Job summary
Are you a registered nurse with 2 years post experience supporting children and young people and have a strong understanding of their physical and emotional health needs? Do you have an understanding of vulnerabilities that children in care experience, or are willing to learn?

This is an exciting opportunity to join a flexible, friendly and supportive team working with Children in Care and Care Leavers, helping to improve their health and wellbeing.

Do you have an understanding of children who have experienced trauma, adversity or significant vulnerability and what their health needs are? You would need to be confident in building trusting relationships and advocating for the health and wellbeing of all children and young people in care.

You will need to be compassionate and confident in managing a sometimes complex caseload, working collaboratively with children, young people, carers and a wide range of professionals. A trauma-attuned approach is essential, alongside the ability to recognise and respond to the often complex physical, emotional and wider health needs of Children in Care.

If you feel that you have the skills to be able to support this cohort of children and young people, we want to hear from you!

This is a fixed term role and for those with current NHS service, the role will be offered on a secondment basis only. Please obtain permission to be released on a secondment before submitting an application.

Main duties of the job

• To have excellent communication skills with children between the ages of 5-18 to be able to conduct statutory Children in Care Review Health Assessments which includes the developmental and emotional wellbeing of Children in Care in accordance with national and local guidance and policy. This may be in home, clinic or other setting.
• To contribute to the implementation of healthcare plans following the identification of health need.
• Take appropriate action when further support, advice or intervention is needed in relation to health needs, signposting and referring to other services where necessary.
• To be able to take responsibility for a defined caseload and work collaboratively with colleagues to ensure the caseload is managed effectively and safely.

We welcome informal enquiries before you submit your application. Please contact:
Hayley Matthews, Team Lead - Dorset: 07500 993364
Emily Garner, Team Lead - BCP: 07770 736050

About the role
Hours: 18.75 hours per week
Base: Dorchester
Travel: Pan-Dorset and neighbouring counties will be required
Support: You will be supported by the Team Lead and Named Nurse for Children in Care, with regular supervision, training and opportunities for professional development.

About us
At Dorset HealthCare we're on a mission to empower people to make the most of their lives through our outstanding, joined-up healthcare services. We're a dynamic, forward-looking Trust, running 12 community hospitals, specialist inpatient facilities and a wide range of integrated community and mental health services for a population of almost 800,000 people.

We do things differently here - it's one of the reasons the CQC rated us 'outstanding' in 2019. It's also why 95% of patients across our services say they have a good or very good experience of our services and 89% of staff feel they can really make a difference. Whether you're looking to work with us in one of our bustling market towns, vibrant urban locations, thriving seaside spots, or among the rolling hills of Dorset, there are lots of ways you can make a difference in our communities.

Our 7,000-strong workforce is at the heart of what we do and our success is a testament to our brilliant people. We're all about building a workplace for the future, we believe in equal opportunities and we celebrate diversity. We're an inclusive workplace, where everyone is welcome, everyone can be authentic, and we are all encouraged to be the best version of ourselves.

Working with us you'll be part of a strong team, challenge yourself, build a career, and teach us what we don't know. And you'll be working towards our vision to create healthier lives, empowered citizens and thriving communities.

Person Specification
Knowledge, skills and training
Essential

• Registered Nurse with at least 2 years experience of working with children and young people
• Ability to work in a team and autonomously
• Experience of assessing, planning and implementing programmes of care, for Children and young people
• Excellent time management. Ability to organise self to achieve tasks.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the legal and ethical issues in caring for Children and young people in care.

Desirable

• Practice Supervisor training
• Understanding of vulnerabilities of Children in Care

Job specific experience
Essential

• Experience of Multi-disciplinary and multiagency working
• Experience of working with vulnerable families and/or children in care
• Experience of making judgements in complex situations

Desirable

• Experience of public health approaches in community setting
• Developing public health initiatives to address identified health needs

Personal Qualities and attributes
Essential

• To be able to demonstrate high level Clinical skills.
• Approachable attitude
• To be able to work under pressure and prioritise workload
• Ability to be resilient around complex and emotive situations and ability to prioritise wellbeing

Desirable

• Ability to understand and appropriately use escalations when required

Additional Requirements
Essential

• Subject to the provisions of the Equality Act, able to travel using own vehicle on Trust business. Essential Level 1/2
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings when required
• Demonstrable skills in written and spoken English, adequate to enable the post holder to carry out the role effectively

Employment in this post requires an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, which the Trust will cover the cost of.

Applications from candidates that require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are unfortunately ineligible to apply for this position. 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.