Job overview
Have you ever considered a role as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (SCPHN) in Health Visiting or School Nursing?
Are you motivated to learn and develop knowledge, skills and critical abilities to provide leadership and innovation in schools and local communities? Would you enjoy the rewards and challenges of leading new ways of working and innovation in preventative health and reducing health inequalities in the community?
As a SCPHN you can make a real difference to children, young people, families and communities. You will play a fundamental role in the development of the Healthy Child Programme 0-19 across Buckinghamshire, promoting development, emotional health and well-being of the child or young person. You will support parents/carers and tackle important public health issues whilst focusing on the child or young person.
“Children and Young People's Services - Working together with our community to ensure every baby, child and young person has the best start in life and the foundations to thrive”
For the practice and placement element of this role you will be aligned to a team within one of the localities across Buckinghamshire. Whilst you will be in one of these areas for the first part of your training, you will be in another locality for the later part of the training period. This is supportive of your experiential learning and exposure to wider communities within our geography.
Main duties of the job
The Public Health Nursing (PHN) team is part of Children’s & Young People’s Service. The PHN’s deliver services to children aged from 0-5 (Health Visiting) & 5-19 (School Nursing).
The purpose of this post is:
As part of the PHN Health Visiting team to learn how to deliver the commissioned service/Healthy Child Programme to children, young people and their families.
To undertake training in line with current NMC Standards to extend the clinical expertise and knowledge required to attain registration as a Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor or School Nurse).
To attend the SCPHN Health Visitor course at the University and complete associated educational assignments.
To complete an assessed Practice Placement within a Buckinghamshire locality as part of the corporate Public Health Nursing team serving a local community.
This is a fixed term post for the duration of the University programme. SCPHN students are allocated a Practice Assessor and Practice Supervisor for the duration of the programme and are considered supernumerary throughout. Students are employees of Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust and, as such, are bound by the terms and conditions of employment.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.
If you are an internal applicant there is the option for secondment, all applicants must have the endorsement/support of their line manager prior to application.
If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance, please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.
Person specification
Experience
Essential
- Post registration experience
- Community experience or other experience relevant to Health Visiting/School Nursing
- Working with babies, children, young people and families in a variety of settings
- Ability to work within the scope of professional practice and demonstrate safe, effective autonomous decision‑making.
- knowledge and experience of safeguarding children and child protection policies and procedures
- Working in partnership with a wide range of partner agencies.
- Experience of facilitation, training or group work with children, families or professionals
- Experience of audit, service evaluation or quality improvement activity
CARE Values
Essential
- Communicates openly, honestly and professionally, promoting effective team working and strong professional relationships
- Consistently puts children, young people and families first
- Actively drives service improvement.
- Demonstrates strong self‑awareness, reflection and commitment to personal and professional growth.
- Treats children, young people, families, colleagues and partners with compassion, kindness and respect, ensuring people feel valued.
- Consults appropriately, listens to others’ views
- Empowers colleagues to take initiative.
Special Circumstances
Essential
- Ability and willingness to travel to multiple sites across a range of community bases, schools, clinics an family homes
- Flexibility to work across different localities and service delivery models in line with service need.
Skills, Abilities and Knowledge
Essential
- Knowledge of the Public Health role of health visiting/school nursing in community settings
- Knowledge of local and national policies which influence the provision of health visiting/school nursing
- Knowledge and broad understanding of the Public Health agenda for babies, children, young people and their families
- Current knowledge of safeguarding issues and practice
- Knowledge of quality issues, audit process and clinical governance
- Ability to support children and families to make informed decisions in relation to their health and well being
- Demonstrate ability to adapt to changing environments
- Demonstrate knowledge of research based practice
- Evidence of supporting equality and valuing diversity in own practice.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including: Clear, concise verbal and written communication along with appropriate and successful interpersonal skills with children, young
- Ability to manage sensitive, complex or challenging conversations appropriately
- Strong organisational and time‑management skills, with the ability to manage a caseload and competing priorities.
- Ability to write accurate, timely and comprehensive records, reports and referrals.
- Attention to detail
- Ability to demonstrate competence to pursue the programme
- Ability to demonstrate sound judgement, initiative and risk assessment, including triage and escalation where required.
- Commitment to evidence‑based practice and quality improvement
- Ability to work calmly and effectively under pressure.
- Demonstrates leadership behaviours, motivating and supporting others within a team environment
- Competent IT skills and ability to use digital systems for clinical recording, communication and reporting.
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Registered Nurse or Midwife with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Willingness to undertake V100/V300 Nurse Prescribing qualification
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for SCPHN Student (HV/SN) with Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust in Aylesbury, South East, England. It is listed as a Band 5 role. The advertised salary is £32,073 - £39,043 per annum pro rata. The contract type is Fixed term: 12 months (SCPHN course is 12 months). The application deadline is 15 Jul 2026.
Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (01 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.
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