Job overview
Are you an enthusiastic and committed Nurse who is keen to work with children and young people with complex medical needs in Haringey’s Special Schools? We are looking for a new member to join our special school nursing team. You will be part of the well-established and supportive nursing and multidisciplinary team working with Health and Education staff from a variety of disciplines. The team works across 5 highly respected special schools with well-established multidisciplinary team working. Support is also available from the CAMH’s learning difficulties team and from our established team of consultant paediatricians. Your time will be divided between 2 special school but will also have opportunities to work across some of the other special schools.
You will receive high quality CPD and Child Protection supervision. There is a strong commitment to continuing professional development to help you in your work. This post will give potential applicants opportunities to develop their skills in special school nursing. Applicants new to the role are welcome but must have experience of children’s nursing or working with young people with learning difficulties.
For further information please contact Laura Hills- Clinical Lead for SLT and Operational lead for special school Nursing, Haringey – 07776306841 or Meriem Chakal- Senior Special school nurse -
Main duties of the job
The SS Nurse is responsible for delivering high-quality nursing care to children and young people with complex medical needs within a special school. This includes managing a defined caseload, undertaking comprehensive health assessments, and developing, implementing, and reviewing individual care plans in collaboration with families and school staff. The nurse provides direct clinical care such as advice on medication, gastrostomy feeding, continence support, and long-term condition management, offering specialist health advice to teachers and supporting the School Doctor with medical reviews and referrals. Safeguarding is central to the role, requiring strict adherence to child protection procedures and timely action when concerns are identified.
The post holder has an important role in educating and supporting school staff and parents to ensure students’ health needs are safely met. Effective partnership working with therapy teams, hospital services, and external agencies is essential, as is compassionate communication with children and carers who may be facing complex or stressful circumstances. The nurse is expected to work autonomously, maintain accurate clinical records, contribute to audits and service development, and keep professional knowledge and registration up to date. Leadership duties may include supervising students and support staff, coordinate placements, and contributing to the governance and smooth operation of the special school nursing team.
Working for our organisation
Working in Haringey Special schools for Whittington Health you will be working alongside an established multi-disciplinary team who work together and share good communication to ensure the safe and effective management of children's health and wellbeing needs across the special schools, in a holistic way.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities
The Special School Nurse is responsible for managing a caseload of children with complex health needs, providing direct clinical care, and ensuring that each identified child has a comprehensive, regularly reviewed care plan. Key duties include conducting health assessments, supporting medication management, coordinating continence care, promoting health. The nurse delivers specialist advice and training to school staff and parents on conditions such as epilepsy, gastrostomy feeding, and long-term illnesses, while maintaining safeguarding standards and acting promptly on any child protection concerns. The role also involves maintaining accurate clinical records, monitoring resources, participating in audits and research, contributing to service development, and keeping professional knowledge and registration up to date.
The post holder is expected to work autonomously to prioritise workload, organise training, and evaluate care and interventions, while remaining accountable for professional practice and adhering to organisational policies. Additional responsibilities include supervising students and assistants, supporting team objectives, participating in clinical governance, and contributing to quality improvement initiatives. Effective communication, analytical judgement, and the ability to manage sensitive information and challenging situations are essential components of the role.
Key Relationships
The role requires close collaboration with the School Doctor, therapy teams, school leadership, and the wider school nursing team to identify and meet pupils’ health and developmental needs. The nurse also liaises with parents and carers, hospital departments, child development teams, local authority services, and voluntary agencies to ensure coordinated, person-centred care. Internally, the post holder reports to the Team Leader and Clinical Lead and is accountable to the Lead for Children’s Therapies and Specialist Nursing, while maintaining clear communication with multidisciplinary professionals to support effective service delivery.
Person specification
Desirable
Essential criteria
1. Qualified Paediatric, Adult or Learning Disability trained Nurse – Registered General Nurse or Registered Sick Children’s Nurse, Project 2000 or diploma/degree in nursing.
2. Evidence of successful completion of a range of courses relating to health promotion and specialist areas in children and young people
3. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly, verbally and in writing.
4. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
5. Experience of training others
6. Evidence of understanding the needs of children with disabilities and their families/carers, and to explain the role of the SN to them
7. Understanding of relevant legislation related to children e.g. child protection
Desirable criteria
8. Evidence of working with acute Paediatric Service.
9. Ability to work in partnership with schools and parents
Desirable
Essential criteria
10. Qualified Paediatric, Adult or Learning Disability trained Nurse – Registered General Nurse or Registered Sick Children’s Nurse, Project 2000 or diploma/degree in nursing.
11. Evidence of successful completion of a range of courses relating to health promotion and specialist areas in children and young people
12. Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
13. Excellent communication skills, with the ability to communicate complex information clearly, verbally and in writing.
14. Post registration experience, some of which should have been in hospital or complex community pediatrics
15. Experience of training others
16. Understanding of relevant legislation related to children e.g. child protection
17. Evidence of understanding of the roles of the SN working within a school environment
Desirable
Desirable criteria
18. Evidence of working with acute Paediatric Service.
19. Ability to work in partnership with schools and parents
SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND ADULTS
To comply with the Trust’s Safeguarding Children and Adults policies, procedures and protocols. All individual members of staff (paid or unpaid) have a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults This will require you to:
20. Ensure you are familiar with and comply with the London Child Protection Procedures and protocols for promoting and safeguarding the welfare of children and young people.
21. Ensure you are familiar and comply with the London Multi Agency Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults Pan London Procedures.
22. Ensure you are familiar and comply with local protocols and systems for information sharing.
23. Know the appropriate contact numbers and required reporting lines.
24. Participate in required training and supervision.
25. Comply with required professional boundaries and codes of conduct
Whittington Health is committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.