Health Visitor

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

1.To support delivery of the Healthy Child Programme using evidence based practice to actively promote the health of children and young people.

2.To be a named / link nurse for designated schools/ early years settings whilst holding a caseload which incorporates the 4 levels of intervention (Community, Universal, Universal Plus and Universal Partnership Plus).

3.To deliver and engage in health promotion programmes and public health initiatives to prevent ill health, early identification of abnormalities and work with all clients in the 0-19 service and communities to reduce health inequalities as identified within individual Health Plans.

4.To conduct health needs assessments in the home, school, clinics or community settings in a planned programme of care within a variety of settings.

5.Offer appropriate interventions, delivering agreed programmes of care and evaluating the outcomes for the child, young person and family.

6.Plan and implement school entry assessments delegating duties as appropriate.

7.Plan and implement health assessment at transition from primary to secondary school delegating duties as appropriate.

8.Undertake comprehensive health assessments for identified babies, children and young people, including annual and bi annual health assessments for those in local authority care in line with the Healthy Child Programme for children 0-19 years of age.

9.Establish clear and effective communication links with children and young

people, parents/carers, education staff, and a range of other professionals from both voluntary and statutory organisations.

10.Communicate outcomes of assessment and future care planning to the named SCPHN health visitor or SCPHN school nurse

11.Carry out home visits to children and families advising on all aspects of health as appropriate.

12.Participate in health needs assessment of the local community, contributing to the planning, implementation and evaluation of strategies to address unmet health needs.

13.To identify and assess children 0-19 with complex health needs, offering an enhanced integrated service within the multi-agency arena.

14.To assess the needs of children and families following attendance at A&E, discharge from hospital working within trust guidelines.

15.To identify, assess, report and work independently with oversight from the SCPHN School Nurse or SCPHN Health Visitor to safeguard and protect the health and wellbeing of children and young people working within safeguarding policies and guidelines. To attend Child Protection case conferences and other meetings as appropriate.

16.To provide on-going support for children and young people in care including the statutory health assessment and on-going review.

17.Listen appropriately and take into account any sensitive issues and communicate these to appropriate persons/agencies ensuring that children are protected and that disclosures are acted upon appropriately.

18.Feedback the views and needs of children/young people, families and schools to the named SCPHN School Nurse/SCPHN Health Visitor as necessary, to enable appropriate interventions to be implemented.

19.Ensure efficient and effective use of resources.

20.Support the delivery of nurse led immunisation programmes as service needs, following patient group directions and actively promoting the National and Local Immunisation Programmes to families.

21.To work in collaboration with other agencies to deliver services to children, young people and their families.

Clinical

1.Maintain active status on NMC register acting in accordance with the professional code and guiding documents in adherence with Revalidation Framework.

2.Maintain contemporaneous, factual records in accordance with Trust guidelines and policies.

3.Be aware of current working practices in accordance with Trust policies and procedures.

4.Use their own professional judgement to identify solutions to a range of day-to-day problems, seeking advice where appropriate from the SCPHN

5.Manage their time effectively to ensure prioritisation of workload in order to achieve agreed deadlines.

6.Be responsible for own professional updating and keep abreast of current research based practice.

7.Develop a working knowledge and experience of IT systems

8.Observing the complaints and disciplinary procedures in accordance with the Trust policy.

9.Contribute to clinical audit, research and clinical governance as part of the 0-19 public health nursing Team.

10.Participate in and complete the agreed induction programme for newly appointed staff

11.Manage time with the team leader and team to ensure service is covered.

12.Report sickness absence and return relevant forms to line manager.

13.Maintain portfolio of professional development.

Leadership:

1.Act to maintain an appropriate learning environment to meet the educational and developmental needs of student nurses and other learners as required

2.Support other nurses and staff within the team, including the induction of new staff members. Ensure effective learning experience and opportunities to achieve learning outcomes for skill mix team.

3.Develop and contribute to the development and implementation of policies, procedures and guidelines relevant to own area of work. Provide advice where services are developing.

Supervision and Development

1.The post holder will be able to recognise their own level of professional competence and identify sources of support as required.

2.Provide mentorship, preceptorship and clinical supervision to staff as appropriate.

3.Support the development of the team by teaching and assessing junior members of the team.

4.Undertake mandatory and statutory training that support the post holders role.

5.Undertake training specific to the post.

6.Participate in individual performance reviews (PDR) and clinical supervision.

Communication

1.Communicate effectively with individuals, families and professionals in planning and delivering care.

2.Utilise a range of communication methods with colleagues and managers to include electronic communication.

3.Ensure data for KPI is submitted within expected deadlines.

4.Maintain effective working relationships, work effectively and support team members.

5.Participate in formal and informal ways of communication both within the team and the wider primary care setting where appropriate.

6.Work in partnership with school staff, health colleagues and other agencies e.g. Education and Social Services.

7.Maintain contemporaneous and accurate Bridgewater Community NHS Trust records observing the Data Protection Act 1994, maintaining confidentiality, in accordance with NMC and Trust guidelines

This job description is an outline of the role and responsibilities. From time to time, due to the needs of the service, we may ask you to flexibly undertake other duties that are consistent with your role and banding.

The 0-19 service is commissioned to deliver a service 8am-8pm and offering weekend delivery, dependant on the needs of the service.

As the 0-19 service is delivered across Halton you will have a base for administrative purposes only, as we may ask you to deliver a service from a variety of bases dependent on needs of the service.

Person Specification

Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Good communicator, both written and verbal
• Active listener
• Reflection skills
• Self Motivated
• Flexible/adaptable approach
• Empowering skills
• Able to assess health needs of a population.
• Ability to work under pressure/ to tight deadlines
• Able to work equally well alone as in a team.
• Innovative and creative approach to care

Experience

Essential

• Experience of multi- disciplinary and multi-agency working.

Desirable

• Experience of working in the Community.
• Evidence of Health Promotion role in previous work experience

Relationships

Essential

• If you are related to a director, or have a relationship with a director or employee of an appointing organisation, please state the relationship:

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse.
• Community Specialist Practitioner in Public Health
• (Health Visitor).
• First level degree.
• Nurse Prescriber.

Desirable

• Teaching/mentoring qualification.

Sponsorship

Essential

• Do you have the right to stay and work in the UK without sponsorship (share-codes will be checked if applicable)

Job Specific Requirements

Essential

• The ability to travel independently across the Trust.
• Ability to work weekends/evenings according to Service requirements as part of an all year round Service.
• The ability to work flexibly from a number of bases in Halton and provide cover in accordance with Service needs

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Bridgewater NHS

Victoria Square, Victoria Road

Widnes

WA8 7QY

Employer's website

http://bridgewater.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)