About the job

The Unit Manager for the Jersey Neonatal Unit (JNU) provides expert clinical, professional, and operational leadership within a specialist 8‑bed neonatal service. Working within a close‑knit island healthcare system, the post holder will lead the delivery of safe, effective, highly specialised neonatal care while supporting families through some of their most vulnerable moments.

As Unit Manager, you will be part of a team that thrives on collaboration, compassion, and continuous learning, working alongside paediatricians, social workers, emergency transfer teams, therapists, and wider family support services. The relationships you cultivate will be essential in maintaining the highest standards of clinical governance, safeguarding, and holistic support.

With an 8‑bed capacity and around 80 admissions per year, the Unit Manager plays a central role in overseeing a service that delivers care across the full spectrum of neonatal conditions. This offers a rare opportunity to maintain and advance highly specialist skills while leading a close‑knit, adaptable, and professionally diverse team of 12 neonatally trained senior Nurses and Midwives and 7 NN/HCA.

Your leadership will ensure the team continues to thrive in this environment, supporting safe, family‑centred care while balancing the operational challenges of an island service.

This is a role where your expertise, compassion, and commitment to excellence will make an immediate and meaningful difference. As Unit Manager, you will be at the forefront of neonatal care in Jersey guiding clinical standards, championing quality improvement, and supporting babies and families through complex, emotional, and critical moments in their journey.

You will also oversee, coordinate, and support the air transfer of sick neonates who require specialist care in UK tertiary centres. Full training and ongoing development in neonatal stabilisation and transfer processes will be provided. Your leadership will be crucial in ensuring safe decision making, smooth pathways, and family centred communication.

Key Purpose of the Role -

To provide visible, expert neonatal nursing leadership for the Neonatal Unit, ensuring safe, effective, family‑integrated care.

To oversee the clinical and operational management of the unit, including staff allocation, patient flow, acuity oversight, and decision‑making.

To support the development of the neonatal workforce through supervision, mentorship, and education.

To lead quality improvement, governance, and service development activities aligned with local priorities and national neonatal standards.

To act as an advanced clinical resource, supporting complex neonatal care needs and safeguarding vulnerable infants.

Key Duties and Responsibilities -

Clinical Leadership

Deliver and support advanced neonatal nursing practice across a broad range of conditions and levels of dependency in a unique island setting.

Provide expert support in clinical decision‑making, escalation, and emergency response.

Promote family‑integrated, trauma‑informed care and uphold the highest safeguarding standards.

Operational Oversight

Manage daily running of the unit including staffing, resource allocation, admission planning, and capacity management.

Ensure robust governance through incident review, risk assessment, and continuous learning.

Oversee environmental, equipment, and infection‑prevention standards specific to neonatal care.

Workforce Leadership

Provide compassionate leadership, fostering a supportive, psychologically safe culture.

Manage appraisals, supervision, performance, and development of the neonatal team.

Promote staff wellbeing, resilience, and professional growth.

Quality Improvement & Service Development

Lead and contribute to QI initiatives that enhance safety, parent experience, and clinical outcomes.

Drive adherence to national neonatal frameworks (e.g., BAPM guidance, neonatal network standards) and its application to our unique island setting

Support data collection, audit, and benchmarking for local and regional network reporting.