Junior Sister – Special Care Baby Unit (UK Visa Sponsorship)

Job Description

Are you a dedicated neonatal nurse ready to advance your career in a rewarding and supportive environment?

We are excited to recruit experienced neonatal nurses to join our team at Somerset NHS Foundation Trust as we gear up for the reopening of the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) at Yeovil District Hospital in April 2026. This is a unique chance to help build and strengthen our enhanced maternity and neonatal services from the ground up, contributing to a compassionate, team-oriented, and progressive culture right from the start.

In this role, you’ll deliver exceptional, family-centered care to premature and unwell newborns, while guiding and supporting parents through what can be an incredibly emotional journey. As part of our fully integrated Trust, you’ll also have options to rotate across sites to expand your expertise and professional horizons.

We truly invest in our people, providing ongoing training, professional development, and mentorship to help you reach your full potential. The position involves flexible shift work, including nights and weekends, with both full-time and part-time opportunities available.

The temporary closure of the SCBU allowed us to implement vital safety enhancements, and the planned reopening on 21 April 2026 represents a refreshed, more robust chapter for our maternity services. By joining now, you’ll be at the heart of:

• A safer, more resilient service backed by meaningful upgrades
• The arrival of five new Somerset paediatric consultants between November 2025 and March 2026
• Closer collaboration between midwifery and neonatal teams under one unified Somerset FT framework, fostering shared knowledge and smoother care pathways

This is a truly special moment for our services—we’d be thrilled to have you on board!

Key responsibilities and skills

• Deliver expert, high-quality neonatal nursing care to infants in intensive, high-dependency, special, or transitional care, always prioritizing safety and evidence-based practice
• Assess and respond swiftly to changing clinical needs, using advanced skills like neonatal life support, blood gas analysis, venepuncture, and cannulation
• Empower families by teaching essential caregiving techniques, communicating with empathy and clarity, and involving parents as true partners in their baby’s care
• Provide compassionate support during palliative care scenarios, while liaising with multidisciplinary professionals—including doctors, social workers, clergy, and health visitors—to ensure holistic family support
• Lead shifts effectively: coordinate staffing, maintain a safe environment, delegate appropriately, and keep precise records (including on systems like BadgerNet)
• Serve as a positive role model and mentor for junior colleagues, students, and newly qualified staff, supporting their growth and wellbeing
• Contribute to multidisciplinary teamwork, service improvements, safeguarding, clinical governance, incident reporting, and quality initiatives
• Respond to neonatal emergencies, including attending births and assisting with resuscitation as needed

We warmly welcome informal visits and chats—please reach out to learn more or arrange a visit.

About Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

We’re dedicated to our staff’s wellbeing and growth, offering a comprehensive benefits package that supports both your professional and personal life, including:

• Flexible working arrangements to suit your lifestyle
• The NHS pension scheme for future financial peace of mind
• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Strong emphasis on career progression and learning opportunities
• Access to the Blue Light Card for exclusive discounts on shopping, travel, dining, and more

We celebrate diversity and actively encourage applications from people of all backgrounds to build an inclusive workforce.

Why choose Somerset? The county combines stunning rural landscapes, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and beautiful coastlines with easy access to vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter—and London is just two hours away. Excellent schools, relatively affordable housing, and a high quality of life make it an ideal place to live, work, and raise a family.

What we’re looking for

Essential qualifications

• Registered Nurse (Parts 1, 7, or 10 of the NMC register)
• Specialist qualification in neonatal intensive care (Qualified in Specialty – QIS)
• Degree (or working towards one)
• Teaching or mentorship qualification

Essential experience

• Post-registration experience in neonatal care
• Proven teaching and mentoring ability
• Competence in complex drug and fluid calculations

Other essential criteria

• Up-to-date knowledge of evidence-based neonatal practice
• Understanding of key NHS policies and legislation (e.g., clinical governance, infection control, safeguarding children, data protection, and COSHH)
• Awareness of legal and ethical considerations in caring for infants and children

This position is subject to a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

We welcome applications from overseas candidates requiring Skilled Worker sponsorship. For details on eligibility and requirements, visit the official UK government page: Skilled Worker visa overview.

Applicants must hold current UK professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). More information is available on the NHS Careers website.

For application support or queries, contact:
Susan Fulker
Email: susan.fulker@somersetft.nhs.uk
Phone: 01823 342517

Pay and contract details

• Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
• Band: 6
• Salary: £38,682 – £46,580 per year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time or part-time
• Reference: 184-OL-GR-4354
• Location: Yeovil District Hospital, Higher Kingston, Yeovil, Somerset, BA21 4AT

Ready to make a difference in neonatal care during this exciting time? Apply today and become part of our renewed, forward-looking team!