Risk and Governance Lead

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 been opened since November 2025.

The post holder will need to have a good team building skills and be able to demonstrate how they motivate and lead. He/she will be required to work flexibly as a member of the neonatal team to ensure standards are being maintained, evaluated and where necessary improved. As a Sister/Charge Nurse you will work collaboratively with all members of multi-professional team, ensure that the baby and family have a satisfactory experience by investigating incidents; discussion with families and staff involved as well as supporting other Governance aspects.

If you are a motivated leader with a passion for patient care and service excellence, we want to hear from you. Join us and make a real difference in a hospital that values innovation, collaboration, and compassion.

Please note presentation topic for interview will be - How would you improve Patient Safety through Effective Risk Management and Governance in Neonatal Care?’

Main duties of the job

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

To maintain high standards of clinical care across neonatal services

To support nursing and medical staff in the development of new policies and procedures which are evidence based

To oversee the management of the service in conjunction with the senior clinical team, supporting with capacity and clinical decision making

To work in partnership with the Senior team to monitor the delivery of high standard care across Neonatal Services

Lead in conjunction with the senior clinical team on patient safety and governance

CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

The post holder will:Ensure nursing care delivery is based on current research and/or best practice.

Support and encourage a holistic approach to nursing care delivery.

Support staff in identifying and setting standards/care bundles/quality of nursing care and assist all members of the clinical team in the development or implementation of assessment tools to evaluate the care given.

Maintain own clinical skill base by working closely with new and identified individual members of staff (as required) in order to promote their personal development in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care given.

Facilitate the implementation of a robust system of Clinical Supervision across sites in partnership with the Lead Nurse and Practice development team.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will:

Act as a role model for designated staff/department in respect of neonatal care and management.

Act as ‘Advocate’ for babies/families or relatives who require support, guidance or advice to ensure informed decisions are made about their care where required.

Ensure that agreed standards are known and followed to provide a safe environment for babies their families, relatives and staff.

Integrate recognised ‘Best Practice’ into everyday practice.

Be aware of the implications of Health Service policy, in connection to nursing practice, educating service users and staff as appropriate.

Work in collaboration with Senior clinical team, medical staff and the wider multidisciplinary team in providing professional support and advice for regular review of local guidelines, Trust policies and standards in relation to practice.

Work in partnership with the Senior Nursing Team to identify and facilitate nursing research audits within the department. Use results to facilitate improvements in practice and documentation by all staff.

Lead on the coordination and preparation of Learning/Investigation tools and other clinical incident investigations and reports alongside partner teams as appropriate to ensure effective review and learning

Be proactive in identifying, preventing, recording, documenting, reflecting, evaluating, action planning risk incidents and above all promoting a culture of practiced risk assessment within the department via a clinical governance pathway

MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILIES:

Understand the importance of effective cost management, waste reduction, maximising value from resource management

Be a key part of the senior nursing management team and deputise for the Lead Nurse when necessary

Maintain regular contact, attend meetings with other teams within Trust and network areas of value in providing support and advice to ensure that objectives are met and outcomes achieved.

Manage own work load/projects in an effective and efficient way

Participate in quality initiatives and audit as requested by Lead Nurse

Handle complaints, accidents and incidents with professionalism in accordance with local/Trust policy

Ensure patient confidentiality is maintained at all time

Participate in interviews, staff recruitment/disciplinary/department meetings and service reviews when requested to do so

Provide regular reports on educational programmes, project development, and associated outcomes, to the Senior team, Trust colleagues and external organisations as appropriate.

Monitor sickness and absence for nursing staff and participate in any stage 2 meeting as required

Perform staff appraisal and nursing revalidation as indicated and provide support and guidance for staff

Manage capacity/activity with advanced decision making skills

CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND QUALITY

Lead on the preparation and coordination of Neonatal Governance dashboard and trust Quality reports in conjunction with the senior team

Ensure that the Trust and national quality initiatives are fully implemented across neonatal services.

Promote awareness and monitor compliance amongst colleagues regarding Trust policies, procedures, guidelines and standards

Ensure that investigation of incident reports relating to nursing issues are completed and actioned

Be responsible for in conjunction with the lead nurse the implementation and monitoring of clinical quality indicators. This will include but not exhaustive

• CQC outcomes
• Infection control – no avoidable infection strategy
• Quality and accuracy of documentation
• Improving the patient experience
• HSIB reviews
• PSIRF and Complaint investigation

COMMUNICATION:

Maintain clear, accurate, legible contemporaneous patient documentation at all times.

Ensure and maintain an effective communication within the multi-disciplinary team to achieve an optimum level of service to babies and families.

Ensure that effective communication exists between all nursing colleagues, medical staff, multidisciplinary teams, families and their relatives, providing specialist advice and support where appropriate.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

Participate in the staff appraisal process with the aim of enhancing individual personal development using reflective practice.

Encourage all staff to use reflective practice in order to enhance individual performance and improved care delivery.

Critically reflect regularly on own performance, and strive towards excellence, at every opportunity.

Maintain own clinical and professional credibility by keeping own practice up-to-date in line with current trends and best practice through personal development and the pursuit of relevant professional and academic study.

Maintain standards of conduct and dress to sustain the public confidence in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and Trust policies.

Abide by legal requirements and statutory rules relating to practice.

Provide evidence of periodical registration to practice.

Represent department and/or Trust at local, regional and national forums/ network to identify and share 'Best Practice'

Be aware of all Trust initiative and policies, especially those relating to clinical practice

Book annual leave, report sickness/absenteeism in accordance with Trust policy.

Maintain own NMC revalidation

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.