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Job summary

Main area
Neonatal Unit
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Part time - 23 hours per week (may need to cover rotational shifts if unit demands)
Job ref
210-2025-894
Employer
Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Countess Of Chester Hospital
Town
Chester
Salary
£38,682 - £46,580 pa pro rata
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
01/03/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust logo

Neonatal Practice Development Nurse

Band 6

Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, staff pride themselves on not only leading through clinical excellence, but also by creating an environment where all staff are valued and appreciated. To achieve this, the Trust has embarked on an exciting new strategy focused on continuous improvement.  

Our vision is to improve the lives of our community and provide excellence in healthcare, through partnership and innovation

Our High Performance Culture will support everyone to be the best version of themselves by being true to our Trust vision, values and behaviours.
We welcome applications from colleagues from our local and neighbouring communities of all backgrounds and identities, who are currently under-represented within our region such as Black, Asian, Minority ethnic and those with disabilities.

As a region we are reviewing the way we work, and exploring how new working practices that support flexible working can create a positive work-life balance. As part of our recruitment process we will explore how our inclusive employment policies, flexible working, staff engagement forums, Trust facilities and services can be of mutual benefit. 

Job overview

Working Part time: 23 hours per week

The Practice Development Nurse within a neonatal unit plays a key role in supporting safe, high-quality care by developing and maintaining staff competence. The role includes coordinating and delivering mandatory training to ensure nurses and other staff meet statutory, professional and organisational requirements. This helps maintain compliance with national guidelines and supports patient safety.

The Practice Development Nurse also leads and facilitates neonatal simulation training, using realistic scenarios to develop clinical skills, decision-making, communication and teamwork in a safe learning environment. In addition, the role involves active participation in neonatal network meetings, where best practice, learning from incidents and education strategies are shared across units. Through this work, the Practice Development Nurse helps promote consistent standards of care, continuous professional development and service improvement within the neonatal network.

Main duties of the job

  • Coordinate, deliver and monitor mandatory training to ensure staff compliance with statutory, professional and organisational requirements

  • Identify learning needs and support staff to maintain and develop neonatal clinical competencies

  • Design, facilitate and debrief neonatal simulation training to enhance clinical skills, teamwork and decision-making

  • Maintain accurate training records and contribute to staff appraisal and revalidation processes

  • Support implementation of evidence-based practice and updated neonatal guidelines

  • Participate in neonatal network meetings to share best practice and learning from incidents

  • Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, audits and service development within the neonatal unit

  • Act as a resource and role model for clinical staff, promoting safe and effective neonatal care

Working for our organisation

The Trust’s services are provided from three locations:

• The Countess of Chester Hospital: providing 473 general and acute beds.
• Ellesmere Port Hospital: providing 60 beds as a rehabilitation, intermediate and outpatient facility.
• Tarporley War Memorial Hospital: a base for community services which serve the local rural population.

The Countess of Chester Hospital NHS Foundation Trust employs 5,964 staff (headcount) to provide care and treatment to a population of over 400,000 people living in Chester and West Cheshire which includes Ellesmere Port and Neston as well as the Deeside area of Flintshire.

The Trust works collaboratively within the wider Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care System. Due to its location on the border with North Wales, the Trust also works closely with the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The Trust treats patients from England and some parts of Wales. During 2024/2025, there were approximately 643,000 patient attendances (inpatient, A&E, outpatient and diagnostic) ranging from a simple outpatient appointment to major cancer surgery

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

See Job Description for further details.

Recruitment selection processes are based on competence (see Person specification) and values.

Please note applicants will be required to pay for their DBS check. Costs will be deducted from their salary over the first three months of employment.

You are encouraged to enrol for the DBS Update Service. A small annual fee of £16 per year applies.

New entrants to the NHS will commence on the minimum of the scale stated above.

Applicants are advised to apply early as if a large number of applications are received for this post, we reserve the right to close the vacancy prior to the advertised date.

Good luck with your application.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC Registered Nurse Level 1
  • Educated to Degree Level. equivalent diploma and experience
  • Practice development experience R23 – Enhancing Neonatal Practice Leadership development
  • Newborn Life Support Course
Desirable criteria
  • Post Graduate Certificate in Education or equivalent
  • Service Improvement or project management qualification/course attendance
  • Presentation skills

Experience

Essential criteria
  • A sound understanding of the NMC Code of Professional Conduc
  • Post registration experience in speciality
  • Obtained competency in a variety of clinical skills
Desirable criteria
  • Experience within a variety of clinical specialities
  • Evidence of delivering teaching sessions
  • Experience of action planning

Employer certification / accreditation badges

NHS Pastoral Care Quality AwardVeteran AwareApprenticeships logoNo smoking policyAge positiveInvestors in People: GoldImproving working livesDefence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) - SilverDisability confident employerStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into health

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.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Yvonne Griffiths
Job title
Neonatal Manager
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
01244 362588