Job overview
Are you passionate about improving health outcomes for children and young people in care? We are seeking a dedicated Looked After Children (LAC) Nurse to join our HLAC Team within City of London & Hackney.
As part of this specialist team, you will:
1. Support Looked After Children and Care Leavers, working closely with their families and carers to help them reach their full potential.
2. Deliver holistic assessment and health interventions, ensuring timely, child-centred assessments and care in line with statutory guidance.
3. Collaborate with the Named Nurse and Doctors to implement national guidance and local policy.
4. Work in partnership with health professionals and external agencies to identify and address health needs effectively.
5. Ensure appropriate health provision for children placed both in-borough and out-of-borough, supporting continuity of care.
This is an exciting opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable children and young people by championing their health and wellbeing.
Main duties of the job
6. To maintain a clinical caseload and assess health needs with a child centred holistic framework in line with the ‘Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their families’. (2000)
7. Ensure effective implementation of healthcare plans for individual children
8. To work in partnership with the Named Doctor and Named Nurse to undertake holistic health assessments for all children entering care
9. In partnership with the Named Doctor, Named Nurse and GP’s, develop individual Health Care Plans to ensure that identified or ongoing health needs are being addressed
10. Liaise with all relevant health care professionals in order to implement the Health Care Plan
11. Responsible for undertaking the statutory review health assessments for LAC aged 5 -19yrs
12. Develop, implement and evaluate health care plans in partnership with LAC and their carers
13. Liaise with all relevant health care professionals in order to implement the Health Care Plan
14. Refer LAC and Care Leaver’s onto specialist services as required based on assessment of need
15. To review and evaluate all health care plans for LAC annually or more frequently if required
16. To improve the quality and co-ordination of the health care of LAC and Care Leavers
17. To work in partnership with carers and key workers to enable them to have a good understanding of the health care needs of LAC and care leavers
Working for our organisation
Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a high performing and flourishing organisation serving the population of Hackney, East London, The City and beyond.
We are extremely proud of the fact that Homerton Hospital has recently attained the highest possible rating of "Outstanding" from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Our integrated Trust provides comprehensive hospital and community health services for its local population and a range of specialist services for a wider group of patients. In addition, the Trust manages services out of St Leonard's Hospital and the Mary Seacole Nursing Home.
Homerton aims to ensure equality and value diversity, and we are committed to inclusion for all of our staff. This is reflected in our policies, procedures and People Plan. All of our staff are expected to embody our Trust values at all times.
We are also committed, through our Fair Recruitment Standards, to ensuring all applicants are treated fairly.
Homerton has a proud tradition of supporting and developing its staff, including its well-regarded and valued nursing community, and all staff are able to take advantage of a great range of benefits.
Homerton is proud to have been included on the HSJ & Nursing Times Best Places to Work list.
Person specification
EDUCATION/ QUALIFICATIONS
Essential criteria
18. • RN or RN (child) or RM Qualified
19. • Health Visiting / School Nursing professional qualification, with entry onto the 3rd part of the NMC Register or relevant experience
20. • Evidence of ongoing professional development in Safeguarding Issues
21. • Prep for mentorship or equivalent teaching and assessing course
Desirable criteria
22. • Mental Health or Learning Disabilities Qualification
SKILLS/ABILITIES
Essential criteria
23. • Ability to assess, plan implement and evaluate programmes of quality care for highly complex & vulnerable children & young people
24. • Awareness of national and local policies and Statutory Guidance with respect to LAC
25. • An understanding of the public health context of supporting LAC
26. • Ability to work with CYP from diverse cultures, Asylum Seekers & those who are ‘Hard To Reach’
27. • Has participated in audit and can advise how this has transferred into practice
28. • Ability to assess, plan implement and evaluate programmes of quality care for highly complex & vulnerable children & young people • Awareness of national and local policies and Statutory Guidance with respect to LAC • An understanding of the public health context of supporting LAC • Ability to work with CYP from diverse cultures, Asylum Seekers & those who are ‘Hard To Reach’ • Has participated in audit and can advise how this has transferred into practice • Commitment to the principles of equal opportunities • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including with other departments/agencies • The ability to work as part of a team • Information Technology (IT) skills • An understanding of Health and Safety issues • Good report writing and analytical skills • Able to support and implement policies across settings (health, education, social care etc) • Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a variety • Good communication & interpersonal skills. • Self- motivated, enthusiastic & innovative. • The ability to maintain standards, initiate and develop evidence based practice • Ability to effectively prioritise work within a busy environment with multiple demands. • Excellent IT, verbal and written communication skills • Excellent time management skills • Ability to relate to vulnerable children and young people
Experience
Essential criteria
29. • Demonstrable post qualification experience of working with children & young people in a range of settings • Experience of working with highly vulnerable children & young people • Carrying out assessments of a CYP’s development and identifying where further investigation, assessment or escalation may be required • Formulating care planning & intervention, directing other professionals to support achievement of the CYP’s outcomes • Working in partnership with vulnerable children & young people • Multi-agency liaison & collaboration, with respect to complex children’s cases • Able to demonstrate relevant effective learning from previous experience • Experience of working with Looked After Children • Experience of multi-agency working arrangements • Experience of working with looked after children and young people • Working with client groups from diverse cultural backgrounds. • Ability to empathise with vulnerable children, young people and their carers and families
Desirable criteria
30. • Experience of project management • Evidence of research activity or utilisation
KNOWLEDGE
Essential criteria
31. Knowledge/understanding of confidentiality issues • Professional clinical and LAC Health issues • Partnership working across agencies and planning of care across sectors • Managing diversity • Clinical Governance
General Guidance for Applicants
We are committed to achieving equality and inclusion at Homerton Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and we respect and value the diversity and differences of our patients and our people, ensuring everyone is enabled to thrive, feels a sense of belonging, and is able to be their authentic self. We offer a range of flexible working options that enable you to balance your work and personal life, including part-time, compressed hours, remote working and job-shares.
We are committed to equal opportunities, and have been approved as a Disability Confident Employer.
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