Special School Nurse

Job overview

Are you interested in working Mon-Fri 9-5, no weekends, no bank holidays?

Would you like to work with a team of colleagues, who are passionate about improving the health outcomes of children & young people in our community?

An exciting opportunity has arisen to work in the Special School nursing team within the Specialist Children’s Services team providing high quality, evidence based care to children with complex learning and health needs.

The post-holder will have responsibility for a clinical caseload of children and young people (CYP), who are attending the two special schools in the area.

The contract is fixed term for 6 months based in Northallerton. The contract ideally would start in March, maximum 22.5 hours per week, hours are negotiable.

• Driving licence essential *

• A Special School nurse working within the Specialist Children’s Services team providing high quality, evidence based care to children with complex learning and health needs.
• The post-holder will have responsibility for a clinical caseload of children and young people (CYP), who are attending the two special schools in the area.
• The Special School nurse works closely with children and young people, parents/ carers, school staff and other professionals, to ensure that the assessed health needs are met and CYP are enabled to access education and be able to reach their full potential, whilst in this setting.
• To deliver training (e.g. epilepsy, medicines management, tracheostomy care, gastrostomy care, VNS) and assess competencies of school and other staff who are involved in the CYP’s care.
• This role also involves supporting the process of review health assessments for looked after children who are attending the special schools.
• The post-holder will contribute towards the continual development of Specialist Children’s Services and ensure high standards of clinical practice are maintained and monitored.

Working for our organisation

Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust (HDFT) cares for the population in Harrogate and the local area, as well as across North Yorkshire, Leeds and parts of the North East.

At HDFT we provide outstanding care to both our patients and our staff and we value Kindness, Integrity, Teamwork and Equality. If you’re looking for an interesting and rewarding career in the NHS, where you can make a real difference to patients’ lives, HDFT could be the place for you!

We offer colleagues:

• A supportive culture so colleagues can bring their whole selves to work.
• Staff Recognition - as well as regular appraisals, we recognise achievements with our Making a Difference & Team of the Month Awards, along with annual Colleague Recognition Awards.
• Employee Support and wellbeing – we offer a wide range of staff benefits including an Employee Assistance Programme, counselling service and a fast-track Physiotherapy service.

(Please note, visa sponsorship is only available for certain roles. Please ensure the role you are interested in meets the criteria for a sponsorship before submitting your application.)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For further information please see the attached Job Description and Person Specification or contact Sheryl Haley via email [email protected].

Person specification

Qualifications

• • Registered nurse in learning disabilities or
• Registered nurse child branch or
• Registered sick children’s nurse

• • Makaton/sign language certificate.
• • Mentorship qualification for students.

Experience

• • Managing own caseload and working autonomously.
• • Providing care to CYP, who have complex health and development needs.
• • Experience working with children who have complex and severe learning disability.
• • Experience working within the community setting.
• • Experience of delivering clinical skills training
• • Experience working within a multi professional team.

• • Experience working within a mainstream/specialist education setting.
• • Experience working with CYP with emotional and behavioural difficulties.
• • Working with CYP with needs relating to sleep and continence.

Knowledge

• • A good knowledge of the needs relating to CYP who have complex health needs, learning disabilities, and their families
• • Safeguarding children, particularly with relevance to disabled children
• • SEND reforms and policies
• • Relevant national and local guidance around child health and promotion

• • Understanding of the communication needs of CYP with learning disabilities.
• • Experience of education health and care plans
• • Previously completing health needs assessment/ health profiles.