Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Integrated Safeguarding Team at Croydon Health Services NHS Trust as a Band 6 Safeguarding Children Nurse.

This post will be viewed as an opportunity to develop towards a Band 7 Safeguarding Advisor role.

The post holder will work as part of a dynamic multidisciplinary safeguarding team, providing specialist safeguarding advice, support and expertise across the Trust to ensure that children and young people receive safe, effective and child-centred care.

The successful candidate will contribute to safeguarding processes including health information sharing, Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) enquiries, strategy meetings, child protection conferences and multi-agency safeguarding arrangements. The role involves supporting clinical staff to recognise and respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, promoting best practice, and ensuring that children and young people are protected from harm.

You will work closely with health professionals, Children's Social Care, the police, education services and other partner agencies to support coordinated safeguarding responses and improve outcomes for vulnerable children and families.

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nurse with a passion for safeguarding children to further develop specialist skills within a supportive and innovative safeguarding service.

Main duties of the job
Work as a member of the Integrated Safeguarding Team, providing safeguarding children advice and support to practitioners across Croydon Health Services NHS Trust.

• Support practitioners to recognise, respond to and appropriately escalate safeguarding children concerns in line with local safeguarding procedures and statutory guidance.
• Gather, review and analyse relevant health information to contribute to safeguarding enquiries from Children's Social Care, the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub and partner agencies.
• Complete health information reports and chronologies, ensuring information shared is accurate, relevant and provided within agreed timescales.
• Support health representation at strategy meetings and professional discussions by providing relevant health information to inform multi-agency safeguarding decision-making.
• Participate in the safeguarding duty system, including reviewing referrals, responding to enquiries, triaging concerns and escalating
• Liaise effectively with health visitors, school nurses, general practitioners, social workers, Children's Social Care, Police and other partner agencies to promote effective communication and information sharing.
• Support discharge planning and risk management for children and young people where safeguarding concerns have been identified.
• Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive safeguarding records in accordance with professional, organisational and information governance standards.

About us
Croydon Health Services NHS Trust provides hospital and community services across Croydon through a range of clinics and specialist centres. Formed in August 2010 from the integration of Croydon Community Health Services and Mayday Healthcare NHS Trust, we employ around 4,100 staff serving a diverse population of over 360,000 people.

Our main site, Croydon University Hospital, is one of the busiest in London. We are also leading the way in delivering more healthcare in community settings and people's homes. Our district nursing teams, Allied Health Professionals and community matrons care for people of all ages across the borough.

Like the wider NHS, we are working hard to meet increasing demand. With the right people on board, we continue to innovate and transform our services to provide the highest quality care for local residents. We place strong emphasis on education, training and career development for all staff.

If you want to make a real difference, challenge yourself and be part of a Trust that's shaping local healthcare, Croydon Health Services could be the place for you.

At Croydon Health Services NHS Trust, we are committed to supporting flexible working arrangements. Applicants are encouraged to discuss any flexibility they may need during the recruitment process.

Job responsibilities
Please see the attached supporting document (Job Description) which contains more information about the role.

Person Specification
Educationa attaintment
Essential

• Public health nursing qualification and degree in nursing or equivalent

Desirable

• Studing in related child protection subject or working towards

Safeguadring Experience
Essential

• Working as a Health visitor for one year or more and experience of managing risk

Desirable

• Experience of audits and quality improvement initiatives

Skills and abilities
Essential

• Ability to analyse complex information from multiple sources.

Desirable

• Ability to challenge appropriately and advocate for children and contribute to service improvements and quality initiatives

Knowledge and Understanding
Essential

• Sound knowledge of safeguarding and the working together to safeguard children

Desirable

• Worked with complex families and multi-agency team to to safeguard children

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).