Named Nurse Children in Care

Job overview

Due to the maternity leave of the current post holder we are looking for a  highly motivated nurse with experience of children in care with a genuine commitment to promoting the welfare of this population of children and young people. The successful candidate will have substantial experience as a Children in Care nurse with substantial  knowledge of current statutory legislation and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This is a12 month fixed term role for 22.5 hours per week to be worked flexibly and onsite.

As part of Safeguarding and Statutory Services you will be responsible for providing visible leadership, knowledge, and expertise in relation to safeguarding and children in care for all Trust staff.   You will work with a range of multi-disciplinary colleagues as well as external health colleague’s multi-agencies partners such as primary care, Local Authorities, Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Local Safeguarding Adult Boards.

The service is committed to supporting staff to work flexibly whilst providing a high quality service across the Trust.

The post-holder will undertake the statutory role as Named Nurse for Children in Care for the Trust in accordance with the role and competencies outlined within ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2023), and ‘Intercollegiate document - Safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care: Competencies for health care staff’ (2025).

Main duties of the job

Job Summary:

• The Named Nurse role includes the provision of specialist advice and supervision to staff who have direct contact with Children in Care and Care Experienced children and young people. The post holder will ensure a high standard of care is achieved and maintained within the organisation demonstrating effective management and leadership skills.
• The Named Nurse seeks to improve the health outcomes for Children in Care by working with the individual, their carers, the corporate family and the wider community to affect change via innovative practice and collaborative working to stimulate the awareness of the health needs of this client group, influencing policies that affect health and the facilitation of health enhancing activities.
• Undertake the statutory role as Named Nurse for the Trust in accordance with the role and competencies outlined within ‘Working Together to Safeguard Children’ (2023) and ‘Intercollegiate document – Safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care: Competencies for health care staff’ (2025).
• Provide expert advice, support, training, and safeguarding supervision to health staff across the organisation, relating to Children in Care.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The Post Holder will:

• The post holder will operationally lead and manage the Children in Care Health Team within Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust to ensure the Trust as a collective promote physical, mental and social wellbeing for this group of children and young people.
• Provide clear, visible leadership, strategic vision and professional clinical expertise relating to Children in Care, care experienced and adoption.
• The post holder will work closely with external agencies, such as social care managers and teams to ensure effective communication and ensure the services work to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and safeguard Children in Care through the provision of an evidenced based and needs led service.
• The Named Nurse for Children in Care will support all activities necessary to ensure that the organisation meets its responsibilities for children and young people in care.
• The Named Nurse for Children in Care has the responsibility to liaise with professional leads for specialist services, to support development of Children in Care pathways and processes which includes the acute and community services.
• To act as the Named Nurse for Children in Care for the organisation, supporting the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services in advising the Trust Board of their corporate responsibilities for statutory services setting the goals and standards for the organisation.
• Be responsible for directing and supporting the work in relation to Children in Care and Adoption providing advice across the Trust. This may include contributing to multi-agency strategies pertaining to safeguarding and Children in Care.
• To support the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services in leading and line managing a Specialist Children in Care Nursing Team and associated health and social care professionals.
• To provide expert advice and support on a daily basis to a wide-ranging workforce on all aspects of Children in Care and care experienced where matters can be highly complex and in difficult, sensitive and emotive situations.
• To work with the strategic leads for safeguarding, Children in Care, and others to monitor statutory performance indicators, ensuring all of the Trust’s safeguarding policies are robust and reflect national, regional and local policy.
• To support represent the organisation as a member of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCP) and Local Safeguarding Adult Boards (LSABs) their subgroups and other inter-agency forums, providing expert advice.
• To contribute to the Trust response to LSCP for contributions to Rapid Reviews,  Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs), Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs).
• To work collaboratively with other Named Professionals, Designated Professionals, and other agencies within secondary and primary care in support of all activities necessary to ensure that the Alder Hey meets its responsibilities in statutory services.
• Working alongside the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services to provide expert advice, professional guidance, and leadership at a strategic and operational level to support the development and implementation of evidence-based practice.