Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for suitably qualified and experienced nurses to join our hospital based Safeguarding Team in the role of Safeguarding Children Nurse Specialist. You will be a fundamental part of the children safeguarding team and work closely with other team members to ensure that optimal standards of care are maintained and that the safeguarding of children remains at the heart of practice. They will support the implementation of service development, standard setting, to deliver needs-led care that supports the local priorities for vulnerable children and young people
This is a patient facing role and you will be the visible face of safeguarding within clinical areas. You will be required to undertake some direct safeguarding assessment, undertake safety planning with vulnerable childrenas well as attending various interagency meetings. This is a vital role that actively contributes to the delivery of safeguarding training programmes.
You will be required to demonstrate an inquiring mind, critical thinking and analytical skills to enhance decision making in relation to the protection of vulnerable children. You will require good organisational skills and an ability to work independently and also as part of a wider team.
You will have the opportunity to develop further on a range of specialist skills in relation to safeguarding children.
Watch our short film to see inside our children's hospital.
Main duties of the job
To identify vulnerable children, young people and families early and provide effective programmes of support and care that protects and promotes their health and wellbeing.
Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.
Demonstrate appropriate expert practice and highly specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care.
Providing expert and professional clinical leadership in the specialist areas.
To contribute to child protection case conferences and strategy meetings in order to plan effectively to ensure optimum outcomes for vulnerable children.
To represent the Trust on multi-agency sub groups of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership as required.
To deliver formal safeguarding training sessions to specified staff on Child Protection and safeguarding issues, which facilitates learning and individual personal development.
About us
Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.
We are among the UK's busiest, most successful foundation trusts. We provide specialist care for patients including heart and lung, cancer and renal services as well as a full range of local hospital and community services for people in Lambeth and Southwark.
We have a long tradition of clinical and scientific achievement and - as part of King's Health Partners - we are one of England's eight academic health sciences centres, bringing together world-class clinical services, teaching and research. We have one of the National Institute for Health Research's biomedical research centres, established with King's College London in 2007, as well as dedicated clinical research facilities.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To work within the safeguarding nursing team in managing and overseeing practitioners and their cases of vulnerable children and families whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised care.
Undertake direct patient facing risk assessments and safety planning to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable children are identified and that appropriate plans are put in place.
Demonstrate appropriate expert practice and highly specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. Provide professional and clinical leadership and expertise in the speciality and to act as a resource for education and clinical expertise.
Promote and deliver high standards of practice at all times and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards.
Directly supervise, support, and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in relation to the safeguarding of children.
Review families of high concern and provide relevant child protection supervision/ guidance. To facilitate and support all staff to empower parents and carers to develop positive parenting skills to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, ensuring a patient focused approach is delivered.
To identify vulnerable children, young people and families early and provide effective programmes of support and care that protects and promotes their health and wellbeing. Provide a seamless high quality service from referral through to assessment, treatment and review.
Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals. Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationship between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the specialty, across the trust and partner agencies.
To contribute to child protection case conferences and strategy meetings in order to plan effectively to ensure optimum outcomes for vulnerable children. Provide support and guidance to staff who are required to attend these meetings and support individual practitioners pre and post conference discussions. The Specialist Nurse will be required to contribute and advice on the health aspect of the child protection plan.
To provide advice and assistance to practitioners in the preparation and production of formal reports and statements for case conference and court proceedings.
In conjunction with members of the Safeguarding Childrens Team, to help develop links with other agencies/ services, e.g. Social Care, Childrens Centre, Police.
To represent the Trust on multi-agency sub groups of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership as required. To attend and participate at meetings and feedback relevant information to the team and frontline staff.
Organise own work and manage caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
To deliver formal safeguarding training sessions to specified staff on Child Protection and safeguarding issues, which facilitates learning and individual personal development. To incorporate various training methods to deliver the training material. This will include methods such as formal classroom taught session, scenario based examples and written resources.
The Nurse Specialist will be required to provide regular supervision to practitioners in the acute setting of the Trust at regular intervals as per child protection supervision policy. The Nurse Specialist will also be required to update and manage the supervision database and collate information from this process.
Due to the emotional impact of the role undertake regular support and supervision sessions with the Lead Nurse.
Monitor and review standards of practice on a regular basis and initiate corrective action plans.
Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for children. To bring instances to the attention of the Head of Nursing for Safeguarding Children.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records of the advice that is given in relation to case management.
Contribute to Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews or other learning reviews under the guidance of the Head of Nursing/ Lead Nurse.
To participate in relevant audit and research projects in collaboration with colleagues, developing action plans and disseminating information.
Collect data relevant to Child Protection work as requested. In conjunction with Trust Named Nurse provide statistics and data for Trust board reports.
In conjunction with the Head of Nursing/ Lead nurse and safeguarding team contribute to the development of policies and procedures. Assist the safeguarding leads with the strategic planning for the service, as an expert practitioner.
Please see attached Job Description for full details
Job description
Job responsibilities
To work within the safeguarding nursing team in managing and overseeing practitioners and their cases of vulnerable children and families whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised care.
Undertake direct patient facing risk assessments and safety planning to ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable children are identified and that appropriate plans are put in place.
Demonstrate appropriate expert practice and highly specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care. Provide professional and clinical leadership and expertise in the speciality and to act as a resource for education and clinical expertise.
Promote and deliver high standards of practice at all times and assist in the development of the specialist service, through the use of evidence based practice and clinical standards.
Directly supervise, support, and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in relation to the safeguarding of children.
Review families of high concern and provide relevant child protection supervision/ guidance. To facilitate and support all staff to empower parents and carers to develop positive parenting skills to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, ensuring a patient focused approach is delivered.
To identify vulnerable children, young people and families early and provide effective programmes of support and care that protects and promotes their health and wellbeing. Provide a seamless high quality service from referral through to assessment, treatment and review.
Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals. Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.
Establish, develop and maintain effective working relationship between clinicians, practitioners and managers within the specialty, across the trust and partner agencies.
To contribute to child protection case conferences and strategy meetings in order to plan effectively to ensure optimum outcomes for vulnerable children. Provide support and guidance to staff who are required to attend these meetings and support individual practitioners pre and post conference discussions. The Specialist Nurse will be required to contribute and advice on the health aspect of the child protection plan.
To provide advice and assistance to practitioners in the preparation and production of formal reports and statements for case conference and court proceedings.
In conjunction with members of the Safeguarding Childrens Team, to help develop links with other agencies/ services, e.g. Social Care, Childrens Centre, Police.
To represent the Trust on multi-agency sub groups of the Local Safeguarding Children Partnership as required. To attend and participate at meetings and feedback relevant information to the team and frontline staff.
Organise own work and manage caseload and practice, identifying and maintaining supportive networks for self and other staff members.
To deliver formal safeguarding training sessions to specified staff on Child Protection and safeguarding issues, which facilitates learning and individual personal development. To incorporate various training methods to deliver the training material. This will include methods such as formal classroom taught session, scenario based examples and written resources.
The Nurse Specialist will be required to provide regular supervision to practitioners in the acute setting of the Trust at regular intervals as per child protection supervision policy. The Nurse Specialist will also be required to update and manage the supervision database and collate information from this process.
Due to the emotional impact of the role undertake regular support and supervision sessions with the Lead Nurse.
Monitor and review standards of practice on a regular basis and initiate corrective action plans.
Identify and intervene where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for children. To bring instances to the attention of the Head of Nursing for Safeguarding Children.
Maintain accurate, contemporaneous records of the advice that is given in relation to case management.
Contribute to Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews or other learning reviews under the guidance of the Head of Nursing/ Lead Nurse.
To participate in relevant audit and research projects in collaboration with colleagues, developing action plans and disseminating information.
Collect data relevant to Child Protection work as requested. In conjunction with Trust Named Nurse provide statistics and data for Trust board reports.
In conjunction with the Head of Nursing/ Lead nurse and safeguarding team contribute to the development of policies and procedures. Assist the safeguarding leads with the strategic planning for the service, as an expert practitioner.
Please see attached Job Description for full details
Person Specification
Values & behaviours
Essential
skills and knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of recent research and developments relating to Child Protection work and its implications for practice.
- Be able to work autonomously in consultation with the safeguarding leads
- To have awareness and knowledge of issues in clinical supervision and consultation when working with professionals and lay staff.
- Awareness of the effects of culture and family dynamics on parenting and child rearing practices, and of the implication of these for Child Protection work.
- Be able to demonstrate leadership and good interpersonal skills.
- Be able to communicate effectively with all levels of staff within the Trust and a variety of agencies.
- Ability to think logically, to make decisions.
- Be able to work using a creative and logical problem solving approach.
Desirable
- Understanding of local authority policy and practice
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration experience
- Relevant experience of working in child protection field.
Desirable
- Management responsibilities
- Previous work on interagency committees
- clinical supervisor in child protection
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
- ENB / MSC in Child Protection
- ENB 998 or Teaching
Person Specification
Values & behaviours
Essential
skills and knowledge
Essential
- Awareness of recent research and developments relating to Child Protection work and its implications for practice.
- Be able to work autonomously in consultation with the safeguarding leads
- To have awareness and knowledge of issues in clinical supervision and consultation when working with professionals and lay staff.
- Awareness of the effects of culture and family dynamics on parenting and child rearing practices, and of the implication of these for Child Protection work.
- Be able to demonstrate leadership and good interpersonal skills.
- Be able to communicate effectively with all levels of staff within the Trust and a variety of agencies.
- Ability to think logically, to make decisions.
- Be able to work using a creative and logical problem solving approach.
Desirable
- Understanding of local authority policy and practice
Experience
Essential
- Extensive post registration experience
- Relevant experience of working in child protection field.
Desirable
- Management responsibilities
- Previous work on interagency committees
- clinical supervisor in child protection
Education/ Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
- ENB / MSC in Child Protection
- ENB 998 or 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.
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).
