Specialist Nurse - Children in Care

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced nurse to join our dedicated Children In Care Nursing Team within Peterborough.

The Peterborough Children in Care Team carry out statutory health assessments of all children and young people who are looked after by the Local Authority. We offer consultation, advice and support to promote the health and well-being of looked after children and young people (up to 18 years old). The team is made up of consultant paediatricians, specialist nurses and administrators.

We provide an initial health assessment on all children and young people in care in line with the statutory guidance of the Children Act 2004. After an assessment by the designated paediatrician and specialist nurse, we work with children and young people, carers and professionals involved in their care to design a tailored health plan.

Our service includes:

• Assessment and health plans
• Consultation, advice and support for children, young people and their carers to optimise health and well being
• Partnership working with education services, social care, the police and voluntary agencies to provide multi-agency liaison and training

We see children under five years old every six months and school-age children at least annually. We mainly see children and young people at the City Care Centre, Peterborough, but also see them in other places such as within the local authority, their school or home, depending on their individual needs.

Main duties of the job

To support the Team manager and Doctors within the Children in Care Team in promoting and improving health outcomes for children and young people in care.

To act as a source of specialist advice and knowledge to all staff working in Cambridge and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust external agencies.

To work in partnership with Children’s Social Care, foster carers, birth families, health visitors in accordance with the Statutory Guidance for Promoting the Health and Wellbeing of Looked After Children (DH & DoE 2015).

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for full details of responsibilities

1.    Complete review health assessment for children in care place in Peterborough in line with Statutory Guidance. 2.    To ensure the resulting Health Action Plan is received by the relevant agencies, carers, and young people as appropriate and that they are carried out in a timely manner. 3.    Act as a health advisor for children and young people in care for Peterborough Local Authority and those children and young people place in Peterborough from other Local Authorities. Ensuring access to appropriate health provisions with particular regard for immunisations, dental health, sexual health, drug and alcohol and mental health services.  4.    Develop and implement targeted health promotion programmes for Children and Young People in care.  5.    Assist the Team Lead to develop pathways to meet the changing needs of the children and young people in care.  6.    Attend external and internal meetings for a Children in Care as required within capacity.  7.    Develop own and colleagues practice by engaging in ongoing professional development, knowledge and skills, through group and individual supervision.  8.    Support care leavers to maximise quality of their healthcare in adulthood and provide person centred leaving care health passports.  9.    Provide quality assurance of Review Health Assessment for those placed outside Peterborough to ensure equity of quality of care is provided to all Peterborough Local Authority children in care. 10.     Keep accurate and comprehensive records and reports contemporaneously in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct.  11.     Ensure all safeguarding concerns are managed and escalated through the appropriate channels.  12.    To identify children and young people at increased risk and where appropriate provide support to improve their life chances and prevent abuse and neglect. This includes working with children and young people at risk of becoming involved in gangs or youth violence.