Ward Manager, Neonatal Unit

Ashford And St Peter'S Hospitals Nhs Foundation Trust; Chertsey; On-site; GBP 43,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

NHS benefits and discounts

Job summary

Ashford and St Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a Ward Manager (Band 7) for the Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at St Peter's Hospital. You will lead a multidisciplinary team, ensuring safe, effective and compassionate care while managing workforce, quality improvement and staff wellbeing.

The role is predominantly Monday–Friday daytime with occasional rotation to clinical hours to support staffing. The Trust offers extensive NHS benefits and development opportunities.

Qualifications

• RN/RM or RN Child with NMC registration and neonatal qualification.
• Education to degree level in a health-related subject or equivalent knowledge/experience.
• Band 6+ neonatal leadership experience and ability to take charge.
• Leadership/Management qualification desirable.
• Strong people management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day nursing staff operations.
• Deputise for unit Matron for delegated tasks to ensure high-quality service.
• Jointly lead operational management and budgeting for Neonatal and Special Care Unit.
• Lead quality improvement using evidence-based practice and monitor clinical standards.
• Exercise sound judgement in clinical and interpersonal challenges.
• Strive for safe staffing on a shift-by-shift basis on the Neonatal Unit.
• Support safe staffing across the Paediatric Division.

Skills

People management

Team leadership

Communication skills

IT skills

Presentation skills

Education

RN/RM or RN Child

NMC registration

Neonatal qualification

NLS

Mentor preparation or teaching qualification

Health-related degree or equivalent

Job description

Ward Manager (Band 7) - St Peters Neonatal Unit, Chertsey

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated neonatal nurse to join our Level 3 Neonatal Intensive Care Unit as a Ward Manager (Band 7) on a full time, permanent contract. This is an exceptional opportunity to provide clinical and operational leadership within a highly specialised service caring for the most vulnerable babies and their families.

As Ward Manager, alongside your Band 7 Clinical Sister colleagues, you will be responsible for leading a dedicated multidisciplinary team, ensuring the delivery of safe, effective, and compassionate care while maintaining the highest standards of clinical excellence. You will play a pivotal role in workforce management, quality improvement, service development, staff wellbeing and shaping the perinatal culture agenda.

Why Join Us?

Our Level 3 NICU provides intensive, high dependency, special care and transitional care services for premature and critically ill newborns across the region. We are proud of our commitment to delivering high-quality, family-integrated care and fostering a culture where staff are supported to thrive and develop.

If you are an inspirational neonatal leader looking to take the next step in your career and make a lasting difference to babies, families, and staff, we would love to hear from you.

Main duties of the job

• Be responsible for the day-to-day management of the nursing staff.
• To deputise for the unit Matron for specific delegated tasks in order to ensure high-quality service is always delivered across the service.
• To have joint responsibility with the other B7 Sisters for the operational management and service delivery processes within the Neonatal and Special Care Unit. This includes line management of all ward staff, managing and monitoring resources within a defined budget and contributing to the corporate agenda.
• To lead and promote a quality service using research and evidence-based practice, including the setting and monitoring of clinical standards.
• Will be expected to exercise excellent judgement in dealing with both clinical and interpersonal challenges.
• To strive for safe staffing on a shift-by-shift basis on the Neonatal Unit.
• To support safe staffing across the Paediatric Division.

This is a predominantly Monday - Friday daytime role with some rotation onto clinical unsociable hours to support safe staffing throughout the week.

About us

Ashford and St. Peters Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is the largest provider of acute hospital services to Surrey residents, serving a population of 410,000 people and employing approximately 4,800 staff.

Our vision is to provide an outstanding experience and best outcomes for patients and the team. We are committed to providing continuous professional development and flexibility to deliver our workforce plan.

We work in partnership with Royal Surrey Hospital NHS Foundation Trust through a collaborative Group Model, supporting joined-up services, workforce flexibility and development opportunities.

St Peter's Hospital delivers complex medical and surgical care, maternity and emergency services. Day and Orthopaedic Surgery, Ophthalmology and Outpatient services are delivered at Ashford Hospital. Additional services are delivered at Woking Community Hospital.

Our Values provide us with the behaviours we respect and can commit to. By living our values through our everyday interactions, we can build a stronger, more resilient, and forward-thinking organisation, guiding us to achieve success and make a positive impact on how we deliver our services.

We can offer you the full range of NHS benefits and discounts.

For more information about careers at ASPH visit: www.asph-careers.org

In line with UKVI requirements, Band 2, Band 3 and Band 4 roles are not eligible for sponsorship. Please note only certain roles at Band 5 and above are eligible for sponsorship.

Details

Date posted: 29 October 2026

Pay scheme: Agenda for change

Band: Band 7

Salary: Depending on experience

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full-time

Reference number: 323-NM5561-JN

Person Specification

Qualifications and Further Training

• Essential: RN, RM or RN Child; Registered with NMC; Neonatal Qualification; NLS; Mentor Preparation Qualification/other relevant teaching qualification; Educated to Degree Level in a health-related subject, or equivalent knowledge, skills and competency gained through significant experience at a B6 senior level.
• Desirable: Leadership and Management qualification

Experience

• Essential: Experience at Band 6 in a similar Neonatal environment; Experience of taking charge of a department and leading and managing a team; Management of people/team; Recent evidence of developing nursing practice within the clinical setting
• Desirable: Change management experience

Knowledge

• Essential: Trust vision, values, and strategic objectives; Research based care; Understanding of current NHS and Neonatal issues and initiatives; Up to date relevant guidance in relation to neonatal care

Skills

• Essential: People management skills; Motivation of staff and team building; Strong IT and digital skills; Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Desirable: Presentation Skills

Other requirements

• Essential: Ability to be flexible to meet the needs of the team, the service and the Trust; Ability to deal with and resolve conflict; Ability to work under pressure demonstrating a calm and resilient approach; Ability to challenge in a professional manner

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.

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name: Ashford & St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Address: St Peters Hospital, The Ashford & St. Peters Hospitals NHS Trust, Chertsey, KT16 0PZ, United Kingdom

Employer's website: https://www.ashfordstpeters.nhs.uk/

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact: Matron Sara Jane Wye, [e-mail], 01932723839