Senior Sister with Specialist Interest Neonatal Education

NHS; Manchester; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Manchester seeks a Senior Sister with a specialist interest in neonatal education. The role involves leading the education team, supporting clinical staff, and working collaboratively to enhance patient care. Ideal candidates will have 5+ years of neonatal nursing experience, strong leadership skills, and a commitment to educational excellence. This position offers a permanent contract with a salary range of £47,810 to £54,710 per annum, pro rata, and a full-time work pattern.

Benefits

Opportunities for professional development

Supportive working environment

Competitive salary

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years in specialty, including 2 years at Band 6.
• Experience managing and leading a team.
• Evidence of teaching, education, and facilitation of learning.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Newborn Services education team.
• Collaborate with governance and patient experience teams.
• Guide and support nursing staff in maintaining professional standards.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical Skills

Teaching

Management

Education

Specialist Qualification as a neonatal nurse

Graduate

Evidence of Teaching qualification

Leadership course

Job description

Senior Sister with Specialist Interest Neonatal Education

The closing date is 09 December 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced senior nurse with a specialist interest in neonatal education to join Newborn Services at St Mary's Managed Clinical Service (MCS).

We are looking for a motivated, highly skilled, kind, and caring qualified special interest nurse who has experience at Band 6 or above within a neonatal intensive care unit. You'll have an enthusiasm to lead and develop the Newborn Services education team to enable practice learning to the highest quality. We will expect you to be a proficient, approachable, and compassionate role model, in addition to being an expert clinician in neonatal nursing, with a proven track record of clinical achievement, able to improve educational outcomes in a continued and sustainable way.

Main duties of the job

As education team lead, you will work collaboratively with the governance, quality improvement, procurement, and patient experience teams to ensure education projects are provided to all staff, addressing learning from incidents, complaints and family feedback. You'll be passionate about delivering high quality evidence-based care along with providing a positive experience for families. This is your opportunity to influence the experience of infants and families by developing education and safety within a strong and dedicated workforce. As part of the Newborn Services leadership team, you'll guide, monitor and support registered and non-registered nursing staff in the maintenance of professional standards and support development through supervision and performance appraisals across the MCS. We will expect you to deputise in absence of the Matron for Education and Quality, contribute to and write reports to be presented within the managed clinical service meetings. You will represent Newborn services at network and divisional meetings, ensuring that all members of the education team are involved in hospital‑wide practice developments. We have close links with Manchester and Salford Universities, which you will liaise with closely with.

We will provide you with the support to develop and build this role, through 1:1 meeting with the Matron for Education and Quality, we will develop your leadership experience through in‑house leadership courses.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30 000+ strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward‑thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement. Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working – empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients. You'll be part of a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives. At MFT, you'll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions. Your journey at MFT is more than a job – it's an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We'll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Specialist Qualification as a neonatal nurse.
• Graduate.
• Evidence of Teaching, coaching or assessing learning in practice qualification.
• Enhanced Practice course.
• Counselling Course.
• Leadership course.

Knowledge

• Local and National issues affecting nursing and midwifery, inclusive of key service priorities for neonatal education.
• Knowledge of NMC standards and requirements for learning.
• Awareness of budgetary control.
• Knowledge of quality improvement methodology.
• Knowledge of Audit and research methodology.
• Evidence of implementing and delivering education training programmes and leading change.

Training and Experience

• Minimum 5 years in speciality including 2 years at Band 6.
• Experience of managing and leading a team.
• Evidence of teaching, education, presenting and facilitation of learning in practice.
• Evidence of practice development activity within the fields of neonatology and education.
• Evidence of personal/professional development.
• Implementation/participation within audit/research.
• Experience of recruitment.
• Evidence of action from service user and learner feedback to promote change.

Attributes

• An enthusiastic and supportive leader who motivates people.
• Critical analysis skills.
• Proven clinical skills.
• Assertive and proactive.
• Ability to work under pressure.
• Aptitude to change.

Skills and Abilities

• Evidence of excellent proven clinical and managerial record.
• Able to work effectively with families and staff, fostering partnership in care.
• Ability to manage and thrive within high acuity situations.
• Ability to work across boundaries to manage change and deliver quality services.
• Able to demonstrate wide knowledge of health policy and application to practice.
• Well‑developed organisational skills.
• Internal and external training, development, audit groups and forums.

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.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Address

NICU, St Mary Hospital, Oxford Road Campus

Salary

£47 810 to £54 710 a year, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full‑time

Reference number

349‑SMH‑7523945‑RL4

Job locations

NICU, St Mary Hospital, Oxford Road Campus