Job summary
- Main area
- Neonatal Critical Care Transport
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Fixed term: 16 months (Secondment considered)
- Hours
- Full time
- Part time
- Job ref
- 387-W&C2877-HN
- Employer
- Bristol NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- SoNAR Base, Aztec West
- Town
- South Glos
- Salary
- £57,528 - £64,750 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 11/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Nurse) Neonatal Transport
NHS AfC: Band 8a
North Bristol NHS Trust (NBT) and University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) have merged as of 1st July 2026 to become Bristol NHS Foundation Trust. This will create an exciting future that brings together the best of both organisations. As a single, strong and sustainable organisation, we will not only be able to deliver better outcomes for our patients and fairer care for our population, but it will also provide greater opportunities for our people.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust recognise the value of a healthy work-life balance. When applying, speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate flexible working, so your work life fits around your home life.
We particularly welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates as they are under-represented within the Trust.
Our job adverts may close as soon as sufficient applications have been received. Considering this, if you are interested in this role, please do apply as soon as you can.
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Job overview
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Nurse) - Neonatal Critical Care Transport is a senior autonomous practitioner working across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice: Clinical Practice, Leadership and Management, Education, and Research/Quality Improvement.
The post holder will provide expert clinical leadership in the assessment, stabilisation, management and transfer of critically ill and vulnerable neonates requiring transport within and beyond the Southwest Neonatal Network. Working autonomously and collaboratively within a multidisciplinary transport team, the ACP (Nurse) will deliver advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and decision-making in highly complex and unpredictable environments.
The ACP (Nurse) will act as a clinical leader and role model for the service, promoting compassionate, family-centred and trauma-informed care whilst supporting psychological safety, human factors awareness and continuous service improvement. The role requires highly developed communication, leadership and influencing skills, enabling effective engagement with families, colleagues, referring units, receiving centres and system partners.
The post holder will contribute to strategic service development, workforce development, education, clinical governance, research and quality improvement activities that support the continued development of SoNAR and the wider neonatal network.
Main duties of the job
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Nurse) in Neonatal Critical Care Transport provides autonomous, expert clinical care for critically ill and vulnerable newborn infants requiring stabilisation and transfer across the Southwest Neonatal Network. The post holder will lead and participate in neonatal retrievals, undertaking advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and independent decision-making in complex and dynamic environments.
Working within the multidisciplinary SoNAR team, the ACP (Nurse) will provide clinical leadership, support safe and effective patient transfers, and deliver compassionate, family-centred care. The role also contributes to education, workforce development, clinical governance, quality improvement, research and service development, helping to shape and improve neonatal transport services across the region.
Working for our organisation
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust brings together more than 28,000 staff to deliver over 160 clinical services across thirteen hospital locations, operating from three main sites at Southmead, Bristol city centre and Weston.
With an annual turnover of £2.3 billion, we are now one of the largest NHS trusts in the United Kingdom. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer.
Bristol NHS Foundation Trust values all people as individuals. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical Practice
- Lead and participate in the stabilisation, retrieval and transport of critically ill and vulnerable newborn infants across the South West Neonatal Network.
- Undertake advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis and management of complex neonatal patients.
- Practise autonomously within the ACP scope of practice, making independent clinical decisions in dynamic and challenging environments.
- Deliver high-quality, family-centred care throughout the retrieval and transport journey.
Leadership and Service Delivery
- Provide clinical leadership within the transport team during neonatal retrieval missions.
- Support the ongoing development of neonatal transport services across the region.
- Contribute to service planning, innovation and the implementation of evidence-based practice.
Education and Workforce Development
- Support the education and development of transport team colleagues and network staff.
- Act as a clinical role model and contribute to training programmes, simulation and clinical supervision activities.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning and professional development.
Quality Improvement and Governance
- Participate in clinical governance, audit, quality improvement and patient safety initiatives.
- Contribute to incident review, learning processes and service evaluation.
- Support compliance with national standards, local policies and professional frameworks.
Research and Evidence Based Practice
- Contribute to research, service evaluation and the implementation of emerging evidence.
- Promote the use of best available evidence to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
Working for SoNAR
- Work collaboratively with neonatal units, maternity services, ambulance services and other healthcare partners across the South West.
- Represent SoNAR professionally and contribute to the delivery of a safe, responsive and effective neonatal transport service.
Person specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential criteria
- RSCN Part 8 / RN (Child) / RM
- Postgraduate qualification relevant to neonatal / paediatric critical care
- Master’s degree in advanced clinical practice
- Independent non-medical prescribing
- Evidence of advanced clinical assessment, decision-making, and diagnostic reasoning
Desirable criteria
- Leadership or management qualification
- Clinical supervision, mentoring, or educational qualification
- Research or quality improvement qualification
- Neonatal and paediatric resuscitation courses
Knowledge, skills, and abilities
Essential criteria
- Advanced neonatal and/or paediatric critical care knowledge
- Excellent advanced clinical skills
- Excellent communication skills in complex and sensitive situations
- Independent prescribing skills and knowledge
- Excellent organisational, prioritisation and problem-solving skills
- Understanding of human factors, situational awareness and crew resource management
- Ability to promote psychological safety and compassionate leadership
- Ability to promote psychological safety and compassionate leadership
- Evidence of ability to use initiative, lead a team and manage change E
Desirable criteria
- Knowledge of neonatal transport standards and service specifications
- Knowledge of quality improvement methodology
- Knowledge of educational programme delivery
Experience
Essential criteria
- Extensive post registration experience
- Experience managing high-acuity patients autonomously
- Experience leading clinical teams in dynamic and high-pressure environments E
- Experience working as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner at equivalent to Tier 2
- Experience supporting patients and families during complex or emotionally challenging situations
Desirable criteria
- Experience in audit, research and policy development
- Previous critical care transport experience
- Experience of teaching, assessing and mentoring
- Independent prescribing
Leadership, Teamworking and Professional values
Essential criteria
- Demonstrates professionalism, integrity and accountability
- Acts as a compassionate and inclusive clinical leader
- Demonstrates resilience in emotionally demanding situations
- Commitment to equality, diversity, inclusion and anti-discriminatory practice
- Demonstrates family-centred and patient-focused care
- Evidence of service development and strategic influence
Desirable criteria
- Evidence of service development and strategic influence
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Patrick Turton
- Job title
- SoNAR Lead Nurse
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01173429466
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