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Job overview

Disclaimer: As a Bank Worker, the nature of your engagement will be seen as on a shift-to-shift basis. You are entitled to choose whether to accept engagements which will be offered to you. A statement does not constitute a contract of employment, nor is the Trust under any obligation to offer you any engagement or further engagement under these terms. The job description for this Bank role relates to the equivalent substantive position. Whilst engaged by the Trust you would be expected to operate within the requirements of the job description.

The role of the Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner (ANNP) is a position with a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making and incorporates the skills of assessment, examination, diagnosis and treatment.  DCHFT is a rural, district general hospital, with approximately 1700 births per year and a level 1 Special Care Baby Unit. ANNP’s working here have a diverse role which may differ somewhat to ANNPs working in larger neonatal units.  The role can vary day by day and hour by hour, depending on clinical demands and services requirements.

Main duties of the job

The ANNP balances the responsibility of oversight of the care of babies both on the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU), Transitional Care (TC) and postnatal ward, as well as carrying the emergency neonatal resuscitation bleep and attending high risk deliveries.  They provide advanced nursing care in accordance with all local and national guidelines and demonstrate a high level of specialist neonatal knowledge and skills.

They achieve this by working closely with both the antenatal midwives, postnatal team and neonatal nurses.  They have the support of the wider paediatric medical team who, when required, assist and support with premature or unwell neonates. 

The ANNP will be expected to undertake duties expected of Tier 2 practitioners as outlined by the British Association of Perinatal Medicine (BAPM) medical workforce standards and support the Tier 1 duties undertaken routinely by junior medical doctors, over a 24/7 rota. The ANNP will cross clinical boundaries between nursing and medical care, taking on aspects of the role and responsibilities formerly undertaken solely by medical staff. Clinical supervision will be provided by Paediatric Consultant.

Working for our organisation

• DCHFT is a general district hospital, providing care to families across West Dorset.
• It has a birth rate of approximately 1600-1700 infants a year.
• It has a dedicated level 1 SCBU which routinely cares for infants >32/40 and >1250g.
• Cot capacity is between 9-12 infants, depending on acuity.
• It is part of the Thames Valley and Wessex Neonatal ODN.
• Stabilisation, intensive and high dependency care is delivered when required, whilst supporting parents through the necessary transfer to other hospitals for ongoing care.
• Developmental care of infants is paramount, and the team is augmented by our AHP colleagues form occupational health and physiotherapy.
• There is a newly developed Transitional Care model, which shares care with the midwifery colleagues.
• Family integrated care is our aim for all babies and DCH prides itself on its parents’ facilities to help achieve this.
• Baby Friendly Initiative accreditation work is underway on SCBU.
• Bereavement care is supported by the colleagues from the paediatric team and either the dedicated bereavement suite on the children’s ward or the facilities on SCBU are utilised, dependent on parental wishes.