Maternity Elective Caesarean Section Recovery Nurse

University Hospitals Dorset; Bournemouth; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a Maternity Elective Caesarean Section Recovery Nurse (Band 5) to join the team at Royal Bournemouth Hospital. The role involves perioperative care for women/childbearing people, including pre‑op and post‑op phases, with emphasis on neonatal support and infant feeding practices.

You’ll work in a dynamic maternity unit with opportunities across shifts, including potential weekends, and contribute to patient safety and quality improvement within the

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse (Advanced Diploma/Degree in adult Health Nursing).
• Supervising, Learning and Assessing in Practice, or equivalent.
• Patient Care in Anaesthesia or equivalent CPD module.
• Patient Care in Surgery or equivalent CPD module.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical care during pre‑op assessments and support post‑surgical recovery.
• Administer prescribed medicines.
• Participate in pre‑op assessments with the Anaesthetic Team.
• Assist the midwifery team in neonatal care after relevant training.
• Provide and/or support emergency maternal and neonatal care after training.
• Support infant feeding best practices.
• Transfer and handover of women/birthing people to postnatal ward teams.
• Support coordination and flow of the operating list and report issues.
• Support newborn security measures and maternity audits.

Skills

NMC registration

Teamwork

Communication

Education

Advanced Diploma/Degree in Adult Health Nursing

Supervising, Learning & Assessing in Practice

CPD in Anaesthesia

CPD in Surgery

Job description

Maternity Elective Caesarean Section Recovery Nurse

Band 5

Main area Maternity Grade Band 5 Contract Permanent Hours

• Full time
• Part time

Monday to Friday 07.00-20.00, early, late, long day. Potential for weekend work. Service does not require night working but bank shifts including weekends, bank holidays and nights are available. Job ref 153-SP06936

Department name 01. UHD - General Recruitment Site Royal Bournemouth Hospital, BEACH Building Town Bournemouth Salary £32,073 - £39,043 pa Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 03/11/2026

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

To work as part of the Elective Caesarean Midwifery Team delivering safe quality care for women/childbearing people during their perioperative phase of care

To support Neonatal care and best infant feeding practices.

To support and assist in the pre‑op and post‑op clinical care promoting good working relationships and collaborative working with the multi‑disciplinary team, both within the department and the rest of the Trust.

This role requires NMC Registration.
Base Locations: Royal Bournemouth Hospital
Interview date: Tuesday, 3rd November 2026

Main duties of the job

• Provision of clinical care during pre‑op assessments and to support post‑surgical recovery.
• Administration of prescribed medicines.
• After appropriate training, participate in pre‑op assessments with the Anaesthetic Team.
• Assisting the midwifery team to provide neonatal care after relevant training.
• Provision and/or support of emergency maternal and neonatal care following appropriate training.
• Supporting best practice around infant feeding.
• Transfer and handover of women/birthing people to the postnatal ward teams.
• Supporting coordination and flow of the operating list, raising and reporting clinical and operational issues.
• Actively support and participate in Newborn Security measures throughout maternity.
• Contribute to Patient First quality improvement and maternity audit cycles.
• Contribute to the effective management of resources.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service‑specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Working as a key member of the elective caesarean section team, the post holder will work alongside the Midwives and Maternity Support Workers, obstetricians, anaesthetists, Neonatal Team and wider Theatre Team.

Daily tasks will include adult observations and documentation, administration of IV and non IV medications, day to day ward management of patient flow, escalating concerns to the midwifery operational coordinator. Supporting the midwives in newborn care, reporting any deterioration. Supporting women and childbearing people in infant feeding in accordance with best infant feeding practice.

Working as part of the Pre‑Op assessment team.

In times of high activity, supporting other areas in maternity in recovery of newly birthed women and childbearing people.

Person specification

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse (Advanced Diploma/Degree in adult Health Nursing)
• Supervising, Learning and Assessing in Practice, or equivalent.
• Patient Care in Anaesthesia or equivalent CPD module.
• Patient Care in Surgery or equivalent CPD module.

Experience

• Experience of caring for patients with acute and long term conditions.
• Able to recognise the deteriorating patient.
• Able to adapt to changes during the working day, particularly emergency situations calmly and effectively.
• Willing and able to support students and junior staff.
• Experienced in working under pressure with frequent interruptions.
• Previous experience in maternity or women's health nursing.
• Infant feeding knowledge or experience.

Technical Skills and Competencies

• IT literate, word processing, speadsheets, numerate. Able to use a variety of electronic systems to support patient care.
• Ability with vital signs monitoring and ability to recognise and elevate the deteriorating patient.
• I.V drug administration and administration of blood products.
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information to patients, carers, their significant others and the MDT.
• Able to work unsupervised and on own initiative.
• Evidence of team working skills.
• Able to conduct appraisals.
• Audit or quality improvement work.

Knowledge

• Understanding of the physiology of pregnancy.
• Recognition of equity in birth choices.
• Familiar with WHO safety checklist.
• Previous experience in a similar role.
• Neonatal experience and knowledge.
• Aware of national maternity political agendas.

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.