Special Care Baby Unit Ward Manager

Hywel Dda University Health Board; Carmarthen; On-site; GBP 48,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading health board in the United Kingdom is seeking a Band 7 Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) Ward Manager to lead a neonatal team. The ideal candidate will have a nursing degree, NMC registration, and experience in neonatal care, demonstrating strong leadership skills and a commitment to quality improvement. The position offers a salary range of £48,527 to £55,532 per year, depending on experience. Interviews are scheduled for 13/10/2025.

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration (RN, RM, or RN/RCN part 8 of the Register).
• Comprehensive Band 6 nursing experience in neonatal care.
• Strong understanding of clinical risk and quality issues.

Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Nurse in Neonates for operational excellence.
• Manage and mentor a dedicated team.
• Champion quality improvement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership skills

Mentoring and coaching

Quality improvement

Neonatal care expertise

Education

Nursing degree (Adult/Child)

Qualification in Specialty (QIS)

Job description

We would be willing to offer this post as an Annex 21 post. Further details are included below.

Are you a dynamic, forward‑thinking Neonatal Nurse ready to take the next step in your leadership journey? Do you thrive in a fast‑paced, compassionate environment where your clinical expertise and people skills truly make a difference? We’re looking for an exceptional leader to join our Neonatal team as a Band 7 Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) Ward Manager. This is more than a job – it’s a chance to shape the future of neonatal care, support strategic innovation and lead with clinical credibility.

Responsibilities

• Support the Senior Nurse in Neonates to drive operational excellence and strategic development.
• Manage and mentor a dedicated team, fostering a culture of compassion, adaptability and professionalism.
• Champion quality improvement and change management initiatives that enhance care for our small and vulnerable patients.
• Maintain clinical visibility and credibility while influencing service delivery at a strategic level.
• Benefit from state‑of‑the‑art equipment, including new SLE6000 ventilation systems and laminar flow isolation rooms, supporting the highest standards of neonatal care.
• Be part of a strong perinatal team with well‑established working relationships and a shared ethic of integrated, family‑centred care across both Maternity Services and Paediatrics.
• Serve as a role model and champion for innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement within the ward.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Current NMC registration (RN, RM, or RN/RCN part 8 of the Register).
• Nursing degree (Adult/Child).
• Comprehensive Band 6 nursing experience in neonatal care with demonstrable expert knowledge.
• Qualification in Specialty (QIS) for Neonatal Intensive Care and Newborn Life Support – or willingness to obtain within 12 months (supported by a development plan) under All Wales Annex 21 rules.
• Demonstrable understanding of professional current issues in neonatal nursing, resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues.
• Excellent knowledge of the NMC Code for practice/guidance and child protection issues.
• Strong foundation in evidence‑based practice, research and audit.
• Proficiency in clinical supervision, reflective practice and coaching.

Experience

• Post‑registration experience in a leadership/management role, including ward/unit management.
• Experience as mentor, coach, practice assessor or supervisor.
• Evidence of contributing to clinical practice development, change management and quality improvement.
• Experience in recruitment and selection.
• Demonstrable knowledge of governance, risks, incidents and complaints.
• Experience in audit, policy and quality improvement (e.g., Quality Improvement Qualification).
• Welsh Language (Level 1) is desirable.

Additional Information

• Welsh language desirable – the Health Board supports staff in learning Welsh.
• Salary: £48,527 to £55,532 a year (pro rata).
• Interviews will be held on 13/10/2025.
• For further information, candidates will receive a full job description and person specification in supporting documents.