Job summary
Senior Staff Nurse - Special Schools - Band 6
Full Time / Term Time Only
Opportunities at our Merton & Wandsworth Sites
We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who has experience in community paediatric nursing, children's continence and working in a special school.
The School Nursing Team deliver health care to children and young people with complex health needs attending Perseid schools in Merton, Sherwood Park in Sutton and Greenmead school in Wandsworth. They are responsible for undertaking health assessments, completing and updating care plans, managing emergency situations and providing training for education staff. They complete reports and attend child protection conferences.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will ensure that high quality nursing care is delivered within Perseid special schools across two campuses.
The successful applicant will have the ability to work collaboratively with other health professionals and school staff to support and empower children, young people and their families to improve health and give every child and young person the opportunity to develop their full potential.
About us
Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESTH) provides a range of medical services to approximately 500,000 people living across south west London and north east Surrey.
We serve an area that is reach in diversity, with a mix or urban and rural areas and differing levels of quality of life. We cover some of the most prosperous postcodes in the country as well as some poorer areas. Together with our NHS colleagues in Surrey, Sutton and Merton, we work to make sure that we deliver the best possible care to the communities we serve.
Sutton Health and Care (SHC) was an innovative joint venture between local partner health and social care organisations, which sees community services fully integrated to support the delivery of a new model of care for the people of Sutton. Hosted by ESTH, the model ensures the breaking down of traditional organisational barriers to enable the provision of care that is wrapped around the person.
We pride ourselves in having a highly dedicated team and offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment with a wide range of staff benefits and development opportunities. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our vision and values and can play a crucial role in our ongoing achievements.
Job description
Job responsibilities
General Duties
Develops, promotes and implements integrated working (internal and external) whenever this would improve service delivery options or outcomes for individual children, young people and their families
Ensure that all staff within the team work to SHC and ESTH policies, procedures, standard operating procedures and guidelines within the service area and actively contributes to the proposal of policy or service changes as appropriate
Works closely and collaboratively with the education, health and social care staff
Delegates appropriately to ensure consistent coordinated care
Acts as a specialist practitioner and is a resource to other staff within the department and wider organisation
Leads by example and maintains a high level of professional conduct at all times
Is aware of issues relating to information governance and data security.
Clinical Responsibilities
Be confident and competent in carrying out clinical skills such as administration of medicines and gastrostomy feeds and has experience of working with children and young people with traceostomies
Support the lead clinician for the childrens continence service
Performs effective assessment and plans care according to the identified health needs of individual children and young people and for those accessing the continence service
Review care plans on at least a yearly basis or more frequently if needed
Make onward referrals where appropriate
Attend safeguarding supervision at least termly and additional, where required
Represents the school nursing team in the educational setting
Attend annual educational reviews, child in need meetings, team around the child meetings, professional meetings, child protection case conferences and core group meetings, representing the school nursing team and providing key information to education and social services staff and parents
Comply with infection control policies and procedures in order to minimise and prevent the spread of infection.
Management Responsibilities and Professional Leadership
Ensure team compliance with service delivery according to the commissioned service specification
Support the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget
Ensure staff comply with their obligation to collect and record data in electronic records in a timely manner
Receive and handle any complaints according to SHC and ESTH policy
Work collaboratively with the risk management department to support practitioners in the identification and management of any risks involved with the service and delivery of care
Ensure all staff comply with the incident policy and ensure that all reported incidents for designated areas are fully investigated
Ensure effective communication systems are utilised
Observe and comply with Trust policies and procedures for health and safety ensuring the environment you work in and are responsible for is safe, clean and tidy
Promote equal opportunities in compliance with Trust policies
Ensure that benefits to children and young people are maximised through careful, economical and appropriate use of NHS resources including equipment, property, budget, time etc
Participate in the audit of services to ensure a high level of service delivery and identify areas of improvement.
Education, Training and Personal Development
Develop and implement local orientation, local induction programmes and preceptorship for any new employees to the team
Ensure you are compliant with statutory and mandatory training whilst maintaining an adequate level of service delivery
Work alongside the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to ensure all staff are competent and confident in performing clinical skills associated with their role ensuring any poor performance issues are addressed in line with SHC and ESTH policies
Ensure staff participate in reflective practice to ensure effective problem solving strategies within the team
Complete verification for nursing staff undertaking their revalidation in line with NMC guidelines
Ensure student nurses on clinical placements are allocated trained mentors to support the special school nurses ensuring that placements offer developmental opportunities and are a positive experience.
Working Relationships/Communication
Develop and maintain a highly professional and constructive relationship with the education team within the special needs schools
Maintain good communication with children and young people, parents, carers, staff and other professionals at all times and be able to communicate complex information in an appropriate manner to all
Be able to handle sensitive information and act in a tactful manner when there may be a conflict of interest
Have knowledge of alternative methods of communication such as Makaton, PECS, PODD books etc.
Financial Responsibility/Service Delivery
Be responsible for the issue of childrens continence products ensuring the identified needs of the client is met whilst maintaining the specified budget
Support the Team Leader and senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget for the specified service areas ensuring expenditure remains within the allocated budget.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
1. NMC Registered Nurse (adult, child or learning disabilities)
2. Mentorship qualification or willing to complete
3. Evidence of Continued Professional Development
Desirable
4. Specialist Practitioner Qualification
Experience
Essential
5. Minimum 2 years experience post qualification working with children and young people
6. Evidence of working in a multidisciplinary team
7. Demonstrable understanding of clinical governance
Desirable
8. Previous experience of working in a special school/community setting
9. Previous experience of working with children and young people with severe and profound learning disabilities and complex health needs
10. Experience of carrying out children's and young people's continence assessments and providing continence advice to both with/without disabilities
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
11. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels
12. Leadership skills
13. Holistic assessment skills
14. Effective clinical and clinical reasoning skills
15. Knowledge of current clinical and professional nursing issues relating to special needs school nursing
16. Excellent written skills
17. Ability to work as part of a busy health team, prioritising workload and maintaining high standards at all times
18. Ability to manage sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
19. Ability to have complex and challenging conversations
20. Clear understanding of current national and local agenda
21. Ability to demonstrate evidence based clinical practice
22. Ability to maintain professionalism and work within professional boundaries at all times
23. Ability to document concise and accurate clinical records and write accurate clinical reports
24. Knowledge and experience of clinical audit and clinical governance
25. Knowledge of child protection policies and procedures
26. Good IT skills including the use of MS Office, email and internet
Desirable
27. Knowledge of specialist communication skills signing/core boards/Makaton
28. Previous use of electronic records systems EMIS
Personal Attributes
Essential
29. Highly developed interpersonal skills
30. Flexible, enthusiastic and able to use initiative
31. Recognises individual rights in line with legislation, policy and procedures
32. Ability to motivate others
33. Receptive to change and able to adapt positively
34. A 'can do' attitude
35. Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
General Requirements
Essential
36. Ability to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the service
37. Ability to work alone and as part of a team
Desirable
38. Experience of team management
39. Car driver with full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for business purposes