Neonatal Senior Staff Nurse

University Hospitals Sussex; Brighton; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university trust in the UK is seeking motivated neonatal nurses to join their team in Brighton. This role involves providing high standards of care to neonates and their families in critical settings and participating in the development of junior staff. Candidates should have specialized qualifications in neonatal care and demonstrate leadership and communication skills. This position offers salary between £38,682 - £46,580 per annum and opportunities for career progression in a supportive and diverse environment.

Benefits

Flexible working options

Wellbeing programs

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Midwife with neonatal specialty.
• Experience in neonatal intensive care and leadership.
• Ability to mentor and work under pressure.

Responsibilities

• Provide high standards of care to neonates and families.
• Lead and motivate the nursing team in critical settings.
• Participate in professional development activities.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Teamwork

Time Management

Clinical Judgment

Education

Registered Nurse or Midwife

NLS

Mentorship module or 998

Neonatal Qualified in speciality (ENB 405)

Tools

Neonatal Intensive Care Equipment

Blood Gas Monitoring Equipment

Job description

View all our vacancies across our hospitals in Sussex. Search, find and apply for a job with us today.

Employer University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Royal Sussex County Hospital Town Brighton Salary £38,682 - £46,580 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 06/01/2026 23:59 Interview date 02/02/2026

At UHSussex we’re proud to be at the heart of the NHS. As one of the UK’s largest acute trusts, we’re a leading example of the excellence, the ambition and the values that have embodied the NHS for over 70 years.

Our hard-working, talented and dedicated people work together towards a common goal – to deliver Excellent Care Everywhere for our patients, our people and our communities. Whatever your role here at UHSussex you will play a part in driving us forwards and in improving the lives of patients across Sussex.

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us deliver Excellent Care Everywhere. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

We value compassion, inclusion and respect as our core values . treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our wellbeing programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it, including where possible, flexible working to support work life balance - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves.

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research , we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do.

As part of our commitment to access for all, please see the different ways you can access the application form: https://apps.trac.jobs/accessibility?_ts=1

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex.

Job overview

We are looking for motivated neonatal staff to join our neonatal team in Brighton. If you are currently working as a Band 6 and are looking for a new challenge or are a Band 5 nurse qualified in speciality looking for career progression, this could be the job for you.

The right candidate must be qualified in speciality (ENB 405 or Neonatal Pathway) withgoodleadership and communication skills and the ability to work within a multidisciplinary team.

With opportunities to join the neonatal transport team, and a variety of special interest groups.

This role is eligible for visa sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route however sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements set by UKVI, including the relevant skill and salary thresholds (£25000), and any role-specific criteria.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be required to provide a high standard of care to the neonate and their family in the intensive, high dependency and special care setting.

The post holder will take charge, lead and motivate the nursing team within the special care, high dependency and intensive care nurseries, as necessary, deploying staff according to their ability and experience using the resources available.

The post holder will work with the multidisciplinary team in the assessment planning and delivery of an appropriate plan of care for the neonate.

The post holder will require effective communication skills and an ability to ensure effective core team working.

The post holder will be required to participate in their continuing professional development and other development activities, including mentorship and contribute to the professional development of colleagues.

The post holder will work across sites to cover the neonatal service, as required.

Working for our organisation

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer abuddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Demonstrate full responsibility for assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating neonatal care consistent with evidence based practice for babies and their families.
• Discuss options and support parents in making informed choice in their plan of care e.g. feeding methods, audiology checks, blood transfusion, and newborn screening programme
• Analyse and evaluate the effectiveness of such care, making necessary modifications of any care pathway and give professional advice and support, as required
• Act as the baby’s and parent’s advocate and empower them to participate in their baby’s care and well being
• Respect the need for privacy and dignity of the neonate and their family, such as religious and spiritual needs
• Be competent in intravenous drug administration and supervise junior staff learning this skill
• Act as a role model for excellent practice through effective assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care
• Be skilled in effective time management within the team environment
• Be an expert at and supervise staff in the appropriate use of advanced technological equipment. e.g. ventilators and blood gas monitoring equipment
• Act as team/shift leader, as necessary
• Support junior staff in the use of appropriate individualised discharge care planning, to involve parents/carers and the multidisciplinary team in the promotion of health through parent education to include back to sleep positioning, smoking cessation and immunisation programmes
• Promote the importance of the modification of the environment, taking into account the individual developmental needs of the babies, e.g. positioning and minimal handling of very low birth weight babies
• Work in partnership with associated health professionals including health visitors, speech therapists, radiographers and pharmacists
• Demonstrate the ability to make clinical judgments about the suitability of babies for transfer to another dependency to facilitate the smooth running of the unit
• Demonstrate skilled interpretation of clinical results/investigations e.g. blood gases and antibiotic levels and take appropriate action
• Demonstrate responsibility for the implementation of the correct referral process to other health care practitioners e.g. physiotherapist, when needs and risks are beyond one’s scope of practice or require specialist input
• Plan, deliver and evaluate nursing interventions and/or treatments for neonates within the special care, high dependency and intensive care environment, according to evidence based guidelines and care pathways/plans, involving other agencies as appropriate
• Interpret and modify interventions/treatments as necessary, providing appropriate feedback to the multidisciplinary team

Person specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse or Midwife
• NLS
• Mentorship module or 998
• Neonatal Qualified in speciality. ENB 405

Experience

• Proven skills and knowledge in clinical practice
• Specialised experience of neonatal intensive care equipment
• Knowledge of high frequency oscillation and Nitric Oxide Therapy
• Demonstrates leadership skills
• Ability to mentor others
• Ability to work under own initiative
• Ability to work under pressure

Communication

• Evidence of working within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of Family Integrated Care.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

• Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
• Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues.

Important information for applicants:

A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.

Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.

Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

Further Information

For help with the application process for Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

For help with the application process for Non-Nursing vacancies, please email [e-mail].

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Application numbers

This advert has been capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, it will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in this post to prevent you from missing out on applying for this opportunity.