Neonatal Unit Matron

The Perinatal & Gynaecology CSU is delighted to offer an opportunity to join the Leadership Team on secondment as our Neonatal Unit Matron.

Main duties of the job

This role provides strategic, operational, and professional leadership across a portfolio of services, ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, patient-centred care. The postholder is responsible for clinical governance, patient safety, workforce planning, service improvement, and financial management, using data, quality metrics, and direct engagement with patients and staff to drive continuous improvement. They act as a visible and inclusive leader, promoting staff wellbeing, professional development, and equality, while overseeing operational performance, managing resources and budgets, leading service transformation, and working collaboratively with patients, families, and multidisciplinary teams to improve outcomes and experience across the CSU.

About us

The Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust (NCA) provides hospital and integrated health and social care services to over one million people living across Greater Manchester. Our 20,000 colleagues care for people in hospital and in the community, working across Bury, Rochdale, Oldham and Salford, to save and improve lives.

As a large NHS trust we are committed to enhancing the health of our local population by delivering consistently high standards of care and working closely with local authorities and key partners. We believe in our power and potential to make a difference and we're always looking for people who demonstrate our three core values - care, appreciate and inspire - to join our team.

In return, we can offer you a job role with purpose and flexibility. The size and scale of the NCA means we can provide more challenge and opportunities so your career can always be moving in the right direction. By joining us you can also access a competitive benefits package, including, a fantastic annual leave allowance, flexible working opportunities and protected hours for health and wellbeing activities, helping you to achieve more personal downtime and a better work-life balance.

Learn more about us in our Candidate Information Pack.

Details

Date posted

15 October 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 8a

Salary

£57,528 to £64,750 a year

pro rata

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

236-FAC-NM822-26-I

Job locations

Royal Oldham Hospital

Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH

United Kingdom

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent professional qualification in Nursing/Midwifery/AHP
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Teaching/mentors hip qualification

Professional registration

Essential

• Registered Nurse/Midwife/AHP with current NMC or HCPC registration

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

• Demonstrates operational leadership experience within a fast-paced healthcare setting, managing multiple wards or services to ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care.
• Leads nursing, midwifery, and AHP teams across designated services, fostering collaborative working and maintaining high standards of clinical care.
• Supports and enables service improvement and transformation across multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to the delivery of Trust priorities through inclusive and compassionate leadership.
• Applies sound knowledge of clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance to ensure services meet national and local standards.
• Implements operational changes in line with CSU and Trust priorities, ensuring alignment with service goals and improvement plans.
• Leads measurable improvements in care quality and service delivery through audit, direct observation, and triangulation of data with patient and staff feedback.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Promotes a culture of professional accountability and clinical engagement, encouraging staff to take ownership of care quality and patient experience.
• Manages team and service performance, using data and feedback to improve outcomes for patients, carers, and staff.
• Utilises performance data and management tools to monitor service delivery, identify areas for improvement, and support decision-making.
• Applies analytical skills to interpret clinical and operational data, supporting evidence-based improvements in care and service design.
• Communicates effectively across teams and services, using influence and trust-building to support cohesion and improvement.
• Applies effective planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities and maintain operational resilience across services.
• Demonstrates resilience and composure in high-pressure situations, supporting teams through complex challenges.
• Applies co-production principles to service development, building relationships and engaging stakeholders to shape care delivery.
• Builds credibility and trust with a wide range of stakeholders, representing the CSU professionally and promoting high standards of care.
• Engages directly with front-line teams, patients, and carers to support innovation in practice and enhance workforce and patient experience.
• Maintains awareness of national workforce challenges and supports the implementation of Trust-wide strategies for nursing, midwifery, and AHP development.
• Translates CSU objectives into clear operational plans, ensuring teams understand and deliver against service expectations.
• Builds effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, regulators, and professional bodies.
• Manages conflict constructively, facilitating resolution to maintain team cohesion and service continuity.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent professional qualification in Nursing/Midwifery/AHP
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Teaching/mentors hip qualification

Professional registration

Essential

• Registered Nurse/Midwife/AHP with current NMC or HCPC registration

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

• Demonstrates operational leadership experience within a fast-paced healthcare setting, managing multiple wards or services to ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care.
• Leads nursing, midwifery, and AHP teams across designated services, fostering collaborative working and maintaining high standards of clinical care.
• Supports and enables service improvement and transformation across multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to the delivery of Trust priorities through inclusive and compassionate leadership.
• Applies sound knowledge of clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance to ensure services meet national and local standards.
• Implements operational changes in line with CSU and Trust priorities, ensuring alignment with service goals and improvement plans.
• Leads measurable improvements in care quality and service delivery through audit, direct observation, and triangulation of data with patient and staff feedback.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Promotes a culture of professional accountability and clinical engagement, encouraging staff to take ownership of care quality and patient experience.
• Manages team and service performance, using data and feedback to improve outcomes for patients, carers, and staff.
• Utilises performance data and management tools to monitor service delivery, identify areas for improvement, and support decision-making.
• Applies analytical skills to interpret clinical and operational data, supporting evidence-based improvements in care and service design.
• Communicates effectively across teams and services, using influence and trust-building to support cohesion and improvement.
• Applies effective planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities and maintain operational resilience across services.
• Demonstrates resilience and composure in high-pressure situations, supporting teams through complex challenges.
• Applies co-production principles to service development, building relationships and engaging stakeholders to shape care delivery.
• Builds credibility and trust with a wide range of stakeholders, representing the CSU professionally and promoting high standards of care.
• Engages directly with front-line teams, patients, and carers to support innovation in practice and enhance workforce and patient experience.
• Maintains awareness of national workforce challenges and supports the implementation of Trust-wide strategies for nursing, midwifery, and AHP development.
• Translates CSU objectives into clear operational plans, ensuring teams understand and deliver against service expectations.
• Builds effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, regulators, and professional bodies.
• Manages conflict constructively, facilitating resolution to maintain team cohesion and service continuity.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website .

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Oldham Hospital

Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Royal Oldham Hospital

Royal Oldham Hospital, Rochdale Road

Oldham

OL1 2JH

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job responsibilities

To read more information about the advertised role, and the main job duties/responsibilities please open the Job Description and Person Specification located under the supporting documents heading. You can also read more information about working at the Northern Care Alliance within the attached Candidate Information Pack or by visiting our careers website: www.careers.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree level education or equivalent professional qualification in Nursing/Midwifery/AHP
• Evidence of continuous professional development

Desirable

• Teaching/mentors hip qualification

Professional registration

Essential

• Registered Nurse/Midwife/AHP with current NMC or HCPC registration

Knowledge, Training & Experience

Essential

• Demonstrates operational leadership experience within a fast-paced healthcare setting, managing multiple wards or services to ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care.
• Leads nursing, midwifery, and AHP teams across designated services, fostering collaborative working and maintaining high standards of clinical care.
• Supports and enables service improvement and transformation across multi-disciplinary teams, contributing to the delivery of Trust priorities through inclusive and compassionate leadership.
• Applies sound knowledge of clinical governance, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance to ensure services meet national and local standards.
• Implements operational changes in line with CSU and Trust priorities, ensuring alignment with service goals and improvement plans.
• Leads measurable improvements in care quality and service delivery through audit, direct observation, and triangulation of data with patient and staff feedback.

Skills & Abilities

Essential

• Promotes a culture of professional accountability and clinical engagement, encouraging staff to take ownership of care quality and patient experience.
• Manages team and service performance, using data and feedback to improve outcomes for patients, carers, and staff.
• Utilises performance data and management tools to monitor service delivery, identify areas for improvement, and support decision-making.
• Applies analytical skills to interpret clinical and operational data, supporting evidence-based improvements in care and service design.
• Communicates effectively across teams and services, using influence and trust-building to support cohesion and improvement.
• Applies effective planning and organisational skills to manage competing priorities and maintain operational resilience across services.
• Demonstrates resilience and composure in high-pressure situations, supporting teams through complex challenges.
• Applies co-production principles to service development, building relationships and engaging stakeholders to shape care delivery.
• Builds credibility and trust with a wide range of stakeholders, representing the CSU professionally and promoting high standards of care.
• Engages directly with front-line teams, patients, and carers to support innovation in practice and enhance workforce and patient experience.
• Maintains awareness of national workforce challenges and supports the implementation of Trust-wide strategies for nursing, midwifery, and AHP development.
• Translates CSU objectives into clear operational plans, ensuring teams understand and deliver against service expectations.
• Builds effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, regulators, and professional bodies.
• Manages conflict constructively, facilitating resolution to maintain team cohesion and service continuity.