Ambitious About Autism / Ambitious About Autism Schools Trust

Lead Nurse

The closing date is 07 September 2025

Job summary

We are seeking adedicated and experiencedSchool Lead Nurseto join our team at Treehouse School. In this pivotal role, you will lead and manage safe, effective, and person-centred medical care for all children and young people requiring medications or medical interventions.

You will be responsible for overseeing care planning, training, auditing, and ensuring continuous quality improvement. Learning from incidents and embedding best practice will be central to your approach.

Main duties of the job

Key Responsibilities:

  • Lead and manage safe medication and medical intervention practices.
  • Develop, review, and monitor care plans to ensure the highest standards of care.
  • Deliver training to staff on medication administration and medical procedures.
  • Conduct relevant audits and analyse findings to drive service improvement.
  • Embed learning from incidents into everyday practice.

About You:

  • Registered Nurse (current NMC registration).
  • Strong leadership and organisational skills.
  • Experience working with children or young people in a healthcare or educational setting.
  • Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities.
  • Commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

This is a fantastic opportunity for an individual who would like to work for a forward-thinking, open and honest organisationand make a real impact to the young people we work with.

In return, we offer excellent benefits including flexible working, very generous holiday allowances, access to professional development and more.

Please see the fullrecruitment pack on the link below. If you are also able to include some examples of yourwork within your application, that would also be of use.

https://jobs.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/jobs/vacancy/lead-nurse-muswell-hill/1080/description/

About us

TreeHouse Schooleducates up to 100 pupils aged 3-19 with autism and learning disabilities from across London and the Home Counties.

It's a non-maintained special school based in Muswell Hill and was the first school set up by Ambitious about Autism in 1997.

The school works hand in hand with parents and carers, local schools, community groups and employers to maximise opportunities for pupils to enjoy school, succeed in their learning and transition to a fulfilling and rewarding adult life.

TreeHouse School's curriculum is tailored to each pupil's unique qualities, specific needs and individual starting points. It's creative and flexible and uses the surrounding natural environment to extend pupils' learning. Where appropriate, the curriculum is linked to and, where necessary, differentiated from the national curriculum requirements.

The school's highly skilled trans-disciplinary team includesqualified teachers, behaviour analysts, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists who work together to achieve outstanding outcomes.

Details

Date posted

18 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,000 to £48,000 a year (Depending on skills and experience)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

N0030-1062

Job locations

The Pears National Centre for Autism

Woodside Avenue

London

N10 3JA


Job description

Job responsibilities

Role purpose

As the School Lead Nurse, you will provide management for all children and young people requiring medications and medical interventions. You will lead and manage safe medication and medical intervention practices through care planning, training and relevant audit and analysis where required. Learning from incidents will be embedded into your practice and will support quality improvements when necessary.

Communication:

Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of using their preferred mode of communication)

Communicate professionally with external stakeholders, families and the MDT teams involved in the pupils care.

Communicate regularly and effectively with the Headteacher and Assistant Head

Maintain clear and concise documents and care records, in accordance with Treehouse school policies and procedures and in line with NMC guidelines.

Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.

Attending regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team to discuss individual children/young people and the service in general.

Develop and promote relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.

Organisation:

Manage time effectively, ensuring appropriate and effective prioritization of workload.

Ensure that the medical room, the systems, and processes for supporting pupils medical needs are well organised, compliant and safe.

Report, collect and collate data using IT.

Reporting and writing reports.

In line with the Complaints Policy and Duty of Candour, manage both informal and formal complaints (if and when they occur) taking immediate action if appropriate and liaising with the Multidisciplinary Team as required.

Main responsibilities

Be aware of pupils EHCPs, the content and the health provisions in these.

Ensure care plans are up to date and include information to meet minimum DFE guidelines

Ensure the safe custody and administration of medication and reports any discrepancies

Ensure adequate medical supplies are available for the day pupils and always adhere to safe storage of these.

Act as a role model for other members of the team, disseminating their skills as appropriate.

To be the Designated Safeguarding lead for the school in the absence of the lead.

Utilise evidence-based practice and research, to inform care treatments that lead to the desired outcomes for children.

Involved in the audit process and suggest necessary changes in line with clinical audit; positively assist with implementation.

Provide audit data and relevant written analysis for reporting purposes i.e., Governing Body, Education Committee papers once per term.

Plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions and health promotional developments.

Maintains clear and identified professional boundaries at all times.

Attend statutory meetings as and when required (Child In Need, Best Interest, Annual Reviews, Child Looked After etc)

Write medical reports for pupils for Annual Reviews as and when required.

Welfare Duties

Be the first point of contact for pupils who have on-going medical needs.

Carry out first aid for pupils and refer more serious cases to paramedics, providing transport to home or hospital as required.

Inform parents of such situations and arrange for the student to be accompanied to hospital (by the Welfare Officer when necessary)

Advise relevant staff members if a student needs to be sent home or to hospital.

To oversee the arrangements for medical, and any other health related visits by professionals

Liaise with the medical professionals regarding arrangements for individual Healthcare plans

Co-ordination of immunisation program with vaccination team and ensuring relevant staff/pupils and parents are informed in order for necessary actions to be put into place.

Co-ordinate the medical register and update medical records on SIMS and ensure staff are aware of relevant information relating to pupils including delivering training

To complete and process accident forms as required and advise the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) where appropriate.

Oversee and maintain the list of staff who are trained in First Aiders and emergency medication trained, ensuring training is updated.

Record all treatment given at school to pupils

Be responsible for the safekeeping of medication to pupils who need regular supervised treatment during school hours as advised by parents.

Purchase and maintain first aid supplies throughout the school.

Be aware of the location of all first aid boxes across the school and to ensure identified staff are aware of the locations of all first aid boxes

Maintain and supply details of medical, accident and treatment records for pupils in accordance with current requirements.

Maintain the medical room and its contents in a secure, safe, and tidy manner

Oversee the first aid budget

Support pupils with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy and tube feeds and flushes

Training and professional development

Identify future development needs of self and across the school team where they support medical giving / interventions.

Audit, identify, plan and deliver relevant training to staff to ensure that there are always a sufficient number of staff trained to meet pupils needs. Lead in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Appropriately prepare for Performance & Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development. Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with policy changes as they occur.

Ensure that practice delivery is evidence based.

Attend in school mandatory training, as directed by Line Manager, and take personal responsibility to ensure underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies are maintained and further developed, to carry out the role effectively.

Health and Safety

Take care of own health and safety

Take care of the health and safety of others

Always comply with the organisations manual handling procedures.

Work collaboratively with Line Manager and colleagues on health and safety matters.

Does not interfere with anything that is provided to safeguard health and safety.

Complies with the organisations Health and Safety Policy and Procedures

Complies with the organisations Infection prevention and Control policy and procedures.

Use the Incident Reporting & Risk Assessment system BehaviourWatch to identify and report risks and incidents/actions.

Safely assess tasks prior to undertaking them.

Additional duties

Demonstrate a continual commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

To uphold Ambitious about Autism policies to protect and safeguard pupils in order to secure their health, safety and wellbeing.

Demonstrate a continual commitment to the promotion of diversity initiatives and the sharing of best practice in line with Ambitious about Autisms Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and procedures.

Ensure the highest degree of confidentiality and data protection of all materials

Demonstrate the vision and values of Ambitious about Autism in everyday work and practice, upholding the ethos of challenge and support where all pupils/learners can reach their full potential and maximise their engagement in learning.

This job description is not exhaustive and reflects the type and range of tasks responsibilities and outcomes associated with the role. The post holder will be expected to also complete any tasks, as requested by the Head of School.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Role purpose

As the School Lead Nurse, you will provide management for all children and young people requiring medications and medical interventions. You will lead and manage safe medication and medical intervention practices through care planning, training and relevant audit and analysis where required. Learning from incidents will be embedded into your practice and will support quality improvements when necessary.

Communication:

Communicate effectively with children/young people (applying the principles of using their preferred mode of communication)

Communicate professionally with external stakeholders, families and the MDT teams involved in the pupils care.

Communicate regularly and effectively with the Headteacher and Assistant Head

Maintain clear and concise documents and care records, in accordance with Treehouse school policies and procedures and in line with NMC guidelines.

Ensure documents are managed confidentially at all times.

Attending regular meetings with the Multidisciplinary Team to discuss individual children/young people and the service in general.

Develop and promote relationships with both internal and external stakeholders.

Recognise barriers to effective communication and be able to reduce these as appropriate.

Organisation:

Manage time effectively, ensuring appropriate and effective prioritization of workload.

Ensure that the medical room, the systems, and processes for supporting pupils medical needs are well organised, compliant and safe.

Report, collect and collate data using IT.

Reporting and writing reports.

In line with the Complaints Policy and Duty of Candour, manage both informal and formal complaints (if and when they occur) taking immediate action if appropriate and liaising with the Multidisciplinary Team as required.

Main responsibilities

Be aware of pupils EHCPs, the content and the health provisions in these.

Ensure care plans are up to date and include information to meet minimum DFE guidelines

Ensure the safe custody and administration of medication and reports any discrepancies

Ensure adequate medical supplies are available for the day pupils and always adhere to safe storage of these.

Act as a role model for other members of the team, disseminating their skills as appropriate.

To be the Designated Safeguarding lead for the school in the absence of the lead.

Utilise evidence-based practice and research, to inform care treatments that lead to the desired outcomes for children.

Involved in the audit process and suggest necessary changes in line with clinical audit; positively assist with implementation.

Provide audit data and relevant written analysis for reporting purposes i.e., Governing Body, Education Committee papers once per term.

Plan, implement and evaluate nursing interventions and health promotional developments.

Maintains clear and identified professional boundaries at all times.

Attend statutory meetings as and when required (Child In Need, Best Interest, Annual Reviews, Child Looked After etc)

Write medical reports for pupils for Annual Reviews as and when required.

Welfare Duties

Be the first point of contact for pupils who have on-going medical needs.

Carry out first aid for pupils and refer more serious cases to paramedics, providing transport to home or hospital as required.

Inform parents of such situations and arrange for the student to be accompanied to hospital (by the Welfare Officer when necessary)

Advise relevant staff members if a student needs to be sent home or to hospital.

To oversee the arrangements for medical, and any other health related visits by professionals

Liaise with the medical professionals regarding arrangements for individual Healthcare plans

Co-ordination of immunisation program with vaccination team and ensuring relevant staff/pupils and parents are informed in order for necessary actions to be put into place.

Co-ordinate the medical register and update medical records on SIMS and ensure staff are aware of relevant information relating to pupils including delivering training

To complete and process accident forms as required and advise the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) where appropriate.

Oversee and maintain the list of staff who are trained in First Aiders and emergency medication trained, ensuring training is updated.

Record all treatment given at school to pupils

Be responsible for the safekeeping of medication to pupils who need regular supervised treatment during school hours as advised by parents.

Purchase and maintain first aid supplies throughout the school.

Be aware of the location of all first aid boxes across the school and to ensure identified staff are aware of the locations of all first aid boxes

Maintain and supply details of medical, accident and treatment records for pupils in accordance with current requirements.

Maintain the medical room and its contents in a secure, safe, and tidy manner

Oversee the first aid budget

Support pupils with Percutaneous Endoscopic Gastrostomy and tube feeds and flushes

Training and professional development

Identify future development needs of self and across the school team where they support medical giving / interventions.

Audit, identify, plan and deliver relevant training to staff to ensure that there are always a sufficient number of staff trained to meet pupils needs. Lead in-service competency training programmes and teaching sessions, as appropriate.

Appropriately prepare for Performance & Development Reviews, identifying learning objectives and setting targets; identify opportunities for professional development. Read and implement all policies, procedures, and risk assessments pertinent to working practice and keep up to date with policy changes as they occur.

Ensure that practice delivery is evidence based.

Attend in school mandatory training, as directed by Line Manager, and take personal responsibility to ensure underpinning knowledge, skills and competencies are maintained and further developed, to carry out the role effectively.

Health and Safety

Take care of own health and safety

Take care of the health and safety of others

Always comply with the organisations manual handling procedures.

Work collaboratively with Line Manager and colleagues on health and safety matters.

Does not interfere with anything that is provided to safeguard health and safety.

Complies with the organisations Health and Safety Policy and Procedures

Complies with the organisations Infection prevention and Control policy and procedures.

Use the Incident Reporting & Risk Assessment system BehaviourWatch to identify and report risks and incidents/actions.

Safely assess tasks prior to undertaking them.

Additional duties

Demonstrate a continual commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

To uphold Ambitious about Autism policies to protect and safeguard pupils in order to secure their health, safety and wellbeing.

Demonstrate a continual commitment to the promotion of diversity initiatives and the sharing of best practice in line with Ambitious about Autisms Equality, Diversity and Inclusion policy and procedures.

Ensure the highest degree of confidentiality and data protection of all materials

Demonstrate the vision and values of Ambitious about Autism in everyday work and practice, upholding the ethos of challenge and support where all pupils/learners can reach their full potential and maximise their engagement in learning.

This job description is not exhaustive and reflects the type and range of tasks responsibilities and outcomes associated with the role. The post holder will be expected to also complete any tasks, as requested by the Head of School.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Good organisational skills
  • Experience and knowledge to develop / own care plans
  • Ability train and upskill staff to relevant competencies where necessary (or source relevant training)
  • Review care and medical based policies
  • Ability to give constructive feedback and support others to improve practice
  • Good analytical skills
  • Experience in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead in a setting for young adults with complex autism and/or learning disabilities
  • A good understanding of our approach to debriefing
  • Proven experience of working with or in specialist education provision for children and young people with SEND, including autism
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Strong influencing skills
  • Ability to plan, manage and deliver work to agreed deadlines
  • Clear understanding of our approach to safeguarding and what that means for the pupils and staff at TreeHouse School
  • Good appreciation of health and safety in the workplace, data protection and principles of equal opportunities
  • Computer literate with working knowledge of all Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
  • Personal attributes
  • Person centered in their thinking
  • Interpersonal skills and the ability to lead and build effective partnerships with individuals and organisations
  • A person of integrity, able to work confidentially and sensitively and have excellent interpersonal skills. You will be flexible and able to work under pressure, with good communication skills.
  • Ensure the highest degree of confidentiality and data protection of all materials
  • Good appreciation of health and safety in the workplace, data protection principles and equal opportunities.

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1. BSc in Nursing and must be registered with NMC
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Good organisational skills
  • Experience and knowledge to develop / own care plans
  • Ability train and upskill staff to relevant competencies where necessary (or source relevant training)
  • Review care and medical based policies
  • Ability to give constructive feedback and support others to improve practice
  • Good analytical skills
  • Experience in the role of Designated Safeguarding Lead in a setting for young adults with complex autism and/or learning disabilities
  • A good understanding of our approach to debriefing
  • Proven experience of working with or in specialist education provision for children and young people with SEND, including autism
  • Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal
  • Strong influencing skills
  • Ability to plan, manage and deliver work to agreed deadlines
  • Clear understanding of our approach to safeguarding and what that means for the pupils and staff at TreeHouse School
  • Good appreciation of health and safety in the workplace, data protection and principles of equal opportunities
  • Computer literate with working knowledge of all Word, Excel and PowerPoint
  • Ambitious about Autism is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment
  • Personal attributes
  • Person centered in their thinking
  • Interpersonal skills and the ability to lead and build effective partnerships with individuals and organisations
  • A person of integrity, able to work confidentially and sensitively and have excellent interpersonal skills. You will be flexible and able to work under pressure, with good communication skills.
  • Ensure the highest degree of confidentiality and data protection of all materials
  • Good appreciation of health and safety in the workplace, data protection principles and equal opportunities.

Qualifications

Essential

  • 1. BSc in Nursing and must be registered with NMC

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).

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.

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

Ambitious About Autism / Ambitious About Autism Schools Trust

Address

The Pears National Centre for Autism

Woodside Avenue

London

N10 3JA


Employer's website

https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

Ambitious About Autism / Ambitious About Autism Schools Trust

Address

The Pears National Centre for Autism

Woodside Avenue

London

N10 3JA


Employer's website

https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Stephen Vickers

svickers@ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk

02088155439

Details

Date posted

18 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£42,000 to £48,000 a year (Depending on skills and experience)

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

N0030-1062

Job locations

The Pears National Centre for Autism

Woodside Avenue

London

N10 3JA


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