Specialist Nurse for Looked After Children
We are looking for an experienced and motivated nurse who can work autonomously and has exceptional assessment and communication skills to join our dedicated Looked After Children Nurse Team in West Sussex. The post holder will be responsible for a caseload of Looked After Children and Young People (0-18 years), completing their statutory review health assessments and driving forward the health care plan in partnership with the Local Authority, as well as other clinical work to improve health outcomes. Experience of safeguarding children and multi-agency working is essential to this role.
The successful candidate will need to demonstrate a passion for the speciality as well as relevant experience and a working knowledge and understanding of the guidance and legislation surrounding Looked After Children.
This is a countywide community service and a willingness to travel by car is essential. It is anticipated the post holder will be based at Worthing with the opportunity to access the Chichester or Haywards Heath bases as needed.
This will be a part time post, 25.5 hours per week.
Interviews will be held in August, 2025
Main duties of the job
The post will be a specialist role in promoting the health of babies, children and young people who are in the care of the local authority (Looked After Children). The post holder will work collaboratively across the Health and Social Care setting with a wide range of professionals and agencies within the public and private sector to ensure that Looked After Children receive the appropriate services in order to reach their full potential.
About us
We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.
Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.
Why work for us?o Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeingo Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussexo Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retiremento Excellent training, development, and research opportunitieso Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brightono Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief networkso Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trusto Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast
Our values--Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence--guide everything we do.
We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.
This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.
Job responsibilities
The post holder will develop, coordinate, and facilitate access to a broad range of health services in order to ensure Looked After Children, care leavers and unaccompanied asylum seeking childrens needs are met; working towards positive outcomes for this vulnerable group.
The post holder will lead on the delivery and co-ordination of review health assessments for children and young people across West Sussex and beyond the boundaries of the county, liaising with partner agencies and organisations.
The post holder will contribute to the delivery, co-ordination and evaluation of training to staff and carers on health issues specific to children and young people in care ensuring a competent and fit for purpose workforce.
With the support of the Named Nurse and Doctor for Looked After Children, the post holder will be a point of contact for health, social care provider services, police and families to answer health queries specific to Looked After Children; supporting the interface between key stakeholders.
Please see attached containing the detailed job description and main responsibilities for this vacancy.
Person Specification
Qualifications and/or professional registration
* Registration on either Part 1 of the NMC register as a registered children's nurse or mental health nurse (in mental health organisations) or Part 3 as a SCPHN having completed a specific programme with a child and family focus
Experience
* Significant experience related to caring for babies/children and young people and relevant experience with looked after children and young people
* Completed specific post-registration training relevant to looked after children
* Educated to masters level or working towards.
* Experience of Child Protection Case Management
* Experience of delivering specialised healthcare for unaccompanied asylum seekers.
Skills and Knowledge
* Knowledge of key legislation and policy relating to Looked After Children
* Knowledge and understanding of key issues facing children in care & the impact on children, families and carers
* Knowledge of the health needs of Looked After Children
* Clear understanding of the principles of safeguarding children/child protection
* Knowledge of child health and development, particularly attachment theory & early emotional development.
* Knowledge of adolescent health and development, particularly emotional health and risk taking behaviours
* Excellent workload management skills and abilities
* Excellent interpersonal skills particularly when engaging with children, and their carers & families
* Ability to analyse and interpret complex and sensitive information and respond and liaise accordingly and appropriately
* Ability to provide highly effective specialist clinical practice for vulnerable babies and children
* Ability to act as an educator to a wide range of colleagues, staff, families and carers at differing levels of complexity
* To demonstrate the ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary, multi-agency team
Other requirements
* Full clean driving licence and use of a car for work
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.
£47,810 to £54,710 a yearper annum pro rata
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