JOB DESCRIPTION Job Title: Division/Department: Responsible to: Accountable to: Looked After Children Nurse Womens & Children Division / ESCAN Specialist Looked After Children s Nurse Specialist Looked After Children s Nurse Band: 7 Hours: 37.5 Location: Carmelita House, Ealing In order to meet the needs of the Trust s services you may be required from time to time to work at different locations to your normal place of work. JOB SUMMARY The post holder will work as part of an integrated Looked After Children s Team, working closely with the Specialist Nurse and Looked After Children Medical Advisor to meet the health needs of looked after children, to include those in pre adoptive placements. To ensure that services are delivered in a sensitive and age appropriate way that recognises the importance of choice and diversity as recommended in the Statutory Guidance on promoting the health and well-being of Looked after Children (DH 2015) and Promoting the quality of life of looked-after children and young people (NICE/SCIE 2010) To manage a defined caseload of Looked After Children, have the ability to work across all age ranges <18, according to service requirements. To conduct statutory review health assessments ensuring that their health needs are holistically assessed resulting in appropriate health care plans and interventions which are implemented and monitored. These assessments will require the post holder to travel to children placed away from Ealing. To provide expert clinical advice and support to Looked After Children, Young People and their Carers to improve health outcomes. To work in partnership with a variety of colleagues in Health, Social Care, Education, Statutory and Independent Sectors to ensure a coordinated and holistic approach to improve health outcomes for Looked After Children (Every Child Matters 2002; Healthy Care 2005).
KEY RESPONSIBILITY Contributing to the delivery and development of specialist health services to improve overall outcomes for looked after children. Consultation & Liaison To work collaboratively, with Social Services, in providing support to Looked after children and their Carers. To act as a specialist resource, providing clinical advice, support and consultation to colleagues within Health, Children s social care, CAMHS and those from partner agencies working with Looked After Children Be a key health contact for service users - children, young people and their carers To act as a point of contact for out of borough Looked After Children health teams who have Ealing children placed in their local area or who have children placed in Ealing. To act as representative, at multi agency meetings Teaching, Training and Supervision To receive clinical supervision, in accordance with Trust supervision policy and clinical governance standards and the codes of practice and guidelines of NMC. To receive Child Protection supervision from the Children s safeguarding team To contribute to the development and maintenance of the highest professional standards of practice, through active participation in internal and external Continuous Professional Development (CPD) and training programs, in consultation with the post holder s professional and line manager. To play a key role in the coordination and communication of any activity, including education, relating to the health of Looked After Children and Young People. To provide training to key partner agencies such as social workers, foster carers, universal services.
To attend community workshops, study days and conferences and appropriate meetings as agreed with the line manager in order to keep up to date with current nursing practice and developments in the field and by reading relevant publications, Ensuring regular updating of own professional needs Management responsibilities To provide clinical leadership for any practitioners working with Looked After Children and Young People. To provide support to Specialist LAC Nurse with line management duties To deputise for the Specialist LAC Nurse, as required To be involved in the development, implementation, monitoring and review of Trust policy, practice guidance (2009) and systems required to support promoting the Health of Looked After Children and Young People. To identify gaps in services and influence the planning, commissioning and delivery of services for Looked After Children and propose and implement service developments to address such gaps. To review and interpret National policy and guidance on behalf of Ealing and provide guidance and recommendations for local service delivery. To work in partnership with the Safeguarding Children s Team in the development of new and existing interrelated policies, guidelines, practice and systems relating to Looked After Children and Young People. To work in partnership with operational managers and other senior Nurses and Doctors to ensure consistent implementation of Looked After Children. Procedures. Clinical To be accountable for and maintain a defined clinical caseload and to assess health needs of looked after children with a child centred holistic framework, in line with the Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their families (2000). To act as an advocate for Looked After Children and Young People. To use appropriate interventions to meet the mental health needs of for Looked After Children and Young People, in keeping with own professional/acquired skills.
To acquire and maintain knowledge of the full range of community resources and make referrals as appropriate. To arrange and implement high quality health assessments and devise a comprehensive health care plans for Looked After Children enabling the health care plan to influence the provision of care. To play a key role in the immunisation and vaccination programmes in order to increase immunisation uptake for Looked After Children. To act as a point of contact for Looked After Children health teams who have either Ealing children placed in their local area or who have children placed in Ealing. To travel to other boroughs as required ensuring effective assessment, continuity of care and implementation of health care plans. To play a key role in the development of clinical audits, standard setting and research, undertaking appropriate studies as relevant. To maintain contemporaneous, accurate, high quality and legible records, complete and signed according to Trust Policy To provide health representation at multi-agency meetings. Research and Service Evaluation / Development: To keep up to date with research and developments of legislation or national and local policies within the looked after children field. To contribute to service development, including audit and service evaluation, to help develop and improve service provision to young people, their families and their wider network. To actively seek and ascertain the views of children and young people and their families/carers, in relation to service development and delivery. Communication: Promote and contribute to effective interagency liaison and collaborative practice to a broad range of individuals and audiences using excellent communication and representation skills. Receive and present highly complex information in a professional manner to team members, health and social care professionals. Use a variety of communication skills with clients where English is not the first language or when understanding is limited.
To provide and receive highly complex, highly sensitive or highly contentious information where a high level of interpersonal skills are required. This may be because agreement or co-operation is required or because there are barriers to understanding, which is set within the context of a highly emotive service. Create written reports and referrals to appropriate agencies, reflecting specialist knowledge. Deal with initial verbal complaints sensitively, avoiding escalation and attempting to resolve following the Ealing NHS complaints policy. Identify resources ensuring an equitable service e.g. sign/first language interpreters Respond appropriately and promptly to telephone/e-mail messages with accuracy. To enter and access data as required onto electronic records system (RIO). Access to information from Children s Social Care data base (Frameworki). Apply appropriate management strategies for LAC with challenging behaviour. Use a high level of interpersonal and counselling skills to provide and receive sensitive or contentious information to LAC and their carers. Advise health and social care colleagues on confidentiality, consent, information sharing. Demonstrate a high level of persuasion, negotiation and influencing skills when working across statutory/voluntary agencies, to facilitate the optimum outcome for LAC. Use communication skills to involve and evaluate the extent to which LAC, carers and staff are informing the design and/or delivery of the LAC Health Service. Keep a diary for planning and recording all work. Apply critical thinking skills to explain the rational and vision for improving the health of LAC to multi agency partners, local elected counsellors, LAC and carers. Demonstrate diplomacy in a LAC s care knowing how much other professional/s need to know when discussing sensitive past experiences in order to act in their best interest.
Listen to and acknowledge LAC s wishes regarding emotional effects of past and present, reassure, empathise and explain recommendations in an honest, transparent manner. Overcome barriers by understanding all points of view, using conflict resolution skills and a range of mediums including verbal, written and nonverbal communication. Communicate when necessary in an emotive/hostile/antagonistic atmosphere e.g. serious case review, case conference, placement disruption meeting. ADDITIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES INFORMATION GOVERNANCE All NHS workers must abide at all times by the Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice document issued by the Department of Health, and follow the relevant confidentiality and privacy policies specifically adopted by the Trust. Information relating to patients, employees and business of the Trust must be treated in the strictest confidence and under no circumstances should such information be discussed with any unauthorised person(s) or organisations. All information collected, stored and used must be done so in compliance with the Data Protection Act, the Freedom of Information Act (2000) and all relevant Trust Policy. Breaches of confidentiality or information governance protocol may lead to disciplinary action. INFORMATION SECURITY All staff must adhere to the requirements of the Trust s Information Security Policy, which covers the deployment and use of all of the Trust s electronic information systems (i.e. all computers, peripheral equipment, software and data). In serious cases, failure to comply with the Policy may result in disciplinary action and could also result in a criminal offence. HEALTH AND SAFETY AT WORK Act (1974) You are required to take reasonable care for your health, safety and welfare and that of other people who may be affected by your actions or omissions. These responsibilities apply at all times whilst you are at work or on duty and apply to all Trust premises and also whilst working in the community or on any other Trust business. EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND EQUALITIES LEGISLATION It is the policy of London North West Healthcare NHS Trust that no user of service, present or future employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of their sex, perceived or actual sexual orientation, marital status, race, religion or belief, age, creed, colour, nationality, national origin, ethnic origin, or disability, or on the grounds of their association with someone in one of these groups; nor is disadvantaged by any conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justified. PATIENT & PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT Section 11 of the Health & Social Care Act 2001, places a duty on NHS organisations to involve and consult patients, the public and other stakeholders in the planning and ongoing development of services. It is the responsibility of each member of staff, clinical and non-clinical to appropriately involve and consult patients, the public and other stakeholders.
RISK MANAGEMENT You are required to contribute to the control of risk and use the incident reporting system to alert the Trust of incidents or near misses that may compromise the quality of services. CORPORATE / CLINICAL GOVERNANCE It is the duty of every employee to fulfil their individual clinical governance responsibilities and their expected contribution to ensuring that the Trust complies with benchmarked standards for quality of clinical care. INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL-ACQUIRED INFECTION Infection Control is everyone s responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical, are required to adhere to the Trust s Infection Prevention and Control Policies and make every effort to maintain high standards to infection control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Healthcare Associated Infections including MRSA. In particular all staff have the following key responsibilities: Staff must wash their hands or use alcohol hand rub on entry to or exit from all clinical areas and between each patient contact. Staff members have a duty to attend infection control training provided for them by the Trust. Staff members who develop an infection that may be transmissible to patients have a duty to contact Occupational Health. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS We all have a personal and a professional responsibility within the Trust to identify and report abuse. The abuse may be known, suspected, witnessed or be limited to raised concerns. Early recognition is vital to ensuring the patient is safeguarded and any other people (children and vulnerable adults) who may be at risk. The Trust s procedures must be implemented, working in partnership with the relevant authorities. The sharing of information no matter how small is of prime importance in safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an employee of the Trust you have a responsibility to ensure that: a) you are familiar with and adhere to the Trusts procedures and guidelines for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults b) you attend safeguarding awareness training and undertake any additional training in relation to safeguarding relevant to your role. STAFF COMMITMENT TO PATIENT CARE You are expected to ensure that patients needs, experience and safety come first and to treat patients, carers, visitors, and colleagues with dignity and respect. HEALTH RECORDS Clinical staff must keep accurate and clear information which is essential for the proper care of patients. Clinical and non-clinical staff who handle or use, case notes are individually responsible for the confidentiality, tracking, filing and good order of the case note at all times as outlined in the Medical Records Policy and the Information Lifecycle Management Policy. For further information refer to; Department of Health website-records Management; NHS Code of Practice- 2006 NHS CONSTITUTION AND CODE OF CONDUCT FOR MANAGERS Staff are required to act in accordance with the legal duties and expectations relating to their responsibilities to the public, their patients and colleagues set out in section 3b of the NHS Constitution and pages 98-109 of the Handbook to the NHS Constitution. For Managerial staff,
including anyone with supervisory responsibility, the core standards of conduct set out in the NHS Code of Conduct for NHS Managers (2002) or any subsequent amendments. This list is only an indication of the main tasks required to be performed. It is not an exhaustive list of duties and responsibilities and may be subject to amendments to take account of changing circumstances. The Trust reserve the right that you may be required to undertake such other duties and/or hours of work as may reasonably be required of you commensurate with your grade at your normal place of work or from another location within the Trust.
PERSON SPECIFICATION Job Title: Looked After Children Nurse Division/department: Womens & Children / ESCAN REQUIREMENT ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE Education/ Qualifications Current NMC registration Level 1 registered nurse Degree - Specialist paediatric community qualification/school or public health nurse. Evidence of further education in relevant area Teaching qualification Knowledge & Experience Significant experience of working as a paediatric nurse at band 6 with experience working with Looked after children and teenagers. Experience of assessing children, care planning, implementing and reviewing outcomes. Experience of using clinical audit to review service delivery and support service changes within a community setting. Experience of collaborative, multi-agency and multi-disciplinary working to achieve joined up working and optimal outcomes for children. Good working knowledge of SystmOne and other IT skills. Experience of training others Knowledge of local and national child protection policy and legislation. Knowledge of statutory responsibilities regarding looked after children. Knowledge of the health and developmental needs of looked after children and best practice to influence best outcomes. Experience of working with young children with and without emotional and/ or behavioural issues Sensitivity and understanding the needs of Looked after children to include journey into care and age at entry to care. Clinical knowledge relevant to looked after
REQUIREMENT ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE children. Skills, Abilities and Attributes Ability to undertake holistic health assessments, make appropriate referrals, create a personalised health action plans. Provide age appropriate health promotion interventions; act as a resource and signpost/ refer to services and support as required. Understanding and ability to apply an equality and diversity framework in all aspects of the work Commitment to the development of excellent services which focus on improved outcomes the LAC and Care Leaver population. Good self-awareness and an ability to reflect on personal and professional attitudes and accept feedback. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Shares information and good practice appropriately. Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times. Ability to work across disciplines and relay a strong health voice in terms of safeguarding and promoting health outcomes in the LAC arena. Mental effort- High degree. High level of concentration required when planning and delivering services to LAC. Able to manage emotional effort.high degree required working with children and young people who may been victims of physical /emotional abuse with mental health problems. Ability to work in clinic and community settings.
REQUIREMENT ESSENTIAL DESIRABLE Self- motivated, taking responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working. Full valid UK driving licence and use of an insured car for work or willingness to participate in the lease car scheme. Physical ability to carry equipment to community visit Person specifications should be kept to a maximum of 25 bullet points Job description and person specification drafted / amended by: Name: Patricia Rollings Designation: Specialist Lead Looked After Children Nurse Date: 13/01/2017 JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION AGREEMENT Job Holder s Signature Line Manager s Signature Date Date