Job summary
Neonatal Quality, Risk and Governance Lead Nurse
Department: Neonatal unit
Band 7. £49,387 - £56,515 Per annum pro rata
Hours: Full time Secondment, 37.5 per week, to cover maternity leave. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you an experienced, expert leader in neonatal care with a specialty qualification? We have an exciting opportunity to join our friendly, senior neonatal leadership team. You'll play a crucial role in maintaining high standards of care, developing services, and compassionately leading the team.The ideal candidate will demonstrate proven leadership qualities, showcase clinical excellence and promote innovative practice while working closely with the multidisciplinary team. You'll manage day-to-day activities across ITU, HDU, and Special Care. Ensuring effective and safe decision-making.In addition to your leadership responsibilities, you'll actively participate in staff management and leadership, leveraging your outstanding communication skills to foster a collaborative work environment and encompass the FI care aspect of our unit. Familiarity with risk, governance, and safeguarding processes is essential to excel in this role.If you're passionate about neonatal care and ready to make a difference, we want to hear from you. Join us in providing the best care to our patients and become an integral part of our dedicated team'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Interview date: w/c 05 May 2026
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be a clinical expert, providing safe and effective care, leading and managing care provision for a total of 17 cots on our friendly level 2 neonatal unitYou will have extensive experience, knowledge and understanding to be able to act as a resource for the multi -disciplinary team to provide high quality, evidence-based care and work collaboratively with families and service users to enhance service provision. As a compassionate leader, you will support the team to be the best they can be, supporting their health and well-being, and actively encouraging their professional development.You will be committed, engaging and proactive, and strive for nursing excellence in neonatal care.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
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For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey: This team always knows what their work responsibilities are, scoring 93%.
ProfessionalTo act as an effective leader both professionally and managerially for all members of staff across the Neonatal Unit.
ManagementBe responsible for the day-to-day management of the unit and to be a point of contact for all unit staff as required.
Clinical PracticeProvide a visible, accessible, and authoritative presence within the department in whom staff, patients and families can have confidence and turn to for assistance, advice, support and, where appropriate, intervention.
EducationEnsure all team members maintain their mandatory and essential training in line with the minimum target set by the Trust and the Division.
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust,all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Job description
Job responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey: This team always knows what their work responsibilities are, scoring 93%.
ProfessionalTo act as an effective leader both professionally and managerially for all members of staff across the Neonatal Unit.
ManagementBe responsible for the day-to-day management of the unit and to be a point of contact for all unit staff as required.
Clinical PracticeProvide a visible, accessible, and authoritative presence within the department in whom staff, patients and families can have confidence and turn to for assistance, advice, support and, where appropriate, intervention.
EducationEnsure all team members maintain their mandatory and essential training in line with the minimum target set by the Trust and the Division.
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust,all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Child or Adult) or Registered Midwife
- Diploma or degree level education in relevant field
- Evidence of career progression and professional development
- Qualified in Specialty (Neonatal Course)
- NLS Qualified
- Mentorship Qualification (or equivalent)
- Member of relevant professional body
Desirable
- Management/Leadership course
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience in Neonatal Services post registration
- Relevant experience at a Band 6 level.
- Evidence of provision of high standards of care within Neonatal services.
- Evidence of multi-agency team working and developing relationships across organisational boundaries.
- Knowledge of NHS structures and the relationship between NHS England, local commissioning organisations and service providers
- Knowledge of national policy and evidence based practice to support the development of Neonatal Services
- Evidence of teaching/facilitating learning in practice.
- Evidence of effective leadership and management
- Safeguarding experience.
- Audit/research experience.
- Effective service improvement and change management experience.
Desirable
- Knowledge of governance processes.
- Finance/budgetary management experience.
- Risk management experience.
- Line management experience.
- Evidence of policy/guideline development.
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of expanded roles within clinical skills competency e.g. IV drug administration, central line access, intensive/high dependency care of a neonate, neonatal resuscitation and stabilisation (inc. term and preterm babies) etc.
- Aware of current issues related to nursing, NHS and Neonatal Care.
- Evidence of application of evidence based practice to care provision.
- Evidence of leadership and staff development.
- Organisational ability.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Analytical skills.
- Demonstrates ability to prioritise.
- Excellent computer skills inc. working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
- Appraisal skills
- Appraisal skills
Personal & People Development
Essential
- Role model
- Experience of working in a busy environment.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
- Professional calm and efficient manner; Effective organiser, influencer and networker
- Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
- Enthusiasm / motivation.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Professional image and persona.
Communication
Essential
- Advanced communication skills.
- Excellent verbal and non verbal communication and negotiation skills.
- Able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information and present to a range of stakeholders and large, influential groups.
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating meetings, workshops and events.
Person Specification
Qualifications & Knowledge
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Child or Adult) or Registered Midwife
- Diploma or degree level education in relevant field
- Evidence of career progression and professional development
- Qualified in Specialty (Neonatal Course)
- NLS Qualified
- Mentorship Qualification (or equivalent)
- Member of relevant professional body
Desirable
- Management/Leadership course
Experience
Essential
- Significant clinical experience in Neonatal Services post registration
- Relevant experience at a Band 6 level.
- Evidence of provision of high standards of care within Neonatal services.
- Evidence of multi-agency team working and developing relationships across organisational boundaries.
- Knowledge of NHS structures and the relationship between NHS England, local commissioning organisations and service providers
- Knowledge of national policy and evidence based practice to support the development of Neonatal Services
- Evidence of teaching/facilitating learning in practice.
- Evidence of effective leadership and management
- Safeguarding experience.
- Audit/research experience.
- Effective service improvement and change management experience.
Desirable
- Knowledge of governance processes.
- Finance/budgetary management experience.
- Risk management experience.
- Line management experience.
- Evidence of policy/guideline development.
Skills
Essential
- Evidence of expanded roles within clinical skills competency e.g. IV drug administration, central line access, intensive/high dependency care of a neonate, neonatal resuscitation and stabilisation (inc. term and preterm babies) etc.
- Aware of current issues related to nursing, NHS and Neonatal Care.
- Evidence of application of evidence based practice to care provision.
- Evidence of leadership and staff development.
- Organisational ability.
- Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands.
- Analytical skills.
- Demonstrates ability to prioritise.
- Excellent computer skills inc. working knowledge of Microsoft Office with intermediate keyboard skills.
- Appraisal skills
- Appraisal skills
Personal & People Development
Essential
- Role model
- Experience of working in a busy environment.
- Adaptability, flexibility and ability to cope with uncertainty and change
- Professional calm and efficient manner; Effective organiser, influencer and networker
- Willing to engage with and learn from peers, other professionals and colleagues in the desire to provide or support the most appropriate interventions
- Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
- Enthusiasm / motivation.
- Good interpersonal skills.
- Professional image and persona.
Communication
Essential
- Advanced communication skills.
- Excellent verbal and non verbal communication and negotiation skills.
- Able to provide and receive complex, sensitive or contentious information and present to a range of stakeholders and large, influential groups.
- Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required.
Desirable
- Experience of facilitating meetings, workshops and events.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
