety and Risk Management Board.
  • Participate in the facilitation of department training programmes in relation to Health Care Governance.
  • Production a risk management report as required.
  • Develop clinical policies and guidelines to support risk management and clinical effectiveness and ensure archiving of all old policies.
  • Participate in relevant clinical audits and risk assessments.

2.0 Complaints Management

  • Work in partnership with the Neonatal Lead Nurse, / Matrons/Clinical Lead to manage the complaints process.
  • Co-ordinate the prompt and succinct management of neonatology complaints within required timeframes.
  • Maintain a high standard of investigation through the co-ordination of multi-professional responses.
  • Within sphere of role, produce written responses to complaints which are considered, factual, empathetic and patient orientated and reflect a document which can be distributed on behalf of the Trust. Arrange and facilitate meetings with parent/carer(s) and their families and key staff members.
  • Maintain a current log of complaints.
  • Support the service to instigate changes in practice or systems in response to issues identified through the Trust complaint procedure.
  • Provide advice for staff on both units and enable frontline staff to manage complaints appropriately.
  • Support the complaints process through ongoing dialogue with the Trusts Patient Advice and Liaison Services Team (PALS).
  • Ensure staff involved in the complaints process are supported in a sensitive manner.
  • Produce timely reports which detail the themes and trends over designated reporting periods e.g., previous quarter.
  • Regularly feedback to the Neonatal Management Team and the staff regarding trends and themes or individual issues.
  • Liaise with and provide any documentation required.
  • Act as the point of contact for the Patient Advice and Liaison Services Team (PALS).
  • Act as the point of contact for families.

3.0 Litigation Responsibilities

  • Work in partnership with the Trust legal department.
  • Ensure that the Trust legal department are involved with the on-going management of legal cases.
  • Support the multi-disciplinary team in the submission of evidence and statements.
  • Maintain a register of ongoing legal cases for Neonatology.
  • Contribute to the professional cohesive management of the litigation process in order to reduce the potentially negative impact to both the family and staff members.
  • Maintain confidentiality relating to patients, staff and the Trust at all times.

4.0 Governance Issues

  • Monitor both units compliance in governance issues.
  • Contribute to the Neonatology Health and Safety Review process.
  • Support the Matron and the Ward Managers with contemporary governance issues as they arise; and assist in the production and monitoring of action plans.
  • Ensure Neonatal Business Continuity plans are in place and up to date.
  • Support the Lead Nurse, Matrons, and Trusts Governance and Risk Lead in major escalation plans.
  • Ensure safety plans & procedures are up to date for the service and workforce.

5.0 EDUCATION AND RESEARCH

  • To act as a mentor to junior staff members, responsible for the orientation, supervision and ongoing development of all learners (juniors, student nurses and midwives), in conjunction with Line Manager and Practice Development staff.

  • To act as a mentor to staff and students undertaking further education as requested, ensuring a positive learning experience and facilitating the development of their clinical skills, completing competency documents.

  • To contribute to the wider educational activities within the Care Group ensuring attendance at and contributing to the delivery of educational activities to the Multi-disciplinary team within the Care Group

  • To participate in any research projects conducted in the clinical area as appropriate

  • To assist in the development of policies and protocols within the clinical area and support the continuous quality improvement by audit and surveys and implement changes in the light of findings.

  • To ensure that practice is evidence based and that clinical guideline standards and policies are implemented and to be actively involved in auditing practice in conjunction with the senior nursing team

  • To act as a clinical resource within both units and across the Care Group as necessary

6.0 Communication

  • Ensure all communication, which may be complex, contentious or sensitive, is undertaken in a responsive and inclusive manner, focusing on improvement and ways to move forward.

  • Ensure all communication is presented appropriately to the different recipients, according to levels of understanding, type of communication being imparted and possible barriers such as language, culture, understanding or physical or mental health conditions

7.0 PERSONAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

  • To work within and accept responsibility for maintaining agreed levels of clinical competence and ensure clinical currency as new technologies are introduced

  • Ensure own development and continue clinical competency by working a clinical shift in the intensive care or High dependency areas on a regular basis as required by the Senior Nurse/Modern Matro

  • To keep up to date with NMC, Trust and Care Group policies and guidelines and to adhere to these at all times

  • To be a fully active and committed member of the multidisciplinary team operating in the Care Group

  • To demonstrate an insight into own professional development, contributing to the process of identifying own educational and clinical training needs in conjunction with the team leader

  • Participate in own Individual Performance Review and after suitable training, to be responsible for undertaking timely reviews for own team of junior staff

  • To ensure own educational commitment is at least sufficient to maintain PREP requirements and to ensure own mandatory training certificates are current, in liaison with Line Manager

Person Specification

essential

Essential

  • 1st level Registered RN (Adult/Child) Nurse. Post registration Qualification in Neonatology
  • Post registration teaching mentorship qualification Current NLS certification Educated to First level degree (level 6 or above)
  • Demonstrable clinical expertise relevant to the area. Significant post registration neonatal experience
  • Experience in Human factors/route cause analysis training or experience of/willing to undertake
  • Evidence of continuing professional development Leadership or management training
  • Knowledge of audit and quality improvement Working knowledge of the incident process
  • Highly self motivated - Possesses high internal work standards, sets themselves and helps others to set attainable goals; wants to do things better, to improve, to be more effective and efficient; measure progress against target

Desirable

  • Risk Management and Quality Improvement experience Emergency planning
  • Complaints management
  • Complaints management
Person Specification

essential

Essential

  • 1st level Registered RN (Adult/Child) Nurse. Post registration Qualification in Neonatology
  • Post registration teaching mentorship qualification Current NLS certification Educated to First level degree (level 6 or above)
  • Demonstrable clinical expertise relevant to the area. Significant post registration neonatal experience
  • Experience in Human factors/route cause analysis training or experience of/willing to undertake
  • Evidence of continuing professional development Leadership or management training
  • Knowledge of audit and quality improvement Working knowledge of the incident process
  • Highly self motivated - Possesses high internal work standards, sets themselves and helps others to set attainable goals; wants to do things better, to improve, to be more effective and efficient; measure progress against target

Desirable

  • Risk Management and Quality Improvement experience Emergency planning
  • Complaints management
  • Complaints management

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS


Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS


Employer's website

https://www.kch.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Matron

Ade Omofade

adetokunbo.omofade@nhs.net

02032993553

Details

Date posted

12 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum, including high cost area

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

213-Division-A-7696293-A

Job locations

Denmark Hill

London

SE5 9RS


Supporting documents

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