Job summary
This fixed term nursing role within Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust's Children's Community Nursing Service (CCNS) focuses on clinical and public health nursing for children, young people, and families, supporting the move towards 7-day working. The Children & Young People's Community Nurse (CYP CN) will work with the team lead and senior nurses to help develop the local and countywide CCNS, aligning practice with Trust and national standards.
The post holder will deliver specialist community nursing care, providing expert knowledge and liaising with clinical specialists as needed. As a Registered Nurse (Child), they will promote health, deliver safe, high-quality care, and collaborate with professionals across healthcare and partner agencies.
Responsibilities include educating and supporting staff, mentoring students, and acting as a specialist practitioner in the community. If qualified, the post holder may prescribe for children up to age 19, in line with professional competence and Trust policy. They are accountable for safe prescribing practice and must complete the Trust's prescribing declaration before doing so.
The nurse will also have a safeguarding role, working in line with The Children Act (1989 & 2004) and Working Together to Safeguard Children (2013).
This is a fixed term contract for 8 months to cover maternity leave
Main duties of the job
Manage high-quality nursing care, support, and advice for a delegated Children's Community Nursing Team (CCNT) caseload, ensuring appropriate resources are in place. Provide clinical expertise to support and educate staff in delivering specialist nursing care to children. Maintain strong communication with stakeholders, working in partnership across health, social care, education, and charities (e.g. hospices) to support seamless, family-centred care.
Contribute to the development, implementation, and review of clinical protocols and SOPs to support safe, evidence-based practice. Promote ongoing development of clinical skills within the team, ensuring competencies align with the needs of the caseload. Provide training to children, families, carers, and staff on equipment and treatment regimes.
Ensure accurate, timely documentation of all care and advice given, including telephone support. Act as a role model and clinical resource in children's community nursing for colleagues and partner professionals. Engage in essential clinical updates and specialist interest groups both within the Trust and externally, contributing to the development of best practice standards.
Flexibility is essential; staff may be required to work across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove in line with service needs.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Accredited Living Wage Employer, we ensure fair pay for all our staffo Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide, receive and understand complex, sensitive information relating to children and young people with a range of health needs including children with complex long term conditions and those children with life threatening and life limiting conditions.
Work collaboratively with team members, Team Lead, clinical facilitators, Matron for CCNS, Heads of CCNS, childrens services professionals and other professionals to promote and ensure high standards of professional and clinical practice drawing on national best practice and Trust policy.
Communicate information effectively with members of the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders and partners, to ensure specialist care is delivered to children both effectively and efficiently and ensuring that continuity is maintained.
Communicate information in an empathetic way to parents/carers and young people which relates to the clinical care of the child/young person and the provision available to them.
Actively listen to parents/carers, children and young people and respond appropriately.
Works with children and families to help maintain their own health and well-being in the community by teaching them and junior staff/carers about their condition and its management, including how to carry out health care procedures at home, utilising a variety of strategies to assist the family in understanding their childs health needs and how these can be met.
Involves others in communication between the childrens families / carers and the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders/partners and ensures good communication for the delivery of safe quality care.
Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to children/young people and their families and other staff helping to overcome any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events. Seeking guidance and support from other practitioners where needed.
Communicate proactively with staff on the clinical condition and treatment/discharge plans of children and ensures accurate records are maintained by staff.
Help lead and support team in co-ordinating the discharge process and ensures high standards of written and verbal advice are available to the children and their families / carers.
Ensure that the Team Lead is informed of pertinent clinical and management problems in a timely manner.
Report and escalate as necessary any safeguarding or patient safety concerns for the children on the caseload.
Ensure systems are in place to proactively disseminate information; attends and contributes to multi-disciplinary team meetings, reads emails and professional/managerial literature as required to pass on relevant information to wider CCNT.
Work together with team lead and HR department to support and participate in the recruitment and retention of staff.
Act as an ambassador/role model for Sussex Community NHS Trust and the Nursing Profession. May be asked to give presentations to university students and other interested bodies about the work of the CCNS.
Deliver and help maintain excellent nursing care and practice standards within the CCNT, helping to review where needed.
Work together with the CCN Team Lead to help ensure the consistent delivery of safe quality nursing care for children on the caseload.
Help implement and write childrens clinical policies and standards, maintaining other standards and clinical policies in line with SCFT requirements, helping to evaluate and adjust as required, in partnership with Team Lead, Matron, Heads of CCNS and other senior CCNs.
Help manage development and performance within the CCN team and ensure together with Team Lead that appraisals for junior staff are completed annually and ensure feedback on performance is given at regular intervals throughout the year.
Educate and support junior staff/peers offering leadership surrounding continual professional development and performance of best clinical practice.
Ensure health records are maintained and compliant with Trust policy and keep accurate, legible, contemporaneous records and written reports as required.
Assist the Team Lead, Safeguarding Team and Head of CCN Service in co-ordinating child protection processes in accordance with Trust policy whilst supporting junior staff in understanding and exercising the Trust safeguarding policy and Sussex procedures
Maintain and help to analyse relevant service data which will demonstrate activity of the team and assist with identifying service needs and possible developments.
Regularly evaluate the clinical effectiveness of care and in consultation with Team Lead and senior nurses in the wider CCN service, make adjustments where appropriate in order to make the best use of team and SCFT resources.
Develop, implement, and evaluate guidelines/teaching tools for children/families/colleagues, healthcare professionals for use within the CCN service for care of identified health needs and promotion of well-being.
Participate in nursing research and audit projects pertinent to clinical community practice in conjunction with CCN services quality and standards forum.
Ensure when aware of clinical incidents in practice that these are reported via the correct channels and assist with the implementation of relevant recommendations.
Take part in the on-call rota in order to provide 24hr direct nursing support for end of life care and on call system.
Take part in the 7 day working rota as the Service evolves.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Provide, receive and understand complex, sensitive information relating to children and young people with a range of health needs including children with complex long term conditions and those children with life threatening and life limiting conditions.
Work collaboratively with team members, Team Lead, clinical facilitators, Matron for CCNS, Heads of CCNS, childrens services professionals and other professionals to promote and ensure high standards of professional and clinical practice drawing on national best practice and Trust policy.
Communicate information effectively with members of the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders and partners, to ensure specialist care is delivered to children both effectively and efficiently and ensuring that continuity is maintained.
Communicate information in an empathetic way to parents/carers and young people which relates to the clinical care of the child/young person and the provision available to them.
Actively listen to parents/carers, children and young people and respond appropriately.
Works with children and families to help maintain their own health and well-being in the community by teaching them and junior staff/carers about their condition and its management, including how to carry out health care procedures at home, utilising a variety of strategies to assist the family in understanding their childs health needs and how these can be met.
Involves others in communication between the childrens families / carers and the multi-professional team both within the organisation and with external stakeholders/partners and ensures good communication for the delivery of safe quality care.
Communicate complex and sensitive information effectively to children/young people and their families and other staff helping to overcome any barriers to understanding and providing support during distressing or emotional events. Seeking guidance and support from other practitioners where needed.
Communicate proactively with staff on the clinical condition and treatment/discharge plans of children and ensures accurate records are maintained by staff.
Help lead and support team in co-ordinating the discharge process and ensures high standards of written and verbal advice are available to the children and their families / carers.
Ensure that the Team Lead is informed of pertinent clinical and management problems in a timely manner.
Report and escalate as necessary any safeguarding or patient safety concerns for the children on the caseload.
Ensure systems are in place to proactively disseminate information; attends and contributes to multi-disciplinary team meetings, reads emails and professional/managerial literature as required to pass on relevant information to wider CCNT.
Work together with team lead and HR department to support and participate in the recruitment and retention of staff.
Act as an ambassador/role model for Sussex Community NHS Trust and the Nursing Profession. May be asked to give presentations to university students and other interested bodies about the work of the CCNS.
Deliver and help maintain excellent nursing care and practice standards within the CCNT, helping to review where needed.
Work together with the CCN Team Lead to help ensure the consistent delivery of safe quality nursing care for children on the caseload.
Help implement and write childrens clinical policies and standards, maintaining other standards and clinical policies in line with SCFT requirements, helping to evaluate and adjust as required, in partnership with Team Lead, Matron, Heads of CCNS and other senior CCNs.
Help manage development and performance within the CCN team and ensure together with Team Lead that appraisals for junior staff are completed annually and ensure feedback on performance is given at regular intervals throughout the year.
Educate and support junior staff/peers offering leadership surrounding continual professional development and performance of best clinical practice.
Ensure health records are maintained and compliant with Trust policy and keep accurate, legible, contemporaneous records and written reports as required.
Assist the Team Lead, Safeguarding Team and Head of CCN Service in co-ordinating child protection processes in accordance with Trust policy whilst supporting junior staff in understanding and exercising the Trust safeguarding policy and Sussex procedures
Maintain and help to analyse relevant service data which will demonstrate activity of the team and assist with identifying service needs and possible developments.
Regularly evaluate the clinical effectiveness of care and in consultation with Team Lead and senior nurses in the wider CCN service, make adjustments where appropriate in order to make the best use of team and SCFT resources.
Develop, implement, and evaluate guidelines/teaching tools for children/families/colleagues, healthcare professionals for use within the CCN service for care of identified health needs and promotion of well-being.
Participate in nursing research and audit projects pertinent to clinical community practice in conjunction with CCN services quality and standards forum.
Ensure when aware of clinical incidents in practice that these are reported via the correct channels and assist with the implementation of relevant recommendations.
Take part in the on-call rota in order to provide 24hr direct nursing support for end of life care and on call system.
Take part in the 7 day working rota as the Service evolves.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Professional Registration
Essential
- Registered Nurse - Child or Registered Sick Childrens Nurse
- BSc in Specialist Practice in Community Health/Specialist Practitioner Children's Nurse or recent evidence of working towards specialist qualification in community nursing
- ENB 998 / Mentorship module or equivalent
Desirable
- Postgraduate Module/Diploma in relevant subject e.g, Intensive Care of Children, Safeguarding Children, Physical assessment
- Nurse Prescribing for Community Practitioners (V100)
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration relevant clinical experience at band 5 or above
- Experience of working autonomously managing a caseload of children in a community setting and/or on a children's ward.
- Experience of teaching / health promotion
- Experience of planning, managing and helping co-ordinating programmes of care in collaboration with other allied health, social, education and volunteer agencies
- Evidence of a range of clinical competencies appropriate to the role
- Evidence of post registration professional development within the last three years
- Experience of working with children and families/carers at the end of life.
Desirable
- Experience of clinical supervision
- Experience of clinical audit
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proficient clinical assessment and care planning skills
- Understanding of common care pathways and nursing care needs across tertiary, local hospital and community settings.
- Good understanding of children's communication, physical well-being & emotional needs; can identify their changing individual needs and preferences and promote independence.
- Communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and engage with staff, children and families who may be experiencing difficult circumstances or distressing news.
- Ability to prioritise own workload and maintain quality care in times of pressure
- Ability to help develop, set up and implement new working practices, structures to support them, and evaluate processes once implemented and initiate support.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of child and adult safeguarding and take appropriate action to safeguard
- Awareness of professional responsibilities and boundaries
- Interest in and working knowledge of IT and new technologies
- Able to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary interagency teams and to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information/ distressing news, understanding when they need to seek supervision or assistance
- Ability to multitask.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel as required to meet the needs of the service on a daily basis. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or Professional Registration
Essential
- Registered Nurse - Child or Registered Sick Childrens Nurse
- BSc in Specialist Practice in Community Health/Specialist Practitioner Children's Nurse or recent evidence of working towards specialist qualification in community nursing
- ENB 998 / Mentorship module or equivalent
Desirable
- Postgraduate Module/Diploma in relevant subject e.g, Intensive Care of Children, Safeguarding Children, Physical assessment
- Nurse Prescribing for Community Practitioners (V100)
Experience
Essential
- Significant post registration relevant clinical experience at band 5 or above
- Experience of working autonomously managing a caseload of children in a community setting and/or on a children's ward.
- Experience of teaching / health promotion
- Experience of planning, managing and helping co-ordinating programmes of care in collaboration with other allied health, social, education and volunteer agencies
- Evidence of a range of clinical competencies appropriate to the role
- Evidence of post registration professional development within the last three years
- Experience of working with children and families/carers at the end of life.
Desirable
- Experience of clinical supervision
- Experience of clinical audit
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Proficient clinical assessment and care planning skills
- Understanding of common care pathways and nursing care needs across tertiary, local hospital and community settings.
- Good understanding of children's communication, physical well-being & emotional needs; can identify their changing individual needs and preferences and promote independence.
- Communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and engage with staff, children and families who may be experiencing difficult circumstances or distressing news.
- Ability to prioritise own workload and maintain quality care in times of pressure
- Ability to help develop, set up and implement new working practices, structures to support them, and evaluate processes once implemented and initiate support.
- Ability to demonstrate knowledge of child and adult safeguarding and take appropriate action to safeguard
- Awareness of professional responsibilities and boundaries
- Interest in and working knowledge of IT and new technologies
- Able to work collaboratively with multi-disciplinary interagency teams and to liaise effectively with a wide range of stakeholders. Ability to organise and respond efficiently to complex information/ distressing news, understanding when they need to seek supervision or assistance
- Ability to multitask.
Other Requirements
Essential
- Ability to travel as required to meet the needs of the service on a daily basis. A full valid driving licence and access to a car to use regularly for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010).
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
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 (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
