School Nurse

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1.    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.
2.    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.
3.    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
4.    To assist schools in establishing procedures for medicine management.
5.    To provide and promote appointment clinics for pupils and their families, parent and carer Support Groups, home visits and Health Needs Assessment.
6.    Respond to health needs assessments by referring to other professionals (i.e. GP’s, consultants, mental health team), and statutory and voluntary agencies (i.e: social care).
7.    To support children and young people and their families with emotional and behavioural development.
8.    To advise their client group on the promotion of health and the prevention of illness.
9.    To link practice with local and national targets and deliver public health programmes based on current priorities and targets. 
10.    To plan evidence-based health promotion programmes, order resources, compile teaching plans with aims, objectives and outcomes, and evaluate the sessions.
11.    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.
12.    To work with the Locality Lead to support children, young people and families who are vulnerable or at risk. To adhere to current safeguarding procedures and participate in child protection case conferences and case review meetings as required.
13.    Participate in all statutory processes in respect of safeguarding including provision of witness statements, court reports and court attendance. 
14.    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. 
15.    To clinically triage the single point of access and Chat Health as required in accordance with agreed procedures.
16.    To provide cover for colleagues as requested by your manager.
17.    Demonstrate reflective and evidence-based practice and use this to influence strategy and policy development. 
18.    To be competent as a non-medical prescriber maintaining NMC registration and competencies.
19.    To hold a special interest role and support other staff within the locality and service.
20.    To contribute to the development of local policies and procedures relevant to their area of work.
21.    To take responsibility for their own clinical practice including clinical supervision and to adhere to the NMC code of conduct.
22.    To actively participate in reflective practice development through annual clinical observations.
23.    To maintain live mentor status and contribute to a learning environment for SCPHN’s, return to practice SCPHN’s, new staff members and pre-registration students. 

Communication 

1.    To communicate complex and sensitive information concerning the child or young person’s condition to the child’s parents/carers and young person. Able to communicate effectively using appropriate methods and recognising barriers to communication.
2.    To communicate within the multi-disciplinary team and model effective team working and communication skills, supporting change within the service. 
3.    To develop links with schools, children’s centres and other agencies involved in promoting children’s well-being.
4.    To work closely with other professional teams and key stakeholders including service users, statutory and non-statutory organisations.
5.    To act as first line response to complaints working within national and corporate guidelines.
6.    To contribute to the training of students of nursing and other disciplines, during community experience programmes.

Budgetary Responsibility 

1.    To maintain stock control.
2.    To demonstrate responsible use of resources, with an awareness of budgetary restraints.
3.    To ensure health monitoring equipment is operating to a high standard, maintained and calibrated.
4.    Take responsibility to minimise incurred expenditure e.g. Mileage, telephone calls use of stationary etc.

People Management

1.    To contribute to the training of students of nursing and other disciplines, during community experience programmes.
2.    Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process
3.    To delegate work to other members of the team related to their capabilities and competencies, ensuring there is clarity regarding the feedback mechanisms.
4.    To ensure appropriate delegation, allocation and supervision of work and packages of care to the skill mix team. To include caseload support, monitoring and counter signing records on completion of the allocated intervention work.

Research & Development Activity
 
1.    Contributes to clinical audit and research highlighting unmet needs within the practice population.
2.    Contributes to the maintenance of the Health Profile of the practice population.

Clinical and Practice Governance

1.    Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act.
2.    Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies.   
3.    The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.
4.    The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures.
5.    It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the NMC, and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration.
6.    Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust. 
7.    The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required.
8.    Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team.  
9.    Participate in reflective/ clinical supervision on a regular basis.
10.    Participate and lead caseload review within the locality.  
11.    The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team.
12.    To write records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Cambridgeshire Community Services ‘Record Keeping Policy’.
13.    To participate in clinical pathway developments and service improvements.