Named Nurse Children in Care
Closing date: 20 May 2026
Due to the maternity leave of the current post holder we are looking for a highly motivated nurse with experience of children in care and a genuine commitment to promoting the welfare of this population of children and young people. The successful candidate will have substantial experience as a Children in Care nurse, substantial knowledge of current statutory legislation and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This is a 12‑month fixed‑term role for 22.5 hours per week to be worked flexibly and onsite.
As part of Safeguarding and Statutory Services you will be responsible for providing visible leadership, knowledge and expertise in relation to safeguarding and children in care for all Trust staff. You will work with a range of multi‑disciplinary colleagues as well as external health colleague's multi‑agency partners such as primary care, Local Authorities, Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Local Safeguarding Adult Boards.
The service is committed to supporting staff to work flexibly whilst providing a high quality service across the Trust.
The post-holder will undertake the statutory role as Named Nurse for Children in Care for the Trust in accordance with the role and competencies outlined within Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and Intercollegiate document - Safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care: Competencies for health care staff (2025).
Main duties of the job
Job Summary:
* The Named Nurse role includes the provision of specialist advice and supervision to staff who have direct contact with Children in Care and Care Experienced children and young people. The post holder will ensure a high standard of care is achieved and maintained within the organisation demonstrating effective management and leadership skills.
* The Named Nurse seeks to improve the health outcomes for Children in Care by working with the individual, their carers, the corporate family and the wider community to affect change via innovative practice and collaborative working to stimulate the awareness of the health needs of this client group, influencing policies that affect health and the facilitation of health enhancing activities.
* Undertake the statutory role as Named Nurse for the Trust in accordance with the role and competencies outlined within Working Together to Safeguard Children (2023) and Intercollegiate document - Safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care: Competencies for health care staff (2025).
* Provide expert advice, support, training and safeguarding supervision to health staff across the organisation, relating to Children in Care.
About us
The Rainbow Centre within Alder Hey is situated on the ground floor near the Emergency Department and provides a 'hub' for the coordination of Safeguarding and Statutory Services.
We provide child protection medical examinations for children who have been physically harmed as well as a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for children requiring forensic medical examination following sexual assault. We also provide Initial Health Assessments (IHAs), Adoption Medicals and provide the Medical Advisor role for Fostering and Adoption.
Alder Hey has a large catchment area and provides secondary health care for the boroughs of Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton. It is also a tertiary referral centre for specialist services with a specialist Paediatric Intensive Care Unit which receives patients from the local and regional areas.
The team works closely with a range of specialities such as Burns and Plastics, Critical Care, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Major Trauma, Children and Young People Gender Service and CAMHS colleagues. The team works in partnership in the management of some of the most complex child protection investigations within the country.
Job responsibilities
* The post holder will operationally lead and manage the Children in Care Health Team within Alder Hey Childrens NHS Foundation Trust to ensure the Trust as a collective promote physical, mental and social wellbeing for this group of children and young people.
* Provide clear, visible leadership, strategic vision and professional clinical expertise relating to Children in Care, care experienced and adoption.
* The post holder will work closely with external agencies, such as social care managers and teams to ensure effective communication and ensure the services work to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequalities and safeguard Children in Care through the provision of an evidence based and needs led service.
* The Named Nurse for Children in Care will support all activities necessary to ensure that the organisation meets its responsibilities for children and young people in care.
* The Named Nurse for Children in Care has the responsibility to liaise with professional leads for specialist services, to support development of Children in Care pathways and processes which includes the acute and community services.
* To act as the Named Nurse for Children in Care for the organisation, supporting the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services in advising the Trust Board of their corporate responsibilities for statutory services setting the goals and standards for the organisation.
* Be responsible for directing and supporting the work in relation to Children in Care and Adoption providing advice across the Trust. This may include contributing to multi‑agency strategies pertaining to safeguarding and Children in Care.
* To support the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services in leading and line managing a Specialist Children in Care Nursing Team and associated health and social care professionals.
* To provide expert advice and support on a daily basis to a wide ranging workforce on all aspects of Children in Care and care experienced where matters can be highly complex and in difficult, sensitive and emotive situations.
* To work with the strategic leads for safeguarding, Children in Care, and others to monitor statutory performance indicators, ensuring all of the Trusts safeguarding policies are robust and reflect national, regional and local policy.
* To support represent the organisation as a member of the relevant Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships (LSCP) and Local Safeguarding Adult Boards (LSABs) their subgroups and other inter‑agency forums, providing expert advice.
* To contribute to the Trust response to LSCP for contributions to Rapid Reviews, Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews (LCSPRs), Domestic Homicide Reviews (DHRs) and Safeguarding Adult Reviews (SARs).
* To work collaboratively with other Named Professionals, Designated Professionals, and other agencies within secondary and primary care in support of all activities necessary to ensure that the Alder Hey meets its responsibilities in statutory services.
* Working alongside the Director of Safeguarding and Statutory Services to provide expert advice, professional guidance and leadership at a strategic and operational level to support the development and implementation of evidence‑based practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Specialist Training
* Registered Nurse currently on NMC Register.
* Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) Qualification and/or Children's Nurse.
* Relevant qualification in related subject at a degree level.
* A minimum of three years relevant Children in Care and Safeguarding experience.
* Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.
* Leadership/Management Course.
* Relevant teaching qualification.
* Clinical assessment skills.
* Relevant master's degree or equivalent experience.
Experience
* Significant experience of working in safeguarding.
* Significant experience of working with children in care.
* Experience of effective multi‑agency working including liaison with Children Social Care, police and legal services.
* Evidence of working across geographical and organisational boundaries.
* Formulation and implementation of relevant policy and procedures.
* Experience and evidence of strategy development and implementation.
* Experience of leading audit / quality assurances.
* Experience of effective report writing.
* Effective multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency working.
* Evidence of continuing professional development.
* Experience of leading groups / managing teams.
* Experience of managing risk / risk assessment.
* Experience of and able to challenge poor practice and support individuals to improve.
* Research experience.
* Experience of assessing training needs, planning and delivering multi‑disciplinary/multi‑agency training.
* Development and delivery of training programmes and strategies both single and multi‑agency, and experience of pre and post registration training.
* Involvement in and experience of court proceedings / preparation of reports / statements.
Knowledge
* In depth knowledge of relevant legislation and policy relating to Children in Care and Adoption.
* Clear understanding and application of professional accountability.
* Navigating Adult Health processes for Fostering and Adoption.
* Sound, evidence‑based knowledge of all aspects of ‘Safeguarding’ practice‑related to clinical and non‑clinical practice.
* Assisted in Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, Internal Management Reviews or Patient Safety Investigations.
Skills
* Ability to be a strategic thinker.
* Robust understanding of Children in Care issues across disciplines and agencies.
* Ability to promote understanding and incorporation of equality and diversity within practice.
* Demonstrate strong clinical leadership and management skills.
* Able to manage / embrace and support others through change.
* Able to work under pressure within a highly emotive climate and to meet deadlines.
* Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills.
* Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
* Demonstrate a commitment to always respecting and displaying the Trust Values.
* The ability to influence service development and delivery both within and outside of the organisation.
* Evidence of protocol development, formulation, and implementation of policies.
* Evidence of working with children, young people and adults in need of support.
* Evidence of teaching and training clinical and non‑clinical staff.
* Ability to undertake audit and research methodology.
* Well‑developed IT skills i.e. ability of using common software packages.
* Experience in producing Board reports and reporting to Trust Board meetings.
Personal Attributes
* Flexible approach to working hours to meet service needs.
* The post holder may be required to travel as part of fulfilling elements of the role.
* Demonstrate interpersonal skills that build personal and professional credibility both within and outside the organisation.
* Self‑motivated, drive for improved outcomes for children, young people and adults in need of support.
* Willingness to work flexibly and adapt to changing service needs.
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.
Address
Alder Hey Children's Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
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