Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (School Nurse) in Wisbech

To work as part of a team leading the 019 Healthy Child Programme. The role of the School Nurse is to promote good health and prevent ill health in young people, families and communities. School Nurses do this through raising awareness of and identifying unmet health needs, and initiating, developing, implementing, and evaluating plans of care. The School Nurse will work within a defined area, assessing need, delegating and supervising work within the team. They promote early intervention, health promotion, advocacy, empowerment, social inclusion and the reduction of health inequalities.

The School Nurse works in partnership with young people, families, schools, communities, primary care, statutory & voluntary services and other partner agencies, in order to facilitate health-enhancing activities. School Nurses use and establish networks within the community in order to inform, influence and implement policies which affect health outcomes.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify the health needs of children and young people, their families and the school community and contribute to developing a strategy to address the identified needs in the school and the community.
• To use knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual health care plans and be responsible for the management in school of children with complex health needs.
• To carry out shifts within the 5-19 duty desk receiving all incoming communication and referrals to the service, liaising with key stakeholders, parents/carers and young people.
• To assist schools in establishing procedures for medicine management.
• To provide and promote appointment clinics for pupils and their families, parent and carer Support Groups, home visits and Health Needs Assessment.
• To provide contact with young people via Chat Health text messaging service.
• Respond to health needs assessments by referring to other professionals (i.e.: GPs, consultants, mental health team), and statutory and voluntary agencies (i.e.: social care).
• To support children and young people and their families with emotional and behavioural development.
• To advise their client group on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness.
• To link practice with local and national targets and deliver public health programmes based on current priorities and targets.
• To plan evidence-based health promotion programmes, order resources, compile teaching plans with aims, objectives and outcomes, and evaluate the sessions.
• To act as a health link for other agencies, e.g. Education welfare, OCYPs voluntary services, public and private agencies and work closely with partner agencies to promote the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families.
• To work with the Locality Lead to support children, young people and families who are considered to be vulnerable or at risk.
• To adhere to current safeguarding procedures and participate in child protection case conferences and case review meetings as required.
• Participate in all statutory processes in respect of safeguarding including provision of witness statements, court reports and court attendance.
• Identify children with special educational needs and disability and facilitate support and referrals to maximise developmental potential.
• Act as a key worker when indicated, ensuring effective, efficient and appropriate care plans.
• To clinically triage the single point of access and Chat Health as required in accordance with agreed procedures.
• To provide cover for colleagues as requested by your manager.
• Demonstrate reflective and evidence-based practice and use this to influence strategy and policy development.
• To hold a special interest role and support other staff within the locality and service.
• To contribute to the development of local policies and procedures relevant to their area of work.
• To take responsibility for their own clinical practice including clinical supervision and to adhere to the NMC code of conduct.
• To actively participate in reflective practice development through annual clinical observations.
• To maintain live mentor status and contribute to a learning environment for SCPHNs, return to practice SCPHNs, new staff members and pre-registration students.