Senior Staff Nurse - Special Schools (Perseid)

Job responsibilities

General Duties

Develops, promotes and implements integrated working (internal and external) whenever this would improve service delivery options or outcomes for individual children, young people and their families

Ensure that all staff within the team work to SHC and ESTH policies, procedures, standard operating procedures and guidelines within the service area and actively contributes to the proposal of policy or service changes as appropriate

Works closely and collaboratively with the education, health and social care staff

Delegates appropriately to ensure consistent coordinated care

Acts as a specialist practitioner and is a resource to other staff within the department and wider organisation

Leads by example and maintains a high level of professional conduct at all times

Is aware of issues relating to information governance and data security.

Clinical Responsibilities

Be confident and competent in carrying out clinical skills such as administration of medicines and gastrostomy feeds and has experience of working with children and young people with traceostomies

Support the lead clinician for the childrens continence service

Performs effective assessment and plans care according to the identified health needs of individual children and young people and for those accessing the continence service

Review care plans on at least a yearly basis or more frequently if needed

Make onward referrals where appropriate

Attend safeguarding supervision at least termly and additional, where required

Represents the school nursing team in the educational setting

Attend annual educational reviews, child in need meetings, team around the child meetings, professional meetings, child protection case conferences and core group meetings, representing the school nursing team and providing key information to education and social services staff and parents

Comply with infection control policies and procedures in order to minimise and prevent the spread of infection.

Management Responsibilities and Professional Leadership

Ensure team compliance with service delivery according to the commissioned service specification

Support the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget

Ensure staff comply with their obligation to collect and record data in electronic records in a timely manner

Receive and handle any complaints according to SHC and ESTH policy

Work collaboratively with the risk management department to support practitioners in the identification and management of any risks involved with the service and delivery of care

Ensure all staff comply with the incident policy and ensure that all reported incidents for designated areas are fully investigated

Ensure effective communication systems are utilised

Observe and comply with Trust policies and procedures for health and safety ensuring the environment you work in and are responsible for is safe, clean and tidy

Promote equal opportunities in compliance with Trust policies

Ensure that benefits to children and young people are maximised through careful, economical and appropriate use of NHS resources including equipment, property, budget, time etc

Participate in the audit of services to ensure a high level of service delivery and identify areas of improvement.

Education, Training and Personal Development

Develop and implement local orientation, local induction programmes and preceptorship for any new employees to the team

Ensure you are compliant with statutory and mandatory training whilst maintaining an adequate level of service delivery

Work alongside the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to ensure all staff are competent and confident in performing clinical skills associated with their role ensuring any poor performance issues are addressed in line with SHC and ESTH policies

Ensure staff participate in reflective practice to ensure effective problem solving strategies within the team

Complete verification for nursing staff undertaking their revalidation in line with NMC guidelines

Ensure student nurses on clinical placements are allocated trained mentors to support the special school nurses ensuring that placements offer developmental opportunities and are a positive experience.

Working Relationships/Communication

Develop and maintain a highly professional and constructive relationship with the education team within the special needs schools

Maintain good communication with children and young people, parents, carers, staff and other professionals at all times and be able to communicate complex information in an appropriate manner to all

Be able to handle sensitive information and act in a tactful manner when there may be a conflict of interest

Have knowledge of alternative methods of communication such as Makaton, PECS, PODD books etc.

Financial Responsibility/Service Delivery

Be responsible for the issue of childrens continence products ensuring the identified needs of the client is met whilst maintaining the specified budget

Support the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget for the specified service areas ensuring expenditure remains within the allocated budget.

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse (adult, child or learning disabilities)
• Mentorship qualification or willing to complete
• Evidence of Continued Professional Development

Desirable

• Specialist Practitioner Qualification

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 2 years experience post qualification working with children and young people
• Evidence of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrable understanding of clinical governance

Desirable

• Previous experience of working in a special school/community setting
• Previous experience of working with children and young people with severe and profound learning disabilities and complex health needs
• Experience of carrying out children's and young people's continence assessments and providing continence advice to both with/without disabilities

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels
• Leadership skills
• Holistic assessment skills
• Effective clinical and clinical reasoning skills
• Knowledge of current clinical and professional nursing issues relating to special needs school nursing
• Excellent written skills
• Ability to work as part of a busy health team, prioritising workload and maintaining high standards at all times
• Ability to manage sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to have complex and challenging conversations
• Clear understanding of current national and local agenda
• Ability to demonstrate evidence based clinical practice
• Ability to maintain professionalism and work within professional boundaries at all times
• Ability to document concise and accurate clinical records and write accurate clinical reports
• Knowledge and experience of clinical audit and clinical governance
• Knowledge of child protection policies and procedures
• Good IT skills including the use of MS Office, email and internet

Desirable

• Knowledge of specialist communication skills e.g. signing/core boards/Makaton
• Previous use of electronic records systems e.g. EMIS

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Flexible, enthusiastic and able to use initiative
• Recognises individual rights in line with legislation, policy and procedures
• Ability to motivate others
• Receptive to change and able to adapt positively
• A 'can do' attitude
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines

General Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the service
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team

Desirable

• Experience of team management
• Car driver with full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for business purposes

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).