An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Special School Nursing Service for a Band 7 Team Leader to manage the new nursing team at Greenmead School in Wandsworth.

We are looking for an enthusiastic individual who has experience in leadership in community paediatric nursing, children's continence and working in a special school. An understanding of the needs of children and young people with disability and/or additional health problems is essential.

We would welcome applications from enthusiastic committed nurses with excellent clinical and leadership experience, who are able to communicate at a senior level and are able to manage their time effectively.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate is required to provide clinical leadership to a small team of nurses who will provide nursing care and support to pupils with complex health needs attending Greenmead School.

You will be part of a multi-professional team and work directly with the school's senior leadership team, carry out assessments, provide both planned and responsive clinical care and ensure that local safeguarding policies are adhered to.

You will be identified as a role model for the Special School Nurses and support staff and education staff and offer advice and support to parents and pupils.

About us

Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust (ESTH) provides a range of medical services to approximately 500,000 people living across south west London and north east Surrey.

We serve an area that is rich in diversity, with a mix of urban and rural areas, and differing levels of quality of life. We cover some of the most prosperous postcodes in the country as well as some poorer areas. Together, with our NHS colleagues in Surrey, Sutton and Merton, we work to make sure that we deliver the best possible care to the communities we serve.

Sutton Health and Care (SHC) was an innovative joint venture between local partner health and social care organisations, which sees community services fully integrated to support the delivery of a new model of care for the people of Sutton. Hosted by ESTH, the model ensures the breaking down of traditional organisational barriers to enable the provision of care that is wrapped around the patient.

We pride ourselves in having a highly dedicated team and offer a stimulating and dynamic working environment with a wide range of staff benefits and development opportunities. We are looking for employees who aspire to excellence, share our vision and values and can play a crucial role in our ongoing achievements.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities and Duties

Act as direct line manager for a team of school staff nurses and health care assistants based within the special school

Act as the lead clinician for the Childrens Continence Service

Develops, promotes and implements integrated working (internal and external) whenever this would improve service delivery options or outcomes for individual children, young people and their families

Ensures that all staff within the team work to SHC and ESTH policies, procedures, standard operating procedures and guidelines within the service area and actively contribute to the proposal of policy or service changes as appropriate

Works closely and collaboratively with the Head of Childrens Services, Service Managers and other Team Leaders across Children's Services

Ensure that the agreed service specification is implemented

Ensure that service reports are completed in a timely manner and ensure that key performance indicators for specified services are met

Delegates appropriately to ensure consistent coordinated care

Act as a specialist practitioner and a resource to other staff both within the department and wider organisation

Lead by example and maintain a high level of professional conduct at all times.

Clinical Responsibilities

Act as lead clinician for the childrens continence service

Manages the childrens continence service caseload ensuring key performance indicators are met

Perform effective assessment and plans care according to the identified health needs of individual children and young people in the special school and for children accessing the continence service

Review care plans on at least a yearly basis or more frequently if needed

Maks onward referrals where appropriate

Manages a team of nurses and health care assistants at the school

Provide management supervision

Chair regular Team meetings

Ensure that safeguarding supervision occurs at least termly and additionally where required

Represent the school nursing team in school when needed and be confident and competent in carrying out clinical skills such as administration of medication and gastrostomy feeds and has experience of working with children with tracheostomies

Attend annual educational reviews, child in need meetings, team around the child meetings, professional meetings, child protection case conferences and core group meetings, representing the school nursing team and providing key information to education and social services staff and parents

Comply with infection control policies and procedures in order to minimise and prevent the spread of infection.

Management Responsibilities/Professional Leadership

Provide leadership to the special school nursing team in collaboration with senior childrens services managers

Ensure team compliance with service delivery according to the commissioned service specification

Responsible for ensuring that key performance indicators are met for both the special school nursing team and the childrens continence service and ensure any discrepancies are fully explained and resolved with childrens services senior managers

Support senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget for the specified service areas ensuring expenditure remains within the allocated budget

Responsible for coordinating all absence cover within the team ensuring an adequate and safe service is maintained

Proactively plan all annual leave, off duties and cover for training etc., in conjunction with the team to ensure that the service needs are met at all times

Responsible for ensuring that accurate staffing records are maintained via the use of Health Roster e rostering system

Ensure staff comply with their obligation to collect and record data in electronic records in a timely manner

Receive and handle any complaints according to SHC and ESTH policy and ensure that all reported incidents for designated areas are fully investigated

Work collaboratively with the risk management department to support practitioners in the identification and management of any risks involved with the service and delivery of care

Ensure all staff comply with the incident policy and ensure that all reported incidents for designated areas are fully investigated

Lead, motivate, develop and praise staff performance in line with Trust policies

Responsible for the effective recruitment and selection of staff in line with Trust recruitment and selection processes and policies

Ensure all staff receive an annual approach which identifies clear achievable objectives that link in with departmental, divisional and Trust objectives

Ensure poor performance issues are dealt with in an appropriate and timely manner following the Trusts disciplinary or poor performance procedures where formal action is necessary

Ensure effective communication within designated area and ensure Trust communication systems are utilised

Observe and comply with Trust policies and procedures for health and safety ensuring the environment you work in and are responsible for is safe, clean and tidy

Promote equal opportunities in compliance with Trust policies

Ensure that benefits to children and young people are maximised through careful, economical and appropriate use of NHS resources including equipment, property, budget, time etc

Participate in the audit of services to ensure a high level of service delivery and identify areas of improvement.

Education, Training and Personal Development

Consider the professional development needs of both self and the team ensuring that all staff access statutory and mandatory training at specified times

Develop and implement local orientation, local induction programmes and preceptorship for any new employees to the team

Proactively plan own and team study leave in conjunction with team members and colleagues in line with personal development plans

Ensure all staff are compliant with statutory and mandatory training whilst maintaining an adequate level of service delivery

Work alongside the senior childrens services managers to ensure all staff are competent and confident in performing clinical skills associated with their role ensuring any poor performance issues are addressed in line with SHC and ESTH policies

Ensure staff participate in reflective practice to ensure effective problem solving strategies within the team

Complete verification for nursing staff undertaking their revalidation in line with NMC guidelines

Ensure student nurses on clinical placements are allocated trained mentors to support the special school nurses ensuring that placements offer developmental opportunities and are a positive experience.

Working Relationships/Communication

Develop and maintain a highly professional and constructive relationship with the education team within the special needs schools

Act as part of the school senior leadership team when required

Maintain good communication with children and young people, parents, carers, staff and other professionals at all times and be able to communicate complex information in an appropriate manner to all

Be able to handle sensitive information and act in a tactful manner when there may be a conflict of interest

Have knowledge of alternative methods of communication such as Makaton, PECS, PODD books etc.

Financial Responsibility/Service Delivery

Be responsible for the issue of childrens continence products ensuring the identified needs of the client is met whilst maintaining the specified budget

Attend quarterly business meetings with the contracted continence product supplier in order to monitor and compare financial data

Support senior childrens services managers to monitor the staffing budget for the specified service areas ensuring expenditure remains within the allocated budget.

Evaluation of Care and Research

Promote evidence based practice

Participate in the Clinical Governance programme, encouraging others in the team to participate

Participate in any Clinical Audit programmes and the evaluation of own practice within the clinical area

Utilise and participate in research to enhance nursing practice

Demonstrate increased knowledge and able to assist in the implementation of innovative evidence-based, cost-effective clinical practice

Person Specification

Education and Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registered Nurse (adult, child or learning disability)
• Mentorship qualification
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development

Desirable

• Specialist Practitioner Qualification
• Leadership and management qualification
• Children's continence qualification or evidence of attending children's continence course (i.e. ERIC)

Experience

Essential

• Extensive post qualification experience
• Experience of working with children with severe and profound learning disabilities and complex health needs
• Experience of managing a team of nurses and health care assistants
• Evidence of working in a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrable understanding of clinical governance

Desirable

• Experience of working in a special school/community setting
• Experience of carrying out children's and young people's continence assessments and providing continence advice to both with and without disabilities

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Advanced communication and interpersonal skills and ability to communicate at all levels
• Leadership skills
• Ability to lead and motivate a staff team with varying abilities and facilitate change
• Ability to work as part of a busy health team, prioritising workload and maintaining high standards at all times
• Ability to manage sensitive information and maintain confidentiality
• Ability to have complex and challenging conversations
• Clear understanding of current national and local agenda
• Ability to demonstrate evidence based clinical practice
• Ability to maintain professionalism and work within professional boundaries at all times
• Ability to document concise and accurate clinical records and reports
• Ability to manage a budget and make decisions
• Knowledge of child protection policies and procedures
• Good IT skills

Desirable

• Knowledge of specialist communication skills e.g. signing/core boards/ Makaton
• Previous use of electronic records systems e.g. EMIS

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Highly developed interpersonal skills
• Flexible, enthusiastic and able to use initiative
• Recognises individual rights in line with legislation, policy and procedures
• Ability to motivate others
• Receptive to change and able to adapt positively
• A 'can do' attitude
• Ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
• Ability to work alone and as part of a team

Other Relevant Requirements

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly in order to meet the needs of the service
• Experience of team management

Desirable

• Car driver with full valid driving licence and access to a vehicle for business purposes

Employer details

Employer name

Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Greenmead Special School

147 Beaumont Road

Southfields

SW19 6RY


Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

343-6537448-UB-RB-Y