Children in Care Nurse

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Participate in policy development to improve the service, and update guidelines and standard operating procedures when required.

Take appropriate action in cases of suspected or actual child abuse and work closely with Health Visitors/School Nurses and the Trust Safeguarding Team to ensure that children are protected from harm. To be familiar with the Trusts Safeguarding Procedures and attend yearly safeguarding updates.

In accordance with the needs of the service, undertake any other duties as required by the Service Manager / Named Nurse.

Adhere, at all times, to the NMC Code and Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust Policies.

Key Relationships:

In conjunction with the team, the post holder will be required to possess excellent communication skills to communicate with:

1. Internal: Named Nurse for Children in Care, Service Manager for Children in Care, all members of the 0-19 teams, Safeguarding Children Lead Professionals and Named Nurses, all members of the Primary Health Care Team, Health Promotion, Child Health Departments, Child Development Centres, Community Paediatricians, all Directorates within EEC, Child and Adolescent Mental Health, commissioners and practice based commissioning team
2. External: Childrens Services, Education, Police, Bedfordshire Local Authority, Family and Children Centres, Acute providers, midwifery services, Youth Offending Team, Children in Care Team and voluntary agencies.

Analytical and Judgemental:

The post holder will be required to:

1. Use their own professional judgement to identify solutions to a range of day-to-day problems, seeking advice where appropriate from the Named Nurse for Children in Care.
2. Lead in team objective setting and achievement of common goals
3. Participate and lead in steering groups and research programmes which influence service and policy development.
4. Be required to deal with situations where he / she will need to assess events, using a problem-solving approach, making appropriate referrals as necessary.
5. Monitor and highlight area of risk for discussion at meetings and bring to the attention of management.
6. Assist in the provision of education and support necessary to ensure learning occurs following accidents and incidents.

Planning and Organisation:

The post holder will be required to:

1. Plan and organise the workload for themselves and the team and be responsive to fluctuations in workload and resources.
2. Manage programmes of care to meet identified need.
3. Assist in the delivery of local implementation plans for the Bedfordshire Children and Young Peoples Plan, etc. In undertaking this role, work in collaboration with other Senior Managers, Service Leaders and stakeholders.
4. Report appropriately all incidents and near misses that may compromise the safety of staff and clients.
5. Undertake the role of Lead Professional where appropriate (as defined in Every Child Matters documentation).
6. Be responsible for own professional updating and keep abreast of current research-based practice using a variety of resources. Undertake mandatory training as required.
7. Undertake these activities autonomously adhering to Trust policies in a variety of settings.

Patient and Client Care:

The post holder will be required to:

1. Demonstrate an evidence-based approach to practice to enable the development of a high standard of nursing practice.
2. Demonstrate cultural awareness in relation to client needs.
3. Undertake health assessments of Children in Care and Young People Leaving Care, seeking advice and support from Named/Designated Nurse for Children in Care.
4. Able to communicate and engage effectively with children and young people, ensuring that they have the opportunity to participate in decisions affecting them as appropriate to their age and ability.
5. Able to act as an advocate for the young persons rights and welfare.
6. Able to communicate effectively and share appropriate information with multiagency colleagues and partners.
7. Able to identify the need for further specialist support, advice, and supervision in situations where the Child in Cares problems require further expertise or intervention such as in relation to sexual health, emotional or mental health, developmental difficulties and/or the disabled young people and take appropriate action.
8. Able to respond appropriately to the impact of adverse life events, including how family health history, mental health and parental lifestyle choices impact on the young persons health and development
9. Able to apply knowledge of the physical, developmental, emotional and mental health needs/risks for Children in Care and offer appropriate health promotion advice.
10. Able to demonstrate an understanding of the interdependence between health, education and social care with regard to Children in Care.
11. Maintain professional records in accordance with Trust and NMC Record Keeping Policies.
12. Undertake health promotion/education activities that are congruent with identified needs and local and government targets.
13. Able to contribute to inter-agency assessments, the gathering of information andwhere appropriate analysis of risk
14. Able and willing to provide empathy and support for Children in Care and their carers.
15. Able to conduct developmental assessments and emotional well-being health screening across the age range 0-25 yrs.
16. Able to contribute to the statutory health assessment and implementation of health care plans, and when requested contribute via report or attendance at Statutory Children in Care Reviews.

Workforce

1. Support the Team in the induction and orientation of new and junior staff and participate in their development.
2. Support and facilitate training of the wider skill mix team.
3. Assist in staff appraisals/supervision when directed by the Named Nurse for Children in Care.

Budgetary Responsibility

This post does not carry any financial responsibility in relation to budget control.

People Management

1. Attending mandatory training and continuing professional development programmes in line with the NMC requirements and take responsibility for maintaining up to date knowledge and self-development
2. Demonstrate professional accountability at all times and maintain a professional portfolio for re-validation.
3. Provide mentorship and community experience for pre-registration students.
4. Utilise reflective practice and participate in Management, Clinical and Child Protection Supervision.
5. Participate in an annual Appraisal in order to identify learning and training needs in discussion with the Named Nurse for Children in Care.

Research & Development Activity

1. To support the Named Nurse for Children in Care in audit/research and to benchmark clinical practices to improve quality.
2. Participate in regular audits of caseload/workload to ensure the most effective use of resources.
3. Using evidence-based practice and on-going audit and evaluation to ensure that all interventions achieve positive health outcomes.
4. Undertake satisfaction surveys of Service users as required.
5. Work within the Local/National Service Frameworks and Clinical Governance plans.
6. Carry out projects for research as required.
7. Complete and return statistical information as requested.

Strategic and Organisational Responsibilities

1. Identify changes in workload that may impact on effective and safe caseload management.
2. Be aware of ethical and legal responsibilities.
3. Adhere to Trust Policies and Guidelines at all times, e.g. Incident Reporting.
4. Be prepared to be flexible within contracted working hours.
5. In accordance with the needs of the service undertake other duties as required.

Clinical and Practice Governance

1. Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
2. Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.
3. The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
4. The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
5. It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the NMC, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration

Emotional and self-awareness

Essential

• Demonstrates empathy for the concerns of others Respectful for others feelings and circumstances. Listens to and understands directly and indirectly expressed feelings.
• Has a realistic knowledge of personal strengths and areas for development

Other

Essential

• Car owner/driver and full, current driving licence and insurance and ability to travel across Bedfordshire, sometimes at short notice

Qualifications and training

Essential

• NMC registration
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Knowledge of child development

Desirable

• MSPP/ENB 998 or other relevant teaching/assessment qualification
• SCPHN qualification (health visitor or school nurse)

Experience

Essential

• Interest in health promotion, child health and family support
• Experience working within 0-19 Service.
• Experience of undertaking statutory health assessments for Children in Care
• Demonstrate awareness of issues surrounding confidentiality
• Evidence of assessment of care needs, planning, implementation and evaluation of care plans

Desirable

• Experience of working in a healthcare or early years setting with Multi-disciplinary Teams
• Can demonstrate a good understanding of the social and cultural sensitivities that may affect children/families

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• Written and oral communication skills, to include record keeping, report writing, data collection, and evaluations. IT literate and knowledge of MS applications.
• Ability to communicate effectively with young children and their parents/carers. Good inter-personal, influencing and negotiating skills
• Evidence of critical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
• Understanding of the NHS and current health policies and priorities
• Good time management skill. Ability to prioritise own workload in order to meet deadlines.
• Ability to work flexibly as part of a team/ability to work independently using own initiative

Desirable

• Ability to communicate with people from different ethnic groups in a manner which is consistent with the level of understanding of culture, background and preferred ways of communicating
• Presentation skills, audit and evaluation skills, advanced IT skill (MS word, Excel, SystmOne)
• Ability to identify/develop health promotion activities

Safeguarding

Essential

• Ability to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people/vulnerable adults
• Appreciates the significance of safeguarding and interprets this accurately for all individual children and young people/vulnerable adults whatever their life circumstances.

Desirable

• Compliant with safeguarding level 3 training
• Knowledge of relevant legislation relating to Children in Care e.g. The Children Act (1989, 2004), Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000, Adoption and Children Act 2002, Children and Families Act 2014

Working within Professional Boundaries

Essential

• Accepts responsibility and accountability for own work and can define the responsibilities of others
• Recognises the limits of own authority within the role and seeks/uses professional support appropriately
• Demonstrates professional curiosity and understands the principle of confidentiality

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).