Lead Specialist Nurse Practitioner - School Nursing

Plymouth Hospitals; Plymouth; Hybrid; GBP 49,000 - 57,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust invites applications for NHS AfC Band 7 Specialist School Nurse posts in Plymouth. The role supports children and young people with complex medical needs in specialist school settings, coordinating care and working with education and health partners to enable safe access to education.

The post is permanent or fixed term/secondment, 37.5 hours per week term-time, with salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro-rata.

Qualifications

• 1st Level registered nurse RSCN/RN Child Branch (or RN with extensive relevant experience with nursing children with complex medical needs)
• Proven evidence of working towards Higher Education - MSc
• Child Protection Supervision training or willingness to undertake
• Teaching/Mentorship qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Child Protection Level 3
• Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake

Responsibilities

• To facilitate the care of children with long-term and acute conditions within the Specialist school setting thus reducing the need for hospital admission and / or enabling early discharge ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of nursing care, advice, education and support to Specialist school nursing team and education staff as well as children and their families in the community.
• To be responsible for the day-to-day operational management at the Specialist school and oversee and support colleagues including team of HCAs.
• To work with the Lead Specialist School Nurse to ensure high quality care through staff education, governance and professional development.
• Lead and co-ordinate multi-professionals in the provision of palliative/ terminal care for children’s who have life limiting conditions.

Education

1st Level registered nurse RSCN/RN Child Branch

MSc

Child Protection Level 3

Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake

Teaching/Mentorship qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience

Job description

NHS AfC: Band 7

Main area Special School Nursing Grade NHS AfC: Band 7 Contract Permanent: Term time only (notional working hours 37.5 per week term time working) Hours

• Full time
• Term time hours

37.5 hours per week (08.30-16.30 (7 hours per day term time only)) Job ref 216-PL-DA8302362

Site Special School Nursing Service (Woodlands and Mill Ford Schools currently) Town Plymouth Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum, pro-rata Salary period Yearly Closing 26/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Specialist School Nursing service.

Our team are currently based across our specialist education settings in Plymouth and are looking to recruit additional team members to the growing service. The team support children and young people with a range of complex medical needs, to ensure they are safely able to access their education. They also provide a huge amount of support to children, young people and their families, as well as providing education and support to our partners in education and the wider multi disciplinary team. Together our nursing team and our education colleagues work to support and enhance the lives of children and young people living with long term and life limiting conditions, responding to emergency situations and escalating care needs as needed.

***Please note that applications from temporary workers who have been engaged with the Trust for a minimum of 3 months are welcome.

Available as a fixed term contract or secondment opportunity. (With current line manager's agreement). ***

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose:

• To facilitate the care of children with long-term and acute conditions within the Specialist school setting thus reducing the need for hospital admission and / or enabling early discharge ensuring the efficient and effective delivery of nursing care, advice, education and support to Specialist school nursing team and education staff as well as children and their families in the community.
• To be responsible for the day-to-day operational management at the Specialist school and oversee and support colleagues including team of HCAs.

Key Dimensions:

• Working alongside the Lead Specialist School Nurse to ensure the continued provision of high quality care to all children through staff education, governance and professional development.
• To act as an expert in this specialist role, co-ordinating care pathways and developing the service to meet national guidelines and standards.
• Ensure the provision of safe evidence based clinical care within the specialist school setting.
• Lead and co-ordinate multi-professionals in the provision of palliative/ terminal care for children’s who have life limiting conditions.

Working for our organisation

We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure.

PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.

We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.

We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Managerial

• Ensuring the efficient and effective provision of nursing care, advice, education and support to children and families within the specialist school provision.
• In conjunction with the Lead SSN ensure the effective use of resources, receiving requests for and ordering general and specialist equipment.
• Contribute to the co-ordination, collation and analysis of health data regarding children and young people with a long-term condition.
• Ongoing responsibility for the day-to‑day operational management within the Specialist School Setting escalating to the Lead SSN as appropriate.
• With the support of the Lead SSN instigate and participate in the recruitment process within HR and recruitment guidelines.
• Promote and ensure the provision and delivery of the highest quality of care for children and their families including the establishment of quality standards and implementation of quality initiatives.
• Continue the development of local policies, procedures, and protocols in line with local and Department of Health guidance and ensure that those staff providing health care to children and young people are aware of local policies and their responsibility in relation to these.
• To ensure staff activity levels are maintained and activity is recorded in accordance with the current data capture system.
• Maintain an active role in all aspects of clinical governance including clinical audit and risk management.
• Maintain a clean and safe environment, ensuring appropriate use / maintenance of equipment.
• Ensure that the training need analysis are carried out and implemented as necessary and that all mandatory training is kept up to date.
• Ensure new staff are supported through Induction.
• Utilising caseload management skills undertake regular clinical supervision sessions of school HCAs to provide a high quality service.
• To problem solve and respond appropriately to both personal and professional matters as they occur.

Safeguarding

• To develop and maintain an informed awareness of safeguarding children to protect the welfare of children. Liaise with the Trust Named Nurse for Safeguarding as appropriate.
• To work in close collaboration with practitioners and service managers to ensure effective working practice across all agencies.
• Initiate, lead and co-ordinate EHAT meetings for children in need of multi-disciplinary agency and safeguarding support providing reports for and attending conferences and courts as requested.

** See JD for full details.

Qualifications

• 1st Level registered nurse RSCN/RN Child Branch (or RN with extensive relevant experience with nursing children with complex medical needs)
• Proven evidence of working towards Higher Education - MSc
• Child Protection Supervision training or willingness to undertake
• Teaching/Mentorship qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Child Protection Level 3
• Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake

Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum of 3 years demonstrable recent post registration experience in children’s nursing
• Able to demonstrate proven specialist knowledge across a range of procedures
• Demonstrable current and up to date experience of nursing children with long term conditions in the community
• Current and demonstrable management experience within a community setting
• Proven current knowledge of multi-disciplinary / multi-agency roles and responsibilities relating to the care of children
• Demonstrable relevant experience of Clinical Governance
• Demonstrable counselling experience

Aptitude and abilities

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Able to communicate sensitive information
• Ability to work as a part of a team
• Able to work effectively in a busy environment to tight time scales
• Proven evidence of change management

We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.

Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests. This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Name Emma Fawkes
Job title Matron/Lead Nurse for Community Paediatrics
Email address [e-mail]
Telephone number 01752435226

Or Caroline Bennett (Special School Nurse) via [e-mail]