Senior Children in Care and Care leavers Nurse

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust; Exeter; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health authority in the UK seeks a Senior Children in Care and Care Leavers Nurse to assess the health needs of children in care. The nurse will develop and deliver health promotion programs, provide training, and manage a diverse set of health assessments. Applicants must hold a Specialist Public Health Nurse degree, have relevant experience, and be a current Nursing & Midwifery Council member. This role offers a unique opportunity to improve health outcomes for care-experienced youth.

Qualifications

• Must have at least 2 years of experience working with Children in Care.
• Current member of the Nursing & Midwifery Council.
• Experience in delivering health promotion including sexual health and smoking cessation.

Responsibilities

• Assess the complex health needs of Children in Care.
• Provide health promotion and training.
• Manage and prioritize workload effectively.

Skills

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership

Education

Specialist Public Health Nurse degree

Children's nurse training at degree level

Job description

Senior Children in Care and Care leavers Nurse

Closing date 28 December 2025

As a Specialist Nurse for children and young people in care, you will assess the complex health needs of Children in Care. Undertaking high-quality, statutory Review Health Assessments providing analysis and interpretation of complex health needs, delivering comprehensive, evidence based and individualised Personal Health Plans.

You will provide expert knowledge underpinned by theory to provide support, sign‑posting and advice to children in care, care leavers, colleagues, parents, carers, and other agencies to promote the holistic well‑being and health outcomes of the care‑experienced population.

Be confident in providing appropriate health promotion and will develop and deliver training packages based on evidence and in response to identified need.

Acting as an advocate for care‑experienced children & young people and will ensure that they have the opportunity to get their voices heard in shaping their individual health experiences and for service development.

You will receive support, professional leadership, advice and supervision from the Children and Family Health Devon Nurse Managers and Named Nurse for CIC and Care Leavers.

Working in accordance with the DOH 2015 guidance "Promoting the health and wellbeing of looked after children" and in line with the Intercollegiate Framework 2020 competence skills and knowledge framework.

Main duties of the job

The Specialist Nurse will be an autonomous practitioner who will manage and prioritise their own workload with a flexible and responsive approach.

With the ability to understand demands on the service and demonstrate a problem‑solving approach into meeting these demands in collaboration with the Nurse Managers and Named Nurse.

The Specialist Nurse will assess the complex health needs of Children in Care.

Undertaking a high‑quality, holistic, evidence based statutory Review Health Assessment, providing analysis and interpretation of the health needs, delivering a comprehensive and individualised Personal Health Plans to meet the identified needs and seeking to reduce inequality.

The Specialist Nurse will provide a co‑ordinated, multi‑agency approach to healthcare for CIC & Care Leavers across Devon and Torbay.

Working alongside social care, education, fostering and other organisations to ensure all health needs of CIC and Care Leavers are met.

You will support the Nurse Managers and Named Nurse for CIC to ensure children and young people receive high quality health care and access to relevant services.

The Specialist Nurse will provide health promotion, deliver training and be a advocate for care‑experienced children & young people ensuring they have the opportunity to get their voices heard.

About us

Why Work With Us

The Children and Young People in Care Nursing service incorporates a team of Specialist Nurses who aim to address the complex health needs and inequalities experienced by care‑experienced children and young people. The Nurse's work closely with a wide range of partners including social care and public health professionals and specialist safeguarding colleagues.

The team aim to practice a strength based, trauma‑informed approach and provide an innovative, proactive service that is shaped by listening to children and young people and is aspirational in improving their holistic health and well‑being.

Important Information Regarding Service ChangesWe are currently entering into a formal consultation process to move all Children and Family Health Devon (CFHD) staff to a single provider. As part of this process, staff currently employed by Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust will transfer to Devon Partnership NHS Trust on 1 April 2026. Please note that this may result in some differences in recruitment documentation and processes during this transition period.

Job responsibilities

• Communication and working relationship
• Planning and organisation
• Analytical and judgement
• Safeguarding
• General:
• Responsibility and accountability
• Responsibility for patients and client care
• Policy and service responsibility
• Responsibility for finance, equipment and other resources
• Responsibility for supervision, leadership and management

For details of responsibilities see the full job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Must hold Specialist Public Health Nurse degree and/or children's nurse training at degree level (RN Child) with at least 2 years' experience
• Evidence of post qualification continuing professional development
• Must be a current member of the Nursing & Midwifery Council and adhere to their regulations
• Experience of working with Children in care and Care leavers for at least 2 years and able to demonstrate an understanding of the health issues and inequalities that they may experience
• Experience of delivering health promotion on an individual and group level including sexual health, smoking cessation, drug and alcohol etc
• To have an additional qualification in mental/emotional health training
• To have post registration qualification and experience in teaching

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.

Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust