Band 7 Children's community nurse

Croydon is a busy, exciting and diverse place to work. The borough has one of the youngest populations in London and continues to grow.

Croydon Health Services cares for local people at Croydon University Hospital, Purley Memorial Hospital and in clinics and people’s homes all across the borough.

We are a very close-knit and friendly organisation where everyone of our 3600 members of staff is valued. We strongly believe that our employees are our greatest asset and so through Listening into Action – our way of engaging staff - we empower everyone at any level to initiate and bring about real improvements in our care.

Join us and be a part of the team that is making Croydon proud. #choosecroydon

Job overview

Band 7 children's community nurse

Croydon Health Services offers a truly integrated approach to paediatric nursing across our acute and community services. Supporting seamless pathways for children and young people between the hospital and their home for children requiring short-term admissions to those with long-term health needs.

Working in this team you will be responsible for helping to facilitate early discharge from the inpatient environment and preventing hospital admissions.

Main duties of the job

The team works in partnership with health and social care organisations reducing the need for hospital intervention. You will be working alongside and under the guidance of senior colleagues working within specific competencies to provide care in Children and Young people’s homes.

As a team we have strong connections and opportunities for joint working with the Paediatric Neurodisability Nursing Team based within special schools, the inpatient children's unit and Paediatric ED.

The post holder will work as an autonomous expert practitioner with responsibility for leading a team of nurses and provide highly skilled & developed quality nursing care for children in their own homes and other community settings.

To develop, implement and evaluate a seamless Children's Community Service, ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of clinical care.

Be responsible for contributing to the on-going development of clinical practice, research and standards of care within the service, including development of policies, protocols and guidelines and contribute to service developments.

To work as an autonomous practitioner with responsibility for facilitating early discharge, reduce length of stay and prevent hospital admissions

To provide high quality, specialist nursing care to children in their own homes

To provide continuing responsibility for the assessment, development, implementation and evaluation of nursing care for patients.

All candidates must have a clean full UK driving licence and the use of a car for work purposes.

Working for our organisation

Around 4,100 staff provide services for a population of over 360,000 people who are relatively young with a high level of ethnic diversity.

Our main hospital site, Croydon University Hospital is one of the busiest in London. We’re also leading the way in providing more healthcare outside hospitals at clinics, specialist centres and in people’s homes. Our experienced district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons look after people of all ages across Croydon and our Children’s Hospital at Home cares for children with long-term conditions without them having to come to hospital.

Croydon Health Services puts a great deal of importance on education and training throughout the careers of all of our staff. As well as offering access to a range of core skills training and professional development.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For more information on this role please see the attached JD and PS information. This will give you a better overview of the job role and requirements.

Contact to discuss this role are Sarah Ryan

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• RSCN/Child Branch, extensive experience
• Physical assessment
• Evidence of continuing professional development, short courses

• Experience in Paediatric ED setting / Advanced Nurse practitioner qualification
• Masters level/ Management/ leadership qualification
• Non medical prescriber / Physical assessment skills

Knowledge and Awareness

• In depth specialist knowledge from relevant professional field, community children’s nursing, children’s Paediatric ED and palliative care and evidence of continuing professional development
• Able to demonstrate an in depth understanding of current issues affecting community health services including eg. Primary Care lead NHS, clinical effectiveness, evidenced based care and clinical governance
• Ability to understand key elements of change management in relation to changing clinical practice
• Knowledge of principles of supervision, audit and research
• Working knowledge of Child Protection, policies and procedures

Experience

• Extensive post registration experience of working autonomously gained through previous working with children and families in the community/ED environment.
• Broad range of experience within the field of sick children’s nursing.
• Proven evidence of management/leadership skills and autonomous practice
• Experience of implementing evidenced based practice
• Experience in facilitating professional development of other staff
• Interagency working

• Experience of developing strategies, clinical guidelines and policies
• Cannulation and venepuncture competency

Skills and abilities

• Ability to work autonomously within own level of knowledge, skills and competence
• Ability to make informed decisions and sound clinical judgement supported by theoretical knowledge
• Ability to assess and interpret highly complex events/conditions, with the ability to make judgements and recommendations regarding management of care in the community
• Able to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care
• Understanding and knowledge of local strategies and developments

Other Requirements

• Car driver with a valid UK licence