Lead Nurse for Children in Care

NHS; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider is seeking a Lead Nurse for Children in Care, responsible for overseeing high-quality, child-centered care. The role involves clinical services for Children in Care, managing a team, and ensuring compliance with health assessments. Applicants should possess relevant nursing qualifications and community nursing experience. This is a full-time, permanent position with a competitive salary and benefits based in West Yorkshire.

Benefits

NHS pension plan

Generous holiday allowance

Employee health and wellbeing services

Onsite nurseries

Car lease and home electronics schemes

Qualifications

• Must have a Children’s Nursing qualification RSCN / RN (Child) 1st level or a SCPHN qualification.
• Public health knowledge and experience required.
• Community nursing experience is a must.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical service for Children in Care including complex health needs.
• Lead the nursing team and oversee statutory assessments.
• Participate in service development and policy implementation.

Skills

Children’s Nursing qualification (RSCN / RN Child)

Public health knowledge and experience

Community nursing experience

Evidence of continued professional development

Teaching, training or mentorship qualification

Education

SCPHN qualification

Job description

Overview

The Lead Nurse for Children in Care role involves providing strategic and operational leadership to ensure high-quality, safe, and child-centered care. Key responsibilities include leading a skilled nursing team and overseeing statutory assessments and reviews in line with national framework, promoting equitable access to care and ensuring services meet diverse needs. The Lead Nurse collaborates with health, social care, education, and voluntary sector partners to improve health inequities for children in care and meet their specific health needs. The Lead Nurse actively participates in service development, quality improvement, and policy implementation. The Lead Nurse manages and leads a team of CIC Nurses to ensure compliance with statutory health assessments, safeguarding practices and promoting a high-performing team culture.

Main duties of the job

Provide clinical service for Children in Care including Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children/young people, children with complex health needs and Care Leavers. To line manage the Youth Justice Service Nurse. Assist Mid Yorkshire Hospital Trust in fulfilling its responsibilities as a provider service, working alongside commissioners to improve health outcomes for Children in Care across the District and within a 50 mile radius. Ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to promote and sustain effective working relationships between staff and partner agencies in developing, promoting and addressing the health needs of Children in Care. Working within multi-agency processes to identify potential risk of harm to children in our care. Provide support and advice to all relevant staff within the trust and other agencies in relation to the health needs of Children in Care and Young People. To undertake Health Needs Assessments and therapeutic interventions with CIC & young People, and co-ordinate Health recommendations. Be responsible for auditing the completed health assessment process and ensuring that each child or young person has a current, up to date health plan in line with statutory requirements. Feed back to staff on their training needs with regard to completing health assessments.

About us

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff members work in patients homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). Committed to continuous improvement, we prioritise our people and values so we can deliver excellent patient experience. Our team is friendly, passionate and always seeking better ways to work through research and innovation. We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces for honest conversations and to share ideas, thoughts and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. As a member of the team, you will have access to the NHS pension plan, a generous holiday allowance, employee health and wellbeing services and extensive benefits and support. These include onsite nurseries, childcare vouchers, car lease and home electronics schemes, working carers support, carer-friendly policies, and more. If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Details

• Date posted: 16 October 2025
• Pay scheme: Agenda for Change
• Band: Band 7
• Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year
• Contract: Permanent
• Working pattern: Full-time
• Reference number: 000715
• Job locations: Kings Medical Centre, Normanton, Normanton, West Yorkshire, WF6 2AZ

Responsibilities and Requirements

• Must either have a Children’s Nursing qualification RSCN / RN (child) 1st level or a SCPHN qualification
• Public health knowledge and experience
• Community nursing experience
• Evidence of continued professional development
• Appropriate statutory professional body registration
• Must be willing to participate in any relevant training identified to develop skills to carry out duties
• Maintains a portfolio of CPD in line with regulatory body standards
• Teaching, training or mentorship qualification or experience to an equivalent level
• Disclosure and Barring Service Check: This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to be made to the DBS