Senior Specialist Nurse Cared for Children (Looked after Children)

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading NHS Trust in Manchester is seeking a Senior Specialist Nurse Cared for Children. This full-time role involves working in the community to support vulnerable groups. The ideal candidate will have substantial experience with cared for children and excellent communication skills. Join a committed team dedicated to providing exceptional healthcare services. Salary ranges from £47,810 to £54,710 per year.

Qualifications

• Substantial post‑registration experience working with cared for children.
• Experience of multi‑agency working with looked after children.
• Knowledge of safeguarding/looked after children policies.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for the Specialist Cared for Children Health Team.
• Work as part of the MFT Safeguarding Team.
• Contribute to health data production for cared for children.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to work under pressure

Analytical skills

Leadership experience

Education

First‑level Registered Nurse

Specialist Practitioner in Public Health Nursing

Master’s degree or equivalent

Teaching qualification ENB 998

Job description

Senior Specialist Nurse Cared for Children (Looked after Children)

Closing date: 09 December 2025

We are currently recruiting a full‑time Senior Specialist Nurse Cared for Children (looked after children) based predominantly in the community site but covering the city of Manchester.

This post is an exciting opportunity for a motivated, committed, and skilled nurse with experience working with cared for children. It involves working with vulnerable groups where there are complex safeguarding concerns or young people who are unaccompanied asylum‑seeking children.

To succeed, you will need to be highly motivated to ensure safe and effective services for cared for children remains a priority for all staff. You will need excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills, a flair for critically evaluating information and recording it in a concise and accurate manner, and the ability to work under pressure, prioritise, and work flexibly often to a deadline.

You will be given the opportunity to receive safeguarding/looked after children development, supervision, and training within a highly motivated and committed team. Please use the contact details below for further information or to arrange an informal discussion/visit.

Main duties of the job

• To work as part of the MFT Safeguarding Team.
• To provide leadership and be accountable for the development, supervision, Co‑ordination and day‑to‑day management of the Specialist Cared for Children Health Team.
• To provide leadership, support, advice, and expertise to health practitioners across the Trust around the specific needs of care‑experienced individuals.
• To provide virtual oversight (advice, consultation, co‑ordination, and health liaison) to all cared for children with respect to their health needs and outcomes.
• Contribute to the production of health data for cared for children to inform profiling and analysis.
• To lead on the delivery and development of training in respect of the specific needs of care‑experienced individuals.
• To support the Named Nurse Cared for Children in the development and implementation of mandatory policies and procedures, standards, and audit and to take part in initiatives which promote the health and wellbeing of care‑experienced individuals.
• To act as a resource and an expert source of support/ supervision for those working with cared for children.
• To contribute to providing health expertise to multi‑agency colleagues.
• Contribute to strategic work with regards to the health needs profiling, placement stability, quality of care and improving the health and wellbeing of cared for children.
• To manage a clinical caseload within agreed criteria, co‑ordinate and plan care for cared for children.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000+ strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester is the largest health academic campus in Europe. We are forward‑thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation and continuous improvement. Whether you're beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters.

Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working – empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients. You'll be part of a collaborative, multi‑disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds, sharing knowledge and delivering care that transforms lives.

Job responsibilities

For detailed responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, see the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. We also provide a Candidate Essentials Guide to help you understand the Trust, our benefits and our approach to supporting staff.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we are proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU for our patients, our communities, and each other. In line with our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure their applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. AI tools may be used for spelling, grammar, or formatting support, but the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions, must be written by you.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity, and eliminating unlawful discrimination across our workforce. All individuals, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation are encouraged to apply. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• First‑level Registered Nurse with substantial post‑registration experience.
• Specialist Practitioner in Public Health Nursing / Health Visiting / School Nursing (or equivalent).
• Relevant Master’s degree or equivalent qualification.
• Appropriate management/leadership courses.
• Teaching qualification ENB 998 or equivalent.

Experience

• Substantial post‑registration experience working with cared for children.
• Evidence of professional leadership.
• Experience of multi‑agency working with looked after children and young people.
• Working knowledge of children's health and development and the nature and impact of abuse.
• Awareness of issues affecting ethnic minorities and other socially excluded groups.
• Experience of delivering training.
• Experience of policy development and implementation.
• Experience and contribution to single and multi‑agency audit processes.
• Accredited training qualification.

Knowledge, skills and aptitudes

• Knowledge of current local and national safeguarding/looked after children policies, guidance and legislation.
• Evidence of excellent communication skills with "hard to reach" children and young people.
• Experience of report writing.
• Ability to analyse and critically evaluate information and record it concisely and accurately.
• Ability to communicate well across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Ability to work under pressure, prioritise, work flexibly and meet tight deadlines.
• Experience of completing audits and reports within deadlines.
• Evidence of innovative practice.
• Evidence of presentation skills.
• IT skills: including e‑mailing, word processing and data collation.
• Clinical/safeguarding supervision training.
• Understanding of clinical governance.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and a submission for Disclosure to the Disclosure and Barring Service will be required to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year (pro rata)