Lead Specialist Nurse Practitioner - School Nursing

University Hospitals Plymouth Nhs Trust; Plymouth; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust is seeking a highly experienced Specialist School Nurse leader to join our expanding service across Plymouth. You will oversee the care of children with long-term and acute conditions in the specialist school setting, reducing hospital admissions and supporting families and education staff.

The role involves day-to-day operational management, contributing to governance, staff development, and co-ordination of multi-professional teams.

Qualifications

• First level registered nurse with children's experience.
• MSc qualification or equivalent postgraduate study.
• Evidence of Child Protection supervision or willingness to undertake.
• Teaching/mentorship qualification or equivalent demonstrable experience.
• Desirable: Nurse prescriber or management training.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operational management within the Specialist School Setting.
• Lead and supervise a team including HCAs and coordinate care pathways.
• Work with the Lead SSN to ensure high quality care and governance.
• Contribute to recruitment, policies and local protocols in line with DoH guidance.

Skills

Excellent communication

Problem solving

Teamwork

Time management

Education

RN Child Branch (RSCN) or RN with paediatric experience

MSc

Child Protection Level 3

Teaching/Mentorship qualification

Job description

Job summary

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

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 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 an 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.

About us

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. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment manager for this post who will put you in touch with the recruitment team. 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. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Job 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.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Nurse prescriber or willingness to undertake
• Foundation level management training

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

• 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

Desirable

• Demonstrable counselling experience

Aptitude and abilities

Essential

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

Desirable

• Proven evidence of change management

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.

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.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.