Children's Safeguarding Nurse

Job responsibilities

Responsibilities and Leadership Duties

Demonstrate and role model, exemplary standards of care and behaviour through personal practice in the safeguarding role.

Provide support to staff involved in the safeguarding processes, including Child Protection Conferences, Strategy Meetings and other interagency / professional meetings.

• Promote the Think Family approach working closely with the Adult and Midwifery Safeguarding teams.

Ensure that any performance management concerns related to safeguarding children practices are reported to senior members of the safeguarding team for escalation and appropriate management.

Ensure a visible presence in clinical areas on working days.

Communication

Communicate complex and sensitive information to families and children, when appropriate using empathy and reassurance at times of vulnerability, distress and bereavement.

Overcome communication barriers where they occur and seek appropriate services to ensure equality and diversity for all.

Communicate in an effective and timely manner with the multi-disciplinary team to ensure referrals are made and safety is ensured.

Initiate communication with Childrens Services and other partner agencies, ensuring that appropriate actions are taken, documented, and followed up

Ensure high standards of communication are kept within the clinical teams, including the support of colleagues and the effective management of conflict.

Maintain accurate handwritten and electronic records in line with NMC guidance and local policy.

Ensure clear and effective communication when handing over cases to other members of the safeguarding team.

Staff management

Organise your own workload whilst ring fencing protected rest time for yourself and your team members.

Manage competing demands whilst considering the wider needs of the safeguarding service.

Provide support, education and mentorship to other nurses, student nurses, medical staff and designated support staff.

• Provide education and support to nursing teams, demonstrating a strong understanding of clinical practice.
• Participate in auditing the effectiveness of safeguarding across the Trust, identifying gaps in areas of service provision and developing strategies to address areas of deficit.

Report any incidents and participate in the investigation of these incidents where relevant.

Other duties

• Ensure own Mandatory training is undertaken and up to date, whilst showing commitment to continuing professional development, including Child Protection Level 3 and regular safeguarding supervision sessions.
• Adhere to NMC standards as per The Code 2015.
• Maintain NMC registration and undertake Revalidation when required.
• Ensure working conditions are safe and in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Ensure all equipment used for personal duties and within the working environment is secure and well maintained, and report any loss or damage without delay.
• Report any sickness or absence from work in line with departmental policy.
• Ensure adherence to Trust, local and national guidance is maintained at all times.

• Work in collaboration with multi-agency partners developing effective working relationships and sound communications systems.
• Provide expert advice in complex cases at strategy meetings/case conferences. This includes contributing towards risk assessment and multi-agency protection plans for complex cases or where appropriate.
• Contribute appropriately to case management reviews, complaints and the investigation of Serious Incidents.
• Support Safeguarding Champions within both clinical and non-clinical areas to develop their role and their practice within their area of work.
• Contribute to team meetings and forums to promote Safeguarding.
• Record and report on numbers and trends of safeguarding concerns within Bedford Hospital and report on these as required.

Contribute to the review and evaluation of safeguarding practices by using standards and audits, in accordance with safeguarding work plans.

Demonstrate sensitivity and respect for patients and families from diverse religious, cultural backgrounds, and sexual orientations.

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS include:

Luton Borough Council, Bedford Borough Council & Central Bedfordshire Borough Council

BLMK Integrated Care Board & Designate Safeguarding Team

Senior Managers and other departmental managers in the Acute Trust

Patients, their families and carers

Luton/Bedfordshire Community Health Services

Designated Doctor/Nurse from other areas

Medical, Nursing, Health Care Assistants, AHP and administrative staff

Statutory/Voluntary agencies

Other Acute Trusts, Primary Care Trusts and local authorities

Police Service

Qualifications

Essential

• RN child (or equivalent qualification and/or experience in relation to children).
• Educated to degree level, working towards or equivalent.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development and training undertaken in respect of safeguarding to minimum Level 3 (as per Working Together).

Desirable

• Recognised teaching/ mentoring qualification

Experience

Essential

• Substantial post registration experience
• Evidence of safeguarding experience
• Knowledge of safeguarding issues and local pathways
• Demonstrate ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with patients, their families, and the wider multidisciplinary team (MDT).
• Experience in inter-agency working

Desirable

• Experience of facilitating safeguarding supervision
• Experience in planning and delivering effective training to individuals or teams.
• Experience of the development and completion of audits
• Experience in handling safeguarding matters in both adult and children's services, including both external and internal cases.

Knowledge

Essential

• Knowledge of national and local Safeguarding Policies, guidelines and recommendations.
• Knowledge of relevant legislation relating to Safeguarding
• Working knowledge of children's health and development and the nature and impact of child maltreatment.
• Critical thinking, reflection and analysis to inform clinical assessment
• Demonstrates awareness of priorities, deals with workload, adapts to changing requirements, and uses initiative.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team as well as across departmental, organisational and professional boundaries
• Able to communicate with people from a wide range of professional and academic backgrounds

Personal Skills

Essential

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal skills
• Confidence to challenge appropriately in difficult situations
• Ability to communicate across organisational boundaries
• Ability to work under pressure, to prioritise, work flexibly and to tight deadlines.
• Ability to recognise poor performance and escalate
• Demonstrate effective time management skills.

Other

Essential

• Team worker
• Able to work without supervision
• Able to work under pressure

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).