Clinical Lead – Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN) South East

University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust

Job summary

The South East Critical Care Strategic Network (CCSN) is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity as Clinical Lead in the Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (hosted within University Hospital Southampton – Division C).

Job Title: Clinical Lead – Neonatal Operational Delivery Network (ODN) South EastStart Date: October 2026Contract Type: Fixed termDuration: 3 year tenurePurpose for Fixed Term: Limited Term Project

Provide senior clinical leadership across the South East Neonatal Network, with an initial focus on Thames Valley and Wessex, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, equitable and high-quality neonatal care and ensuring alignment with national, regional and system priorities.

Please see below for detailed job description of the role.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Lead – Neonatal Operational Delivery Network South East – Remote Role for 2PA

Established in 2025/26, the Strategic Network for Critical Care brings together the existing neonatal Operational Delivery Networks across Thames Valley and Wessex (TVW) and Kent, Surrey and Sussex (KSS) into a new, single regional network. This new approach strengthens collaboration, consistency, clinical leadership and system-wide improvement in neonatal care across the region.

The network will support services across both TVW and KSS localities, working in partnership with Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), commissioners, provider organisations, clinical teams and wider system partners. It will deliver core network functions including service delivery, quality improvement, workforce, education, transformation, collaboration, data and intelligence, and population health.

We are seeking an experienced and motivated Neonatal Clinical Lead to provide senior clinical leadership across the South East Neonatal Network. With an initial focus on TVW, this role will be central to shaping and delivering neonatal priorities across both localities and supporting the ongoing development of a single, cohesive regional network.

This is a key leadership opportunity to influence neonatal care at scale, working within a collaborative, clinically led model that promotes partnership, innovation and shared learning, and ensures the delivery of safe, high-quality care for babies and their families.

Person Specification

Qualifications, Training & Experience

Essential

  • MBBS or equivalent medical qualification
  • GMC registration with a licence to practise
  • Appropriate knowledge base, and Specialist training in relevant area
  • Experience working within the specialty at a senior level
  • Demonstrable track record of leading change
  • Experience of multi-disciplinary teamwork
  • Experience working across organisational boundaries in the Health Service achieving collective success and demonstrates listening, respect and learning from the contribution for others
  • Knowledge and experience of working in formal clinical networks within the NHS
  • Clinical governance and risk management concepts and techniques
  • Good understanding of how to use data to improve quality and productivity

Desirable

  • Management qualification
  • Senior leadership experience in the NHS at Trust level e.g. departmental or divisional lead clinician or GP principal if pathways extend to primary care
  • Knowledge of service improvement tools and techniques
  • Understanding of commissioning and contracting function and processes

Aptitudes and skills

Essential

  • Evidence and ability to work effectively in multi-professional teams
  • Excellent leadership skills and the ability to build & motivate high performing teams
  • Highly effective interpersonal and communication skills including listening skills (verbal and written communication skills in English)
  • Understanding of equality and diversity and how this affects patients, visitors and staff
  • Strong negotiation, persuasion and influencing skills
  • Ability to deal with conflict and challenge
  • Ability to manage complex issues where high degree of judgement required
  • Ability to think strategically and support the network with transformational change where this is necessary to meet standards
  • Research, audit and clinical governance experience

Desirable

  • Involvement in regional or national speciality training or curriculum development

Living Trust Values

Essential

  • Patients First
  • Always Improving
  • Working Together

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 (opens in a new window).

Closing Date: 23 July 2026

To apply for this job please visit apps.trac.jobs.