Job summary
Are you a passionate and experienced children's nurse looking to lead a dedicated team providing complex healthcare at home and in the community?
This is an exciting opportunity to advance your career in leadership and develop specialist skills in caring for children and young people with complex and often life-limiting medical needs. As the Paediatric Continuing Healthcare Lead Nurse, you'll oversee a dynamic team and play a key role in keeping children out of hospital and within their family environments.
Our team delivers Continuing Healthcare (CHC) services for children across Somerset, working in close partnership with NHS Somerset ICB, social services, education providers, and tertiary care centres. You will be pivotal in delivering compassionate, high-quality care for children with significant needs, including those requiring respiratory support.
Main duties of the job
This leadership post is central to the Children's Community Nursing Service and is responsible for coordinating the delivery of CHC packages to children with high levels of medical complexity. Many of these children require advanced respiratory care and support in the home or school environment.
Key responsibilities include:
- Creating and managing bespoke care packages tailored to each child's needs, including emergency and advanced care planning.
- Working closely with commissioners, social care, and education to ensure packages are safe, comprehensive, and sustainable.
- Leading on recruitment, supervision, and staff development, including training and mentoring.
- Managing rotas, HR matters, clinical governance, audits, and compliance with KPIs.
- Supporting transitions to adult services and contributing to palliative care when necessary.
- Acting as a senior clinical lead, advocating for best practice and upholding safeguarding standards.
- Contributing to service development through audits, research, and policy implementation.
About us
At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:
- Flexible working options to help you balance work and life
- NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security
- Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax
- A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential
Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.
We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.
Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breathtaking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.
The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.
Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Lead, manage, and support a team of Band 3--6 staff and oversee home care workers providing CHC services.
- Oversee day-to-day operations, including emergency responses, care package planning, rota management, and transitions to adult or palliative services.
- Ensure all team members are trained, supervised, and supported in delivering safe, effective, and child-centred care.
- Liaise with families, schools, healthcare professionals, and commissioners to coordinate complex care packages.
- Deliver and review care in line with the National Framework for CHC and ensure compliance with safeguarding, governance, and quality standards.
Please see the attached job description for full responsibilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Lead, manage, and support a team of Band 3--6 staff and oversee home care workers providing CHC services.
- Oversee day-to-day operations, including emergency responses, care package planning, rota management, and transitions to adult or palliative services.
- Ensure all team members are trained, supervised, and supported in delivering safe, effective, and child-centred care.
- Liaise with families, schools, healthcare professionals, and commissioners to coordinate complex care packages.
- Deliver and review care in line with the National Framework for CHC and ensure compliance with safeguarding, governance, and quality standards.
Please see the attached job description for full responsibilities.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN (child)Teaching/mentorship qualificationRegular child protection training at least Level 3
Desirable
- Community qualifications.Training in complex needs topics such as paediatric ventilation.
Experience
Essential
- Nursing of complex care patients
Desirable
- Some leadership or project or management experience such as rotas, service improvement, appraisals.Staff management and rotasCurrently working in a community setting.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Up to date understanding of health issues in relation to children.Understanding of needs of children with special/additional needs and their families
Desirable
- Government publications in relation to community work.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN (child)Teaching/mentorship qualificationRegular child protection training at least Level 3
Desirable
- Community qualifications.Training in complex needs topics such as paediatric ventilation.
Experience
Essential
- Nursing of complex care patients
Desirable
- Some leadership or project or management experience such as rotas, service improvement, appraisals.Staff management and rotasCurrently working in a community setting.
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Up to date understanding of health issues in relation to children.Understanding of needs of children with special/additional needs and their families
Desirable
- Government publications in relation to community work.
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).
