Regional Neonatal Educator

Job overview

The South West Neonatal Network has an exciting opportunity for an experienced neonatal educator to join the regional network team for a part time secondment.

The role is predominantly home work, though the network has an office in Myrtle Road, Bristol. Travel across the South West will be required to support delivery of educational events and workshops.

Main duties of the job

The Network aims to improve the family experiences, clinical outcomes and quality standards within neonatal care, encouraging continuity and consistency across the region. The Network is hosted by Bristol NHS Foundation Trust (BFT).

The post holder will provide senior neonatal education expertise across the South West. They will collaboratively deliver regional neonatal education programmes, including the Qualified in Specialty course, and support workforce development and quality improvement initiatives.

The successful post holder will be passionate about enhancing the experience of neonatal staff and the families who use neonatal services, through delivery and promotion of education, learning and development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Interpersonal and communication skills

• Foster a culture of engagement, proactively seeking out different styles and methods of communicating to ensure network improvement initiatives are truly clinically led.
• Develop and maintain communication with stakeholders including NHS service providers, neonatal families and commissioning teams, on complex matters, issues and ideas, utilising different styles and methods.
• Model a collaborative and influencing style of working, negotiating with others to achieve the best outcomes, embedding this approach across the region.
• Effectively communicate ODN values, direction, policies and strategies to relevant stakeholders, and evaluate their impact to inform ongoing improvements.
• Uphold organisational policies and principles on the promotion of equality and diversity.

Professional knowledge and expertise

• Use expert knowledge of neonatal care and of education strategies to implement the network wide framework for neonatal education and training.
• Continue to develop personally as an expert in neonatal education.
• Act as a supportive resource to the neonatal services within the SW boundaries.
• Continually review training and education programmes to ensure alignment with new and emerging national standards.
• Collaborate with education leads and subject matter experts regionally to ensure all education offers are high quality and evidence based.
• Ensure widespread multidisciplinary involvement in education, including doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and parents/families.

Problem-solving and decision-making

• Anticipate barriers to success in education delivery and take appropriate action to improve outcomes. At times this will include acting as a mediator to reconcile conflicting views and interests.
• Work collaboratively within the network to review and update on-going education programmes using audit and feedback mechanisms, to ensure alignment with new and emerging national standards.
• Work with others to put in place methods, processes and systems for implementing education activities, monitoring delivery and investigating any issues. Evaluate effectiveness on completion and implement appropriate adaptations.

Planning and coordination

• Work collaboratively with the Lead Nurse for Education to deliver a regional Neonatal QIS programme as part of a formal partnership agreement, including a Foundation Programme and Specialist Programme.
• Work collaboratively with the wider network to support the delivery of stand alone training events, for example but not limited to; Neonatal Education Forum, Neonatal Network Conferences and clinical skills days.
• Ensure the delivery of co-ordinated multidisciplinary education programmes.
• Contribute to the strategic planning of the wider SWNN work plan, identifying interdependencies, potential impacts on wider organisation, resource requirements and building in contingency and adjustments as necessary.
• Engage in the SWNN project initiation process, ensuring robust multidisciplinary engagement in new network projects.
• Work with others to put in place methods, processes and systems for evaluating education activities, monitoring delivery and investigating any issues.

Practical and technical skills

• Utilise senior education expertise to practically deliver specialist neonatal education and training, including practical skills, use of equipment and simulation training.

Patient care and support

• Support and deputise for the Lead Nurse for Education in seeking out and effectively engaging the public, users of the service and other interested parties in open and effective discussions on values, direction, policies and strategies for the ODN, ensuring workforce, education and development strategies meet their needs.
• Actively work in partnership with diverse groups ensuring proportional representation of the local population, listening to the experiences and views of different groups and incorporating needs into education developments.
• Act as a champion for babies and families, ensuring their voice is at the heart of what you do, and is a cornerstone within policy setting.
• Note: The role does not provide direct clinical care, treatment or therapy. Patient care responsibilities are primarily exercised through education, service development, stakeholder engagement and advocacy for babies and families.

Service development and improvement

• Contribute to the development and delivery of a regional strategy for workforce, training and education.
• Provide leadership and influence education planning across the region.
• Foster a culture of innovation, through working in collaboration with academic and education structures such as Health Innovation Networks, Local Education and Training Boards, Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and the NHS England Workforce, Training and Education (WT&E) department.
• Collaborate with education leads and subject matter experts regionally to ensure all education offers are high quality and evidence based.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.