Job summary
Interviews will be held 30.10.2026 at the Civic Centre Southend

We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated SCPHN school nurse to provide daily clinical and team leadership for delivery of the Healthy Child Programme for children and young people aged 5-19.

To promote the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families using prevention, early identification, and early help to improve health outcomes through professional oversight and high quality service delivery.

In Southend our health visiting and school nursing teams operate within an integrated 0-19 children's public health service model and incorporates a skill mix team approach to support aspects of service delivery.

Main duties of the job
Please see attached job description for further information

Reports To: Professional Lead for Children Young people and Families Public Health Service

Structure chart:
Director of Public Health - Senior Public Health Lead - Professional Lead

Level/Band: Local Authority Level 9 (AFC Band 7 equivalent)

About us
A recruitment and retention bonus of £3,000 (pro rata) is payable as follows:

• £1,500 following successful completion of the probationary period and 6 months' continuous employment.
• £1,500 upon completion of 3 years' continuous employment.

In addition, a retention bonus of £2,000 per annum (pro rata) is payable, subject to the organisation's terms and conditions.

37 hour working week with option of compressed working hours

Reimbursement of NMC fees

Corporate membership with SAPHNA

A Local Authority pay award each year

A comprehensive induction

A robust preceptorship programme for newly qualified SCPHNs and those returning to practice

A professional development opportunity to become a dual qualified SCPHN Nurse

Staff support via management, safeguarding and restorative supervision

A flexible working pattern

Continuation of NHS pensions

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further details

The post holder will support the service by providing advanced clinical practice and team oversight including knowledge and experience. This includes supporting on safeguarding practice, caseload oversight, statutory 5-19 programmes, training, audit and interagency work required

To provide advanced public health clinical expertise to the public health team and school nursing team offering specialist advice and guidance for care of the 519-year-old.

To support the development, implementation and evaluation of policies/evidence-based guidelines for the service. This includes the quality assurance framework for the service.

Support management oversight for clinical effectiveness of the Healthy Child Programme by the use of evidence-based practice and audit.

The post holder will adapt and be responsive whilst supporting development of the school nursing role, creating and maintaining an environment in which excellence in service delivery will flourish.

Support the team on safeguarding agenda as that impact on the 5-19 services including LSCB subgroups (CSE/CE/Missing), primary care interfaces, multi-agency groups, mental health notifications, domestic abuse notifications and engagement with the universal services. Undertaking LSCB audits as required.

Line management of the school nurses of approximately up to 15 professional and administration staff

Clinical
To work with children, young people and their families to deliver the Healthy Child Programme whilst supporting statutory safeguarding delivery.

To establish and maintain relationships with other statutory and voluntary agencies e.g. primary care, 0-5 universal services, safeguarding teams, specialist/targeted childrens services, specialist school nursing, early help, social services and education.

Provide a mentoring/preceptorship role to school nurses and health visitors, identifying ongoing developmental needs.

Support effective service responses and pathways where there are multi-agency service interfaces required. This includes, but not exhaustive of dealing effectively with child protection processes, domestic violence incidents, A&E notifications and mental health notifications.

To contribute to development of clinical pathways and an audit programme for children in need, looked after children, vulnerable individuals, children with medical conditions attending mainstream schools and children on a safeguarding plan.

To continue to development templates and SystmOne developments whilst record keeping and maintaining an excellent standard of records for the service.

Agreeing a training plan each year, assessing need and skills of the staff against the need of children, young people and parents

To provide clinical cover as required

Professional
To evidence team compliance to the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Professional Conduct and to understand the importance of professional accountability, responsibility and competence.

To evidence team compliance with group clinical supervision, management supervision and safeguarding supervision.

To participate in the team appraisal process and prepare and work to a personal and professional development plan in conjunction with your line manager/supervisor.

To encourage and assess professional development through action learning, reflective practice, professional supervision, self-appraisal and performance review.

To contribute to the development of others to ensure that the School Nursing Service provided reflect best practice, remains evidence based, is current and responsive to meet changing health needs of local population, Local Authority and NHS.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Nurse /Registered sick Childrens Nurse, /Registered Mental Health Nurse
• SCPHN School Nurse
• Public Health Advanced Experience
• Level 3 safeguarding
• Specialist Practice Degree School Nursing or equivalent, or working towards
• Knowledge of safeguarding processes, including familiarity with MARAC/MASH principals
• Evidence of research based practice
• Demonstrate a professional approach to updating clinical knowledge, practice and use of audit and assessment
• Knowledge on performance management and service delivery prioritisation
• Awareness of national and local priorities within childrens services
• A sound working knowledge of child development and parenting issues.
• Knowledge of health promotion relating to children and families
• Understanding of key priorities for childrens services
• Mentoring /998
• Experience of maintaining accurate, contemporaneous records
• Experience of producing written reports/statements when required
• Experience of multi-agency working
• Evidence of Innovative Practice
• Recent School Nursing/Community Experience
• Experience of working with Children and Young People
• Experience of working within a community setting
• Experience of working with child protection procedures
• Experience of delivering health promotion/education on a one to one basis and within groups
• Leadership
• Decision making
• Planning
• Prioritising
• Current Full UK Driving Licence and car
• A committed, enthusiastic person who can demonstrate good team working and autonomy
• Demonstrate good communication skills
• Skilled in managing and prioritising own caseload and workload
• Flexibility in working hours and environment

Desirable

• Registered SCPHN Health Visitor conversion to SCPHN SN
• Counselling Skills
• Family Planning Certificate

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details
Employer name: Southend On Sea City Council
Address: Southend-on-Sea City Council, Victoria Avenue, Southend-on-sea, SS1 9SB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: Apply through our website

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Senior Public Health Clinical Lead, Helen Mullem, HelenMullem@southend.gov.uk

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.