Lead Nurse- Neonatology

Imperial College Healthcare Nhs Trust; Greater London; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 86,000; Full time

Job summary

Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London is seeking a Band 8b Lead Nurse to oversee neonatal services across two sites: the Level 2 unit at St Mary’s Hospital and the Level 3 unit at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital. You will provide visible nursing leadership across the pathway, ensuring safe, family‑centred care.

The role requires credible leadership with substantial management experience. Neonatal expertise is welcomed, with transferable experience from high‑dependency or acute

Qualifications

• RN or RSCN qualification and current UK registration.
• Educated to degree level in a relevant subject area.
• Experience in management and leading a team in neonatal care.
• Experience of working within Neonatology or high-dependency/acute settings is valued.

Responsibilities

• Provide a visible, credible nursing leadership presence across both sites.
• Champion high-quality neonatal care aligned with priorities.
• Shape service development, quality improvement and workforce planning.
• Create an inclusive culture supporting staff engagement, wellbeing and development.
• Provide governance oversight, performance, financial and operational management.
• Collaborate with senior leadership to deliver strategic priorities for nursing and midwifery.
• Lead governance and support delivery of PSIRF.

Skills

Nurse leadership

Budget management

Quality assurance

Change management

Organisational skills

Pressure management

Neonatal care knowledge

Education

RN or RSCN

Degree in nursing or relevant subject

Master's degree (desirable)

Job description

Job summary

Are you an experienced and inspiring nurse leader ready to shape the future of neonatal care? We are seeking a Band 8b Lead Nurse to lead our neonatal services across two sites: the Level 2 unit at St Mary's Hospital (SMH) and the Level 3 unit at Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital (QCCH).

This is a unique opportunity to make a lasting difference to babies, families and teams while delivering safe, high-quality and family-centred care.

We are looking for a credible, compassionate leader with substantial leadership experience. Neonatal expertise is welcomed, but experience gained in high-dependency or other acute clinical settings may also be highly transferable.

You will join a supportive, ambitious and high-performing Directorate where your ideas, expertise and leadership will have real influence. With responsibility across two distinct neonatal units, you will enjoy a varied and rewarding portfolio, work alongside committed multidisciplinary teams and help shape improvements for babies, families and staff. This role will suit a collaborative leader who is energised by challenge, values innovation and wants to make a visible difference.

Main duties of the job

• Provide a visible, credible and authoritative nursing leadership presence across both sites
• Champion responsive, compassionate and consistently high-quality neonatal care aligned with national and Trust priorities
• Shape service development, quality improvement and workforce planning across the neonatal pathway
• Create an inclusive culture that supports staff engagement, wellbeing, retention and professional development
• Provide strong oversight of clinical governance, service performance, financial management and operational efficiency
• Work in partnership with the senior triumvirate to deliver strategic priorities and Trust-wide nursing and midwifery ambitions
• Lead neonatal governance and support the effective delivery of the Patient Safety Incident Response Framework (PSIRF)

About us

At Imperial College Healthcare you can achieve extraordinary things with extraordinary people, working with leading clinicians pushing boundaries in patient care.

Become part of a vibrant team living our values - expert, kind, collaborative and aspirational. You will get an experience like no other and will fast forward your career. Benefits include career development, flexible working and wellbeing, staff recognition scheme. Make use of optional benefits including Cycle to Work, car lease schemes, season ticket loan or membership options for onsite leisure facilities.

We are committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and will consider applications to work flexibly, part time or job share. Please talk to us at interview.

Environmental sustainability: Climate change and poor air quality is a health emergency that harms people's health and wellbeing and widens health inequalities. The Trust is also committed to reducing its impact on the environment by reducing our greenhouse gas emissions to Net Zero by 2045. All our employees have a role to play, and we have an active green network that supports staff to act in ways that ensures that our services are efficient, sustainable and reduce our impact on the environment. www.imperial.nhs.uk/about-us/our-strategy/green-plan.

Details

Closing date: 19 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 8b
Salary: £75,328 to £86,114 a year pa inclusive
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 290-WCCS-2765

Essential person specification

• RN or RSCN
• Educated to degree level in relevant subject area
• Relevant management experience
• Experience of working within Neonatology
• Leading and developing a team
• Budget management
• Quality assuranceChange management
• Knowledge of quality, standard setting and audit
• Organisation and management skills
• Ability to work effectively under pressure

Desirable person specification

• Master's degree in a relevant subject area
• Management course/qualification
• Patient Safety Incident Response Framework
• Experience of change management/implementation of practice change
• Participated in nurse research
• Involvement in committees external to the Trust
• Presented at national conferences

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. 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer contact details

General Manager: Kay St Louis, [e-mail], 02033127730