Job summary
The Advanced Paediatric Nurse Practitioner (APNP) is competent at undertaking advanced autonomous clinical practice working across traditional boundaries using assessment, decision making and diagnostic skills. By case managing patients, including independently ordering and interpreting investigations and prescribing, the APNP will safely and effectively provide care for paediatric patients and their families admitted to the Paediatric wards.
The APNP, although clinical approximately 80% of the time, also has a senior clinical leadership role within the Directorate, striving to constantly improve nursing care on the wards through developing new initiatives, undertaking audit and an active role in education, mentorship and supervision
The post holder will work closely with the Matron and Directorate Manager, Paediatrics and the senior paediatric team to ensure both the Directorate's local governance agenda and the national agenda for nursing and children is fully met
Please note that the job description is subject to change as per AfC review
Main duties of the job
- Undertake history and physical examination to accurately assess the patient's condition. Critically analyse findings to form a diagnosis and develop appropriate treatment plan and discharge patients safely.
- Order, interpret and act upon relevant diagnostic tests and procedures.
- Interpret, convey and relay complex and conflicting information to MDT members/patients/relatives in possibly stressful situations, which may be delicate or offensive in nature i.e. breaking bad news.
- Act as a clinical expert providing continuous support to the nursing staff and other MDT members within and outside designated area of work.
- Undertake advanced (invasive and non-invasive) procedures pertaining to patient need, in accordance with appropriate training and clinical supervision.
- Act autonomously admitting and discharging patients, referring to appropriate specialists/care agencies as appropriate.
- Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and trust policy.
- Maintain comprehensive, contemporaneous and accurate nursing/medical records and documentation, utilising information technology where available to facilitate caseload management.
- Effectively manage acute life-threatening conditions in accordance with current ALS/ATLS/APLS/ALERT guidelines (as appropriate to area of work/need).
About us
Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves a population of over 600,000 with a workforce of over 10,500 dedicated and skilled staff across 21 sites.
We strongly believe that the communities we serve should all have access to Five Star Patient Care.
Our services:
Acute Care
Providing emergency and maternity services at Whiston, Southport and Ormskirk hospitals, and medical and surgical specialties across all our sites.
Primary Care
Providing primary care services at Marshalls Cross Medical Centre situated in St Helens Hospital.
Community Services
Providing adult community services for St Helens and a wheelchair service in Chorley, South Ribble, and West Lancashire. Our inpatient unit at Newton Community Hospital is where patients needing acute hospital beds can continue rehabilitation. We also provide urgent care at our Urgent Treatment Centre located in St Helens town centre.
Specialist Regional Services
We provide the Mersey Regional Burns & Plastic Surgery Unit at Whiston Hospital and the Spinal Injuries Unit at Southport Hospital to more than 4 million people across the whole of Merseyside, West Lancashire, Cheshire, Isle of Man and North Wales.
Achievements:
- Rated Outstanding by CQC Inspection August 2018
- Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers & Health Service Journal)
- National Preceptorship Accreditation (2023) for Nursing & AHP Preceptorship Programme
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 29th July 2025
Closing date: 12th August 2025
Shortlisting date: 13th August 2025
Proposed Interview date: TBC
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please ensure you have read through the attached Job Description and Person Specification before submitting your application.
Advertising date: 29th July 2025
Closing date: 12th August 2025
Shortlisting date: 13th August 2025
Proposed Interview date: TBC
Please note, this post may close earlier than advertised if a sufficient number of applications are received.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN Child
- Evidence of life-long learning
- Degree in Advanced Clinical Nursing, preferably Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practice
- APLS / PLS certified
- Independent Nurse Prescriber
- Level 3 safeguarding children training
Desirable
- Teaching qualification or equivalent experience
- Management qualification
- APLS instructor
- RN (adult)
- Critical care qualification
- Master's degree in advanced clinical nursing practice
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant years recent relevant experience in acute/community paediatrics.
- Demonstrate ability to lead and develop nursing practice and promote excellence in clinical practice
- Evidence of multidisciplinary / multi-agency working
- Evidence of change management experience
- Safeguarding Children experience and sound working knowledge of and ability to implement the Safeguarding and Child in Need agenda.
- Ability to develop fully staff potential through facilitating training, development and education initiatives.
- Working knowledge of all components of clinical governance, including risk management, audit, research, clinical standards, policies, protocols, education, training and human resources
- Clinical credibility and expert specialist knowledge of children's and neonatal nursing
- Working knowledge of current national and local legislation/guidance / NSFs / policies in health, professional nursing issues and children's services agenda
- Advanced knowledge and skills to initiate and evaluate research based practice
- Ability to influence and work together with multidisciplinary / multi-agency teams at a strategic / senior operational level
- Ability to lead and develop nursing practice and promote excellence in clinical practice
Desirable
- Children's ITU or HDU experience
- Audit experience
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to practise advanced clinical skills
- Clinical assessment, planning and management skills, able to case manage, including ordering and interpreting investigations and prescribing (if completed NMP)
- Effective communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Quality/excellence focused
- Ability to work autonomously
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN Child
- Evidence of life-long learning
- Degree in Advanced Clinical Nursing, preferably Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practice
- APLS / PLS certified
- Independent Nurse Prescriber
- Level 3 safeguarding children training
Desirable
- Teaching qualification or equivalent experience
- Management qualification
- APLS instructor
- RN (adult)
- Critical care qualification
- Master's degree in advanced clinical nursing practice
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant years recent relevant experience in acute/community paediatrics.
- Demonstrate ability to lead and develop nursing practice and promote excellence in clinical practice
- Evidence of multidisciplinary / multi-agency working
- Evidence of change management experience
- Safeguarding Children experience and sound working knowledge of and ability to implement the Safeguarding and Child in Need agenda.
- Ability to develop fully staff potential through facilitating training, development and education initiatives.
- Working knowledge of all components of clinical governance, including risk management, audit, research, clinical standards, policies, protocols, education, training and human resources
- Clinical credibility and expert specialist knowledge of children's and neonatal nursing
- Working knowledge of current national and local legislation/guidance / NSFs / policies in health, professional nursing issues and children's services agenda
- Advanced knowledge and skills to initiate and evaluate research based practice
- Ability to influence and work together with multidisciplinary / multi-agency teams at a strategic / senior operational level
- Ability to lead and develop nursing practice and promote excellence in clinical practice
Desirable
- Children's ITU or HDU experience
- Audit experience
Skills
Essential
- Demonstrate ability to practise advanced clinical skills
- Clinical assessment, planning and management skills, able to case manage, including ordering and interpreting investigations and prescribing (if completed NMP)
- Effective communication skills
- Excellent organisational skills
- Quality/excellence focused
- Ability to work autonomously
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).
