Band 7 Ward Manager

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen within our Neonatal Team Luton and Dunstable Hospital.

If you are ambitious, confident, self-motivated and compassionate, looking to develop your career in neonatal nursing and make a difference, this post offers you the opportunity to play a key role as part of a new and developing team .

There has never been a more exciting time to join our neonatal team as we expand our neonatal service. The New Neonatal Unit has opened since November 2025.

The Ward Manager has overall responsibility for the provision of excellent care, leadership and management for the patients, relatives and visitors who are cared for within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

The post holder will incorporate the provision of care to patients and families in accordance with the unit philosophy and provide standards of care that are in line with the Trust Values.

The post holder will also lead the ward contribution at Directorate level in accordance with the Nursing Strategy and the Trust Nursing Strategy.

The Ward Manager has a fundamental role in the delivery of high standards of nursing

Care, ensuring the environment is conducive to wellbeing.

Main duties of the job

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Leadership:

The post holder will be expected to:

Works closely with the Lead Nurse/Head of Nursing regarding all quality performance and management issues

S/he will be a visible and accessible presence in the clinical areas for patients, relatives and staff.

Act as a resource of specialist knowledge and expertise in order to ensure optimum and appropriate care delivery to the infant and their family.

Lead by example and act as a positive role model for all staff, taking responsibility for own professional development.

Provide leadership that promotes patient focused care.

Providing clinical leadership and line management of staff ensuring the delivery of the Highest professional standards through staff development and individual performance appraisal/review.

Role model standards of care and expected behaviour through participation in direct patient care.

Maintain professional standards of conduct and behaviour, which are consistent with Trust and Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) standards and requirements.

Actively contribute to, and support agreed developments within the Directorate.

Contribute to business planning within the directorate.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Organisation and Delivery of Care

The post holder will be expected to:

Ensure nursing related documentation is appropriate, accountable.

Ensure that the nursing contribution within the neonatal service contributes to quality indicators and is meeting NHS government targets.

Work closely with the Infection Control Team to ensure robust audit, action planning and change management to minimize the risk of health care acquired infections and to strengthen measures to prevent/control spread of infection with the ward/department.

Ensure that the use of risk assessments and health and safety management, utilising the Trust’s adverse incident reporting system to improve the quality of patient care.

Ensure the skills and knowledge to deliver care are identified and available within the specialty.

Ensure that the inter-professional approach to care is developed whilst patient and carer contributions are encouraged and acknowledged.

Contribute to and support clinical effectiveness and innovative practice within the provision of care.

Contribute to the development of clinical governance systems and structures, ensuring clinical area representation as appropriate.

Ensure that safeguarding and vulnerable adult legislation is adhered to by staff.

Participate in the implementation and delivery of the standards set within the Trust Nursing Strategy.

Offer specialist knowledge in neonatal care to outside agencies

Operational Management:

The Post Holder will participate in:

The management of pay and non-pay resources to meet the Division’s financial duties and targets with support from the Lead Nurse.

Maximising the use of staff resources to match patient requirements.

Identifying equipment priorities to support the care of patients and safety of their physical environment, undertaking risk assessments to evidence short falls.

Ensure the efficient use of bank and agency staff, monitoring quality and spend .

Act in a manner to consistently support equality and diversity in all interactions.

Have a responsibility to ensure all information processed for patients and staff is kept confidential, accurate and in line with data protection act 1998 and Caldecott policy.

Please see JD and PS for more details.