Job overview
Neonatal Community Sister (Maternity cover – Until 18th May 2027)
Department: Paediatrics
Band 6, £39,959 - £48,117 Per annum, pro rata
Hours: 22.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
The Neonatal Community Nursing team is looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Children’s trained nurse with Acute Neonatal and community based experience, to join our friendly and dynamic team. We are attached to a Local Neonatal Unit within the Thames Valley Network. Our unit currently comprises of 16 cots, of which 5 are intensive / high dependency care and 11 are special care.
The Community Neonatal Service which is based in the Hospital is well established and aims to facilitate seamless transition of babies from hospital into their homes. Our philosophy is to deliver the highest quality, evidence based, and family centred care for our babies and their families both in hospital and in patient’s homes.
'We care We communicate We collaborate We contribute'
Please note: We are unable to offer sponsorship for this role.
Interview date: 20 July 2026
Main duties of the job
The individual applying for this post will have experience in the nursing care of neonates from admission through to discharge. They will be adept in the co-ordination of care and discharge planning processes. In addition they will also be motivated and committed to continuing professional development and demonstrate excellent communication, role modelling and leadership skills.
The post holder will ideally have some experience of nursing babies in the community and will be competent in planning, implementing and assessing care of babies with complex neonatal conditions such as chronic lung disease. A clean UK driving licence is essential.
The post holder will have the opportunity to develop skills and experience in other areas of children’s community nursing. With a positive attitude to your professional development and support from our clinical facilitator, excellent training opportunities will be available to enable you to enhance your career in Neonatal Nursing.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
NHS Staff Survey: Nursing and Midwifery feel strongly that their team works well together to achieve their objectives, managing great team work continuously, 63.7% support this.
Maintain close working relationships with staff (nursing, medical, social work and allied health professionals) within the NNU to facilitate discharge planning.
Receive referrals from the Special Care Nursery, Postnatal Wards, Paediatric Wards, Community Midwives, Health Visitors and General Practitioners in respect of babies requiring special care at home.
Take a lead role in coordinating discharge to ensure smooth transition from hospital to home
Please refer to attached Job description for further information.
We believe success lies in the diversity of our employees and are committed to promoting equality, encouraging diversity, and embracing inclusion. We welcome applications from everyone interested in working for us.
MKUH is committed to equal opportunities and improving the working lives of our staff and as such we offer a range of flexible working practices.
We reserve the right to expire vacancies prior to the advertised closing date once enough applications have been received.
MKUH uses identification scanning technology to confirm the authenticity of documents; all prospective employees of MKUH will have their original documents verified using this technology.
By applying for this role, you accept if successful, that information from your application will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system. Your personal data may be transferred from the Trust to another NHS organisation where your employment transfers within the NHS. This is in accordance with the streamlining programme which aims at saving you time and improving efficiencies within the NHS when your employment transfers.
Upon commencing employment with the Trust, all employees (except Medical & Dental Staff on national terms and conditions) are subject to a probationary period lasting a period of six months with an option to extend for a further six months to a total of 12 months.
Person specification
Skills
Essential
- Risk management skills.
- Quality assurance skills.
- Standard setting, development of guidelines and protocols.
- Ability to use initiative
- Able to assess, plan, implement, evaluate and deliver holistic basic nursing care.
- Ability to communicate to a high standard.
- Demonstrates knowledge of national guidelines relevant to neonatal care.
- To be able to demonstrate ability to provide evidence based care.
- Clinical competence and experience in the administration of medications.
- Clinincal experience in manageing the care of babies with respiratory, cardiac and genetic condions
- Knowledge of/ adherence to the NMC Code.
Experience
Essential
- Variety of experience in nursing Neonates in an acute setting post registration.
- Community nursing experience.
- An understanding of safeguarding and promoting the welfare of babies, children and young peoples.
- Ability to work effectively as a lone worker, as a member of the nursing team and together with the multi disciplinary team
- Able to communicate effectively with professionals, children and families
- Experience in: Audit, research, development and review of clinical policies, risk management, teaching and assessment
Communication
Essential
- Literate - able to read and write to a high standard
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills to ensure advocacy for patients
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Good negotiation skills.
- Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information internally and externally.
- Ability to use reassurance skills, tact and empathy to overcome barriers to communicate
- Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- RSCN/ RN/ RGN//RM o Child Branch with Neonatal experience
- Special Care of the Newborn Degree Module
- Mentorship Qualification
- Evidence of study at level 3 or above
- Level 3 Safeguarding training
Desirable
- V300 Independent and supplementary Nurse Prescribing
Personal and people development
Essential
- Understands own personal development needs
- Supports learners and members of the MDT
- Evidence of professional development.
- Undertake and participate in appraisal process.
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Neonatal Community Sister with Milton Keynes University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in Milton Keynes, East of England, England. It is listed as a Band 6 Nurse (neonatal) role. The advertised salary is £39,959 - £48,117 Per annum, pro rata if part time. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (Can also be a secondment). The application deadline is 13 Jul 2026.
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