Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Week 1: High Dependency Unit (HDU) and Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU)
During this week, the consultant will oversee care in the HDU and SCBU, leading on morning ward rounds and managing patient care across these units. The consultant is also responsible for all high risk deliveries in labour ward.

Week 3: Weekend Cover

During the weekend hot week, the consultant is the only consultant on duty on Saturday and Sunday and covers the whole neonatal unit – ITU, HDU, SCBU, transitional care and the postnatal wards. The consultant is on site from 08:30 to 20:30 on both days, leads the weekend ward rounds, manages all new admissions and high-risk deliveries, supports the resident team, and remains on call overnight. 

Week 5: Intensive Care Unit (ITU)

The consultant will act as the attending Neonatologist for the ITU, taking full responsibility for all new admissions and ongoing care of critically ill neonates. Key responsibilities include leading daily ward rounds from 08:30 to 12:00, coordinating multidisciplinary care, and making day-to-day decisions for all ITU patients. This week demands strong clinical leadership, collaboration, and critical thinking to ensure the highest standards of care for the most vulnerable patients.

Week 9: Transitional Care and Postnatal Wards

This week combines clinical responsibilities in Transitional Care and Postnatal Wards with broader leadership and teaching roles. Alongside providing hands-on patient care, the consultant will manage neonatal alerts, conduct antenatal consultations with families, chair PMRT meetings, lead postgraduate teaching sessions, conduct virtual ward consultations for patients under team NOAH, oversee daytime neonatal transfers, lead simulations sessions

On-Call Rota

The consultant will participate in a 1:9 on-call rota covering weekends and nights. Key details include:

On-call duties require a presence on-site for 12 hours daily (08:30 to 20:30) in accordance with BAPM and GIRFT recommendations, with availability for acute decision-making outside these hours. Key responsibilities during on-call days include facilitating evening handovers and conducting evening ward rounds to ensure seamless continuity of care.

Non-Attending Weeks

Non-attending weeks are structured to balance clinical duties with professional development activities. Key responsibilities include Outpatient clinics, MDT meetings, SPA

Teaching Responsibilities

The consultant will play a pivotal role in education, fostering the development of junior doctors, medical students, and nursing staff. Key teaching responsibilities include:

• Weekly Teaching Program
• Undergraduate and Physician Associate Teaching
• Nursing and Midwifery Education

Quality Improvement and Clinical Audit

The unit prides itself on a robust quality improvement (QI) program that has driven significant advancements in care delivery. The consultant is expected to contribute to QI initiatives, participate in audits, and lead projects aimed at sustaining high performance across key metrics in the National Neonatal Audit Programme (NNAP). 

Research

The unit has an active academic and research portfolio. In 2025 it delivered 14 NIHR portfolio studies, four of which exceeded their recruitment targets  and produced 7 peer-reviewed publications, 8 oral presentations and 3 posters at national and international meetings. Consultants are supported by three dedicated research nurses and an on-site library with comprehensive journal access. 

Managerial and Leadership Responsibilities

The consultant will hold a senior leadership role within the department, contributing to strategic planning and service development.

Continuing Professional Development

The consultant will be supported in pursuing CPD to enhance their expertise and align with Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health standards. Study leave and funding are available to attend conferences, courses, and other professional development opportunities.