Ward Leader - Surgical Newborns

Job summary

Job Summary An exciting opportunity has arisen to lead and manage the 9 bedded surgical new-born area within the Neonatal Unit (L43) at Leeds Children's Hospital. We are looking for a highly motivated, dynamic individual with the ability to enable and empower the team. The role will require the Band 7 to clinically support the team and be a clinical expert in the surgical new-born speciality. Strong leadership and performance management are an integral aspect of this band 7 role with patient/parent experience and patient safety underpinning all aspects of care. The successful applicant will have 24 hour, 7 days a week responsibility and will be required to provide assurance that standards of care are met and sustained at all times. The applicant must be able to demonstrate good leadership qualities, an ability to motivate team members and a proven track record of change management. The role requires the lead nurse to work collaboratively with the wider Leeds Neonatal Service, Leeds Children's Hospital and Operational Delivery Network (ODN). The successful applicant will be the nursing lead for the infection prevention and discharge planning on the unit. Excellent organisational and advanced communication skills are essential for this role.

Main duties of the job

Why you should join our Team The Leeds Centre of Newborn Care at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust is one of the largest in the UK. The service is currently provided across two sites, Leeds General Infirmary and St James's University Hospital. We have NICU at LGI, SCU at SJUH, transitional care unit and an outreach service. We are a friendly and compassionate team, who are committed to ensuring the babies have the best outcomes and quality of care.

About us

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is committed to delivering the highest quality and safest treatment and care to every patient, every time. Our vision is to provide the highest quality specialist and integrated care. We will do this through delivery of our multi-year goals and strategic priorities, which you can read about on this page. Central to it all is The Leeds Way our values and behaviours that are at the heart of everything we do.

Details

• Date posted: 28 May 2026
• Pay scheme: Agenda for change
• Band: Band 6
• Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 001017
• Job locations: Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS1 3EX, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

For questions about this job, contact:

Name: Debra Smith Position: Matron Email: debra.smith15@nhs.net Phone number: 07920 417541

What you will bring to the role

The job holder will provide professional, clinical, managerial leadership and supervision for the nursing team. They are responsible for developing and maintaining a ward or department's philosophy that has the patient at the centre of compassionate safe and quality care delivery. You will be a clinical expert and expected to support the clinical team, to ensure a high standard of care is delivered and work collaboratively with the MDT to optimise patient pathways.

The job holder will be a highly motivated, dynamic individual with the ability to enable and empower their team. Strong leadership and performance management is an integral aspect of this band 7 role with patient/parent experience and patient safety underpinning all aspects of care. They will lead infection prevention practice and will be responsible for monitoring and tracking of IPC practice.

Please see the attached job description for further information about this vacancy.

About Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred Collaborative Fair Accountable Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

We’re committed to recruiting exceptional people to deliver outstanding services across Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and helping every colleague reach their full potential. We’re looking for a compassionate, inclusive, and collaborative leader who shares our values and can build strong partnerships. We warmly invite applications from people from a variety of backgrounds and sectors, and are especially keen to hear from individuals from a minority ethnic background. We’re dedicated to creating a diverse and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued, supported, and has a true sense of belonging, as we work together to deliver the best in healthcare to the people of Leeds and beyond.

To comply with UK Government regulations on Skilled Worker sponsorship, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust is unable to provide sponsorship to applicants who do not meet the eligibility criteria or the salary threshold concessions set out under the Skilled Worker visa route. Please take this into consideration before submitting your application. Full guidance on these concessions, including details of who may qualify, can be found here.

We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high number of suitable applications.