Specialist School Nurse for Vulnerable Children and Young People

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated Band 7 Specialist School Nurse for Vulnerable Children and Young People to join our 5–19 School Health Service at Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust.

This specialist role focuses on improving health outcomes and reducing inequalities for vulnerable children and young people outside mainstream education, including those attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), missing education, electively home educated or not in education, employment or training (NEET).

The successful candidate will provide specialist safeguarding expertise, clinical leadership and targeted health interventions, working collaboratively with families and multi-agency partners. Building trusting relationships with young people who have experienced trauma, disadvantage or difficulties engaging with services is central to this role.

The postholder will manage complex safeguarding caseloads, undertake holistic health assessments, coordinate care and contribute to child protection processes while supporting the wider School Health Team.

We seek a compassionate, experienced practitioner committed to improving access to healthcare and making a meaningful difference to vulnerable children and young people.

Main duties of the job

The postholder will provide specialist clinical leadership and targeted health and safeguarding interventions for vulnerable children and young people (CYP), particularly those outside mainstream education.

Key responsibilities include:

• Manage complex caseloads of vulnerable CYP, including those attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), children missing education (CME), electively home-educated children and those not in education, employment or training (NEET).
• Undertake holistic health assessments, identify unmet needs and develop individualised care plans.
• Provide specialist safeguarding interventions, prepare child protection reports and attend conferences and multi-agency meetings.
• Build trusting relationships with vulnerable CYP who may have experienced trauma, disadvantage or disengagement from services.
• Work collaboratively with Social Care, education, Youth Justice and mental health services.
• Follow up A&E attendances, ensuring timely safeguarding interventions and referrals.
• Deliver targeted health promotion and early intervention.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision and guidance to School Health practitioners.
• Support service development, clinical audit and monitoring of commissioned KPIs.

The role is essential in reducing health inequalities, improving engagement and ensuring safe, accessible care for vulnerable CYP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1. Specialist Clinical Practice and Caseload Management

• Manage a complex specialist caseload of vulnerable CYP, including those attending Pupil Referral Units (PRUs), children missing education (CME), electively home-educated children, young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), and those excluded from mainstream education.
• Undertake comprehensive holistic health assessments, identifying physical, emotional, developmental and safeguarding needs.
• Develop, implement, monitor and evaluate individualised care plans, ensuring timely access to appropriate health interventions.
• Provide targeted health promotion and early intervention addressing emotional wellbeing, sexual health, risk-taking behaviours and other identified health needs.
• Follow up A&E attendances for vulnerable CYP outside mainstream education, identifying safeguarding concerns and ensuring appropriate interventions and referrals.
• Undertake home visits and deliver care within schools, community settings and other appropriate environments.
• Develop trusting, therapeutic relationships with vulnerable CYP, particularly those who have experienced trauma, disadvantage or difficulties engaging with professionals.

2. Safeguarding and Child Protection

• Provide specialist safeguarding advice, clinical expertise and interventions for children and young people at risk of harm, abuse, neglect or exploitation.
• Manage complex child protection cases in accordance with statutory guidance, local safeguarding procedures and Trust policies.
• Prepare comprehensive health reports for child protection conferences and other multi-agency safeguarding processes.
• Attend and contribute to child protection conferences, core group meetings, strategy discussions and multi-agency planning meetings.
• Work collaboratively with Children's Social Care, education, Youth Justice Services, mental health services and other agencies to ensure coordinated safeguarding responses.
• Identify and escalate safeguarding concerns promptly, ensuring appropriate risk assessment, documentation and follow-up.

3. Clinical Leadership and Professional Development

• Provide specialist clinical leadership, advice and guidance to School Health practitioners and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Support the day-to-day coordination and management of specialist vulnerable CYP caseloads.
• Provide clinical supervision, professional support and guidance to junior practitioners, promoting safe and effective practice.
• Contribute to staff development, induction, appraisal and competency assessment in accordance with Trust policies.
• Support the education and development of student nurses, newly qualified practitioners and other healthcare professionals.
• Promote evidence-based practice, reflective learning and continuous professional development.

4. Partnership Working and Service Development

• Develop and maintain effective partnerships with education providers, Children's Social Care, Youth Justice Services, CAMHS, community health services and voluntary sector organisations.
• Support integrated care pathways to improve access to healthcare for vulnerable CYP who may be disengaged from mainstream services.
• Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of specialist health interventions and service improvement initiatives.
• Promote the participation and involvement of children, young people and families in care planning and service development.
• Support multidisciplinary working to ensure coordinated, accessible and equitable healthcare.

5. Clinical Governance, Quality and Performance

• Maintain accurate, timely and confidential clinical records in accordance with NMC standards and Trust policies.
• Contribute to clinical audits, service evaluations, quality improvement initiatives and risk management processes.
• Monitor caseload activity, health interventions and outcomes to support delivery of commissioned service requirements.
• Ensure accurate and timely submission of activity data and performance reports, including indicators relating to vulnerable CYP outside mainstream education.
• Identify service delivery risks and contribute to appropriate escalation and improvement plans.
• Ensure practice complies with safeguarding legislation, professional standards, information governance requirements and Trust policies.

6. Professional Accountability

• Maintain current Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration and practise in accordance with the NMC Code.
• Demonstrate professional accountability, clinical judgement and effective decision-making when managing complex and sensitive situations.
• Promote equality, diversity, inclusion and culturally responsive care.
• Uphold the Trust's values and demonstrate compassion, professionalism and respect in all interactions.
• Participate in mandatory training, clinical supervision, safeguarding supervision and continuing professional development. The postholder will be expected to work flexibly across the School Health Service, responding to changing service priorities while maintaining a strong focus on safeguarding, reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for vulnerable children and young people.

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.