Neonatal Palliative Care Service Development Lead

Title: Neonatal Palliative Care Service Development Lead

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hrs per week).

Contract Type: Fixed-term 2 year contract

Salary/Grade: CNM 3: €72,146 - €81,478 as of 01st June 2026 pay scales

Job Closing Date: 9th October 2026, 5pm

Introduction:

LauraLynn Children's Hospice is seeking an experienced and passionate nursing professional to join our team as Neonatal Palliative Care Service Development Lead on a two-year fixed-term contract.

This exciting role offers a unique opportunity to shape and develop neonatal palliative care services across LauraLynn's Community of Care, ensuring that neonates with life-limiting conditions and their families receive timely, compassionate, and equitable support.

About the Role

The Neonatal Palliative Care Service Development Lead is a strategic nursing leadership position responsible for the development, implementation, and ongoing advancement of neonatal palliative care services and referral pathways within LauraLynn's Community of Care.

Working closely with maternity hospitals, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), community providers, and national stakeholders, the postholder will strengthen partnerships and enhance the integration of neonatal palliative care services.

The successful candidate will champion family-centred care, promote best practice, and ensure that the unique needs of neonates and their families are recognised, understood, and responded to within LauraLynn Children's Hospice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the development and implementation of neonatal palliative care pathways and service models.
• Support the integration of LauraLynn's Community of Care within neonatal and maternity settings.
• Collaborate with key stakeholders to enhance care coordination and family support.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to work with a dynamic team focussed on supporting people to live their best possible life.
• Strong sense of purpose and meaning
• Flexible working options (role dependent)
• Learning & development opportunities
• Pension Scheme
• Comprehensive induction programme
• Extensive in-house person-centred training programme for nursing, clinical and care staff
• Active wellbeing supports including an inhouse occupational health service and a free 24/7/365 employee assistance programme (EAP) for staff and their immediate family members
• Subsidised canteen
• Free car parking
• VHI group scheme
• Membership to HSSU Credit Union
• Bike to work scheme

Essential Criteria - ideally the successful candidate will possess the following:

• Full registration as a nurse or midwife with the NMBI with at least 5 years post registration experience together with a minimum of 3 years in neonatal intensive care experience
• A higher diploma in level 8 NQAI or equivalent in children's palliative care or neonatology nursing.
• Experience of working with neonates with palliative care needs/life-limiting conditions and their families
• Demonstrated experience in service development, quality improvement, and change management.
• The ability to work strategically while maintaining a compassionate focus on patient and family needs.

This is an exceptional opportunity to contribute to the future development of neonatal palliative care in LauraLynn's Children's Hospice and help ensure that every family has access to the support and care they need during life's most challenging moments.

How to Apply:

Applications for this role must be made below. Applications received via email will not be considered.

For a copy of the job description and person specification contact our HR Department, E: hr@lauralynn.ie

For informal enquiries please contact ADON's Liz O'Donoghue lodonoghue@lauralynn.ie or Marie Lynch mlynch@lauralynn.ie

Should you need assistance or have any special needs when attending for interview, please contact any member of the HR team and reasonable accommodation will be arranged.