Special Schools Nurse - Band 6

Job overview

Special Schools Nurse - Band 6

Islington Additional Needs and Disability Team (IANDS) is a multidisciplinary service for children and young people 0-19.

Our service supports babies, children and young people with additional needs and disabilities.

Main duties of the job

We are looking for a Special School Nurse to be part of our special schools team. This includes Richard Cloudesley school which is an outstanding school for children with physical disabilities and additional sensory needs. Health care management on this site includes enteral feeds, diabetes, epilepsy and medication management.

The role is busy and diverse with no two days the same. You will support children and young people with a variety of special needs to obtain optimum health and gain access to a wide education curriculum. Working closely with the Clinical Lead Special School Nurse, Band 5 School Nurse and Healthcare Assistants, you will deliver personalised support and care for students attending all the special schools in Islington as required.  You will also have a key role in the training of teaching staff, parents and other professionals around the management of children and young people with special needs.

The ideal candidates will have experience in  learning disabilities, and physical disabilities.  You will be working as part of a friendly multidisciplinary teams in supportive environments.  You will be given opportunities to develop skills and knowledge relevant to your role.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

MAIN DUTIES

Role Responsibility:

• To be a member of the special school multi-agency team and share information with team members as directed and appropriate, maintaining confidentiality at all times.
• To work towards helping children and young people with a variety of special needs to obtain optimum health and gain access to a wide education curriculum.
• To act as a resource and point of contact representing the Special School Nursing services to internal and external agencies.
• To maintain accurate school records through accessing the electronic health notes system (currently Rio), filing and organisation in accordance with Whittington Health NHS Trust guidelines.

Clinical Responsibility:

• To assess the health needs of children and young people entering special schools in consultation with health visitors, school nurse colleagues and other health professionals as appropriate.
• To participate and contribute to agreed health surveillance programmes in special schools including annual health reviews, assessing overall developmental progress and health needs.
• To assist the wider special school nursing team in covering support in times of short staffing to children and young people with complex learning and physical needs.
• To maintain up to date accurate health records for all school children and young people and ensure recommendations regarding referrals; treatment and/or review are carried out.
• To prepare and attend meetings for child protection supervision with safeguarding advisors

• To ensure financial transactions are carried out in accordance with Whittington Health NHS Trust’s instruction.
• To maintain stock control for schools, supervising the ordering by the health care assistant, ensuring appropriate checks and records maintained and highlighting any issues to the Team Leader and Clinical Lead Special School Nurse.

Service Development and Improvement

• Implements the policies and procedures that have been determined by IANDS.
• To highlight service provision problems to the Team Leader in order to identify unmet needs and gaps in service provision
• To undertake surveys or audits as directed by the Team Leader or Clinical Lead Special School Nurse.
• To ensure that work areas are well maintained are comply with Health and Safety Guidelines, ensuring the safe use of equipment, cleaning, and storage of materials.

Responsibility for Dealing with Difficult Situations

• To regularly work with children and young people with complex emotional, social and behavioural difficulties.
• To deal sensitively with pupils and their parents, carers, and families who may be distressed.

Revalidation and Registration

It is the responsibility of all staff registered with a professional body to:

• Act within the Professional Bodies Code of Practice
• Maintain their own work profile to ensure revalidation standards are met and assist junior registered staff in achieving revalidation.
• Contribute and participate in the development of colleagues professional practice across the Trust through leading on projects and supporting training.

Infection control

All staff have a responsibility to prevent and control infections within the Whittington.  This includes ensuring personal and team compliance with all relevant policies, especially hand hygiene, the trust dress code, and MRSA screening policies.

Safeguarding

To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols.   All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:

• Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection

Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.

• Ensure you are familiar and comply with the Croydon Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
• Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
• Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
• Participate in required training and supervision.

• Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct

Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

See job description for full details