Neonatal Staff Nurse

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust; Swindon; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Swindon is seeking a Neonatal Staff Nurse (Band 5) for full-time and part-time hours. The neonatal unit supports 18 cots (2 intensive, 4 HDU, 12 special care) and cares for preterm babies from 27 weeks gestation plus sicker newborns, with a focus on family-centred care.

You will join an experienced team, rotating shifts including nights, with development opportunities and simulation training to enhance neonatal practice.

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration to practice as a nurse
• Willingness to undertake a neonatal qualification if not held
• FLAP or equivalent neonatal airway/resuscitation qualification
• Level 3 safeguarding children training

Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, implement and evaluate neonatal nursing care on a shift-by-shift basis.
• Ensure safe drug dispensation within Trust and NMC guidelines.
• Maintain clinical skills to meet the needs of the patient.
• Coordinate admission, transfer and discharge of neonates.
• Support parents in informed choice about feeding, checks, and newborn screening.

Skills

NMC registration

Education

Current NMC registration

Willingness to undertake neonatal qualification

FLAP or equivalent

Level 3 safeguarding children

Job description

Employer Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Great Western Hospital Town Swindon Salary £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 14/09/2026 23:59

NHS AfC: Band 5

Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is a unique organisation, serving as the sole integrated provider in the Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon, and Wiltshire system. Our scope extends beyond boundaries as we oversee adult community services in Swindon and provide acute care from the Great Western Hospital.

Our 5,500 staff have 1.2m patient contacts a year, with 13,000 operations carried out in our Theatres, around 4,000 babies born, and our emergency attendances are now well over 100,000 per year. Those numbers only tell part of our story about what an exciting time it is to join Great Western Hospitals.

We are cultivating a culture that fosters our ambitions, prioritising equality, diversion, inclusion, wellbeing, and leadership. We aim to create an environment where every member of our team can truly thrive.

Applications for this role should be written by the applicant. If artificial intelligence (AI) programmes are used, then the application may be rejected due to this document being an important part of the assessment process. This does not prevent applicants seeking appropriate support with applications should they need to for the purposes of any declared disability.

If we receive a high volume of applications, we may close adverts prior to the published closing date. Therefore, we advise you to complete and submit your application as soon as possible.

Job overview

Neonatal Staff Nurse - Full time (37.5 hours) and part time hours available

Our Neonatal unit has 18 cots, which is comprised of 2 intensive cots, 4 high dependency cots and 12 special care cot's. We are a designated Local Neonatal Unit, (Level 2), providing excellent care for preterm babies from 27 weeks' gestation and for sick newborn babies. We provide stabilisation for babies born at lower gestations prior to transfer to tertiary units by a designated network transport team.
As a band 5 nurse you will work alongside an experienced team to provide care to a range of babies with a variety of conditions.

**Previous applicants need not apply**

Main duties of the job

We are looking for experienced Neonatal nurses to join an enthusiastic, friendly, motivated multidisciplinary team whose focus is on the baby and family. We are committed to delivering the highest standard of care to our babies and their families. You will be joining a team who work a variety of shifts including internal rotation to night duty. Opportunities exist for personal development and staff are supported to undertake additional training as required. We also offer a very well received programme of simulation training sessions which develop knowledge and skills in neonatal practices.

"Friendly vibe to the whole ward"

"Amazing staff and very supportive and welcoming"

"Great Teamwork"

"Great working relationship with families"

"Well established, supportive and welcoming team"

"High quality care with a focus on Family Centered Care"

"Breast Feeding accredited Level 2 unit"

"Home of the Periprem project"

" Opportunities to development of role"

Would you like the opportunity to work in a unit that inspires the kind of feedback you can read above?

Working for our organisation

We are proud to be part of BSW Hospitals Group - a formal partnership between Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust and Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust. With a combined workforce of over 17, 600 colleagues, and budget of 1.6 billion the Group is united by a common purpose to deliver the best possible care to over 1 million people.

We are creating a health and care system that works with the people we care for, reducing the differences people currently face in access, experience and outcomes, improving the experience of our colleagues and tackling shared challenges like sustainability and finances. Every improvement we make across our Group will be guided by what creates the greatest benefit for our colleagues, our patients, our communities and our partners.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Take responsibility for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating neonatal nursing care on a shift by shift basis consistent with evidence based practice for babies and their families within the special care, high dependency and intensive care nursery, ensuring that fundamental needs for individual babies and parents are met and that care is evaluated and care plans are up to date and relevant.

2. Ensure the safe dispensation of drugs, within Trust and NMC guidelines and maintain knowledge of side effects and other contra-indications.

3. Maintain clinical skills and competencies ensuring ability to meet the needs of the patient.

4. Co-ordinate the effective admission, transfer and discharge of individual children in line with Trust policy.

5. Discuss options and support parents in making informed choice in their plan of care e.g. feeding methods, audiology checks, blood transfusion, and newborn screening programme.

6. Adhere to the Trust's safeguarding policies and procedures and ensure that knowledge and practise enables children to be safeguarded.

7. Promote the importance of the modification of the environment, taking into account the individual developmental needs of the infant e.g. positioning and minimal handling of very low birth weight babies.

8. Work with all members of the team to participate and respond to suggestions and complaints, evaluate patient and carers experience of the service, liaise with the sister in charge, make recommendations and develop the service within the clinical area, implementing agreed actions to improve services.

9. Actively participate in link roles providing verbal and written updates to the team.

10. Promote and actively participate in the Trust and Children's Services Nursing Strategy

11. Participate in the development of a programme of continuing education for all staff within the team. Act as a mentor to new staff and students and provide a suitable learning environment and provide educational and developmental opportunities, supporting staff in achieving professional competencies and knowledge and ensuring practice within the unit is evidence based.

12. Demonstrate a professional approach to work and act in accordance with Trust Policies and the NMC Code of Professional conduct.

Further details can be found on the attached Job Description

Person specification

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration
• Willingness to undertake Neonatal qualification if not already held
• FLAP or equivalent
• Level 3 safeguarding children

Experience

• NHS/UK experience as a Nurse or student
• Basic understanding of important aspects of caring for babies
• Understanding of family centred care
• participation in audit and research

Thank you for expressing interest in this role. For further employer guidance, please review the attached supplementary applicant information.

Certificate of Sponsorship - Sponsorship can only be offered where the role meets the relevant eligibility criteria, including minimum salary requirements. Please note that not all roles within the organisation are eligible for sponsorship. Eligibility for this role includes:

• Current right to work in the UK, subject to verification

Meeting the Skilled Worker visa criteria, where applicable

From 4 April 2024, UK immigration policy changes increased the minimum salary levels required for Skilled Worker visas. Further information is available on the UK Visas and Immigration website.

Current employees should be aware that this position is advertised as a Great Western Hospitals position and appointment ends any TUPE protection.

Candidates are responsible for covering the cost of their own DBS check if required: £21.50 for a Standard DBS check, recoverable from the first pay, or £49.50 for an Enhanced DBS check, divided and recoverable over the initial two pay periods. Payment for DBS checks for bank posts must be settled prior to commencement. Apprentices are exempt from DBS payment.

We are committed to supporting our staff in achieving a healthy work-life balance through flexible work arrangements. Upon joining the Trust, you have the right to request flexible working, with an unlimited number of requests allowed.

Upon acceptance of a job offer, your information will be transferred to the national NHS Electronic Staff Records System. All communication regarding your application will be conducted via email; please ensure to check your junk/spam folders as emails may occasionally be filtered there.

The Trust is a Disability Confident Employer; all applicants who have a disability can opt to be considered under the guaranteed interview scheme, which means that, providing they meet the minimum essential criteria for the post, they will be offered an interview. We are also proudly accredited as a Veteran Aware organisation and have signed The Armed Forces Covenant.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.