Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated Nursery Nurse to join the paediatric team, you will work within Children's services at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital providing play preparation, distraction and support to children, young people and their families

You will job share with our current nursery nurse and work alongside our doctors, nurses and other health care professionals two days per week Monday and Friday. You will be based across both our Emergency care department and Children and Young peoples department supporting our patients to improve their overall hospital experience.

Main duties of the job

• To assist the registered practitioner in providing high quality compassionate care and assistance to patients/relatives and their carers appropriate to their needs
• To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play and recreational interventions whilst in the healthcare setting
• To use theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice to assess, plan, implement and evaluate therapeutic play and recreational interventions whilst in the healthcare setting
• To work as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, ensuring every child/young person has the opportunity, encouragement and facilities for play: in a safe secure environment
• To comply with the Trusts ICORE vision and behavioural values

About us
Based in the North East of England we provide a range of hospital and community health services from our leading facilities, including the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Blaydon urgent care centre and Bensham Hospital, all within Gateshead.

Established in 2005, we were one of the first foundation trusts in the country and since then have consistently achieved the highest levels of care for patients.

We now employ around 4,800 staff and currently provide 444 hospital beds across the Gateshead region.

Our values should be the 'golden thread' which runs through everything we do - they are the core of who we are. Our five values can easily be remembered by the simple acronym ICORE; Innovation, Care, Openness, Respect, Engagement.

We have a number of staff networks including the Global Ethnic Majority (GEM) network, D-Ability network, LGBTQ+ Network and the Women's Network, to challenge us and help us to constantly improve. Our Armed Forces network is one of our emerging networks.

The health and wellbeing of our staff is one of our highest priorities, and we offer a range of support and initiatives as part of our 'Balance' programme balancegateshead.com to cater for our diverse workforce, so that your individual needs can be supported, allowing you a happy and healthy working experience with us.

Job responsibilities

• Greet and receive patients, carers and other visitors to the ward/department in a courteous and compassionate manner, acting as a contact point for patients and carers so that they are informed and provided with help appropriate to their needs.
• Orientate patients to the ward / department environment, providing appropriate verbal and written information to them about facilities and services.
• Provide and receive messages accurately in a way that this is understood by the recipient, referring issues to the most appropriate person where necessary. This could be face to face, in writing or verbally and involve the use of photocopiers and computer systems.
• Attend ward meetings, taking notes as required and contributing to discussions about improvement of patient care.
• Respond to informal complaints by patients, relatives or carers in the course of day to day duties, in line with local policy and procedures and escalate concerns you are unable to resolve to an appropriate person where a degree of tact may be required
• Escalate immediately any concerns regarding patient care to a more senior member of staff
• Have courage to raise concerns regarding quality and patient safety

Person Specification
Essential

• Level 3 Childcare and Education Qualification, eg NNEB, NVQ Level 3, B-TEC or equivalent childcare courses
• 2 years post qualifying experience working with children

Desirable

• Experience working with children/young people in a hospital setting
• Experience working with children/young people with additional needs/ neurodivergent conditions
• Experience working with Children/young people with mental health needs

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).