Specialist Child Development Nurse

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 7 Specialist Health Visitor post within the Integrated Community Paediatric Services.

The Specialist Health Visitors are part of a highly specialised multi-disciplinary team working with children who have complex additional needs and their families.

The role will include assessment, support and advice whilst often acting as a key worker for the families. In addition, specialist training and the organisation and delivery of specialist groups/workshops specific to the needs of the children and their families will be a significant part of this role.

It is a small team, including Specialist Nursery Nurses, and the role includes supporting and line managing members of the team.

Please see the Job description for further details and requirements.

The successful candidate will be based at Bury St Edmunds Child Development.

Frequent Travel Essential- You will need to travel, so you must either hold a full, current driving licence and have access to personal transport or meet the mobility requirements of the role through other reasonable and suitable means.

Main duties of the job JOB SUMMARY:

• To work as part of a specialist multi-disciplinary team within the Child Development Centres across Suffolk, for children with complex additional needs and their families.
• To provide specialist and specific advice tailored to the needs of individual children and families that is not provided by universal or other services.
• To carry out assessment, provide support, advice, acting in a key working role if required, giving information, advocacy and training as appropriate.
• Onward referral as appropriate to other health professionals, statutory and voluntary services and education.
• Extend this specialist knowledge to the multi-disciplinary team, Health Visitors, School Nurses and other health professionals.
• To provide supervision and support to other members of the multi-disciplinary team who are working with children with additional needs and their families.
• Act as a resource, network and undertake joint work with relevant statutory and voluntary agencies as indicated.
• Maintain knowledge of relevant national and local policies and research and participate in changing practice in line with best practice in consultation with management and the wider teams.
• Monitor and evaluate service provision and contribute to service development as required.
• Organise and deliver specialist teaching and training programmes to both families and colleagues as appropriate.
• Plan and deliver workshops/clinics regarding the specific needs of the client group as required.

About us at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community

We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.

The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.

Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.

We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.

With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.

We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can for whoever you are.

Join us. What will you for?

Job responsibilities RESPONSIBILITIES: The role requires the post holder to:

Communication

• Proactively maintain a two-way reporting system with the multi-disciplinary team the universal health visitor service, education and social care services staff to ensure the effective exchange of essential information for children referred to the CDC, in line with confidentiality, data protection and child protection legislation.
• Participate in the Multi-Disciplinary Assessment (MDA) of the child. Contribute findings both orally and in a written report in feedback sessions to parent(s) and team as per team protocol.
• Support families pre, during and post the MDA process in particular around the time of diagnosis.
• Provide information to parents about diagnosis and service availability appropriate to the family and specific for the disability of the child.
• Participate in meetings of parent and professionals for the sharing of information, review of services and planning for the future.
• Liaise with and refer to appropriate agencies when indicated.
• Act as an advocate for the child and family in supporting access to services and financial benefits and challenging negative decisions when appropriate.
• Provide training/groups/clinics for children and their families individually, in small groups and through specialist programmes as necessary.
• Maintain knowledge of conditions and services using IT skills, liaison and networking.
• Act as professional support for the family when necessary.

Personal and people development

• To adhere to the NMC code of professional conduct and be aware of the Scope of Professional Practice and NMC advisory papers.
• Continue to update on current and developing practice and legislation in the case of children with special needs and their impact in the delivery of services.
• Critically appraise and use relevant research to inform clinical models of practice to ensure care in innovative and of a high standard.
• Develop and maintain specialist skills and knowledge in relation to the needs of children with complex special needs and their families.
• Undertake education/training in accordance with continued professional development and/or the authority to ensure professional competence.
• Maintain all mandatory training.
• Participate in the Trust appraisal process. Through the appraisal and self-evaluation, identify own training needs and agree training/education requirements in order to maintain expertise, knowledge and develop new skills.
• Undertake regular clinical supervision and safeguarding children supervision.
• Undertake annual Personal Development Plans and clinical supervision of Specialist Nursery Nursing staff working within the CDC.
• Access Specialist Health Visitor groups as appropriate.
• Share examples of good practice with local teams to inform practice.
• Act as consultancy role for colleagues, Health Visitors, School Nurses and Integrated Teams.
• Create a suitable environment for learning to take place. Be involved in any teaching/training of students, learners and colleagues from any relevant professional body.
• Contribute to the Induction Programme for new staff.
• Provide training to students/colleagues when requested.

Person Specification Education & Qualification

• Registered Nurse (Adult/Child/MH/LD) and Registered HV as SCPHN.
• Evidence of recent continuing professional development.
• Teaching or mentorship qualification.
• Counselling Certificate

Experience & Knowledge

• n depth knowledge of child development and assessment.
• Understanding of additional/complex needs in relation to children.
• Understanding the impact on families of having a child with complex health needs.
• Experience working with children who have complex health needs.
• Recognition and understanding of current national policy and guidelines relating to children with additional needs and their families.
• Good understanding of safeguarding children policies and procedures.
• Understanding of clinical governance and quality standards.
• Understanding of the National SEND code of practice.
• Experience using standardised tools for assessment and development.
• Experience of group facilitation eg) Early Bird.
• Attendance to courses relevant to children with additional needs.
• Working with children and families in a variety of settings.
• Experience of co-production with families in service development and care planning.

Skills & Abilities

• Minimum of 2 years Health Visitor post registration experience.
• Excellent communication skills both written and verbal.
• Good observational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• To develop and maintain effective multi agency networks.
• Ability to manage own time and workload/caseload effectively.
• Ability to offer supervision and support to other team members.
• Ability to fulfil the travelling requirements of the post across the County.
• Confident to chair multi-disciplinary meetings including effectively contributing to professional panels and multi-agency groups.
• Knowledge of SystmOne.

Personal Qualities

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