Job overview
The role of the Clinical Educator for Paediatric HDU is to work within the Practice Development Team to positively support, teach, assess, influence and improve the quality of the learning environment.
Managed by the Practice Development Nurse for Children’s Services at St Richard’s and Worthing Hospital, the post holder will need to contribute to the support of staff working within Paediatric Services.
The role is also to support managers and PD in enhancing the learning experience of all in the clinical environment. Support will include identifying learning opportunities, promoting of inter-professional working and learning, and assisting with and supporting assessment of learners in practice.
The post holder will work collaboratively with all members of the Education and Practice Development Teams, assisting in the development and implementation of quality education programmes that reflect contemporary practice and promotes high quality patient care, whilst incorporating national guidance and supporting the Trust’s clinical governance agenda.
The role of the practice educators will be to predominately working within the clinical environment to deliver education and supervision within clinical practice. This may be through study days, small group work within Paediatrics using simulation or via clinical supervision.
Main duties of the job
1. Develop a learning environment within Paediatric HDU for all nursing staff. From those who are Newly qualified to those developing advanced nursing skills.
2. Acknowledge different levels of knowledge and skills of staff when providing advice and negotiating on educational / professional development issues
3. To appropriately challenge poor practice sensitively, escalating and documenting as required.
4. To competently demonstrate clinical and mentorship skills with underpinning knowledge whilst establishing rapport with the learners.
5. Participate in the setting of standards for nursing practice and for care involving the multi-disciplinary team
6. To support the implementation of any changes as a result of Governmental and Regulatory Body recommendations
Use multiple methods to ensure the delivery of education as required and as per national guidance.
7. To contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of a core standard clinical skills.
8. Create an environment of trust, support and safety in which excellent clinical care will flourish and individuals will take ownership for their own development
Working for our organisation
At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always deliver Excellent Care Everywhere, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of staff networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 3) and a Veteran Aware Trust.
Candidate Pack
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Communication
• Provide effective written and verbal feedback on performance using tact and diplomacy, handling sensitive and confidential information as per Data Protection and Trust guidelines.
• Acknowledge different levels of knowledge and skills of staff when providing advice and negotiating on educational / professional development issues.
• Identifies clear benefits, goals and processes for developing knowledge, ideas and work practices and communicates these effectively.
• To appropriately challenge poor practice sensitively, escalating and documenting as required.
• To re assess previously identified areas of poor practice and feedback on changes in performance.
• To competently demonstrate clinical and mentorship skills with underpinning knowledge whilst establishing rapport with the learners.
• Attend regular meetings within the trust, division, University links and liaise with the PDN.
• Network with other educational development and training teams within the trust and with the neonatal networks.
• Ensure that effective communication is maintained with all work related teams, patients and relatives.
• Work closely with the teams within children’s services on all sites promoting integration and ensuring effective use of resources.
Service delivery and improvement
• Participate in the setting of standards for nursing practice and for care involving the multi-disciplinary team
• Understand local audit processes and take opportunities to initiate local audit and participate in Trust audits locally and research opportunities within paediatrics.
• To support the implementation of any changes as a result of Governmental and Regulatory Body recommendations.
• Use multiple methods to ensure the delivery of education as required and as per national guidance.
• To contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of a core standard clinical skills.
• To support the implementation of any clinical practice changes as a result of local or Governmental and Regulatory Body recommendations
People management and development
• Create an environment of trust, support and safety in which excellent clinical care will flourish and individuals will take ownership for their own development.
• Recognise, evaluate and reward achievement for the individual
• Advise and support practice staff who have failing or challenging learners or practice situations. Escalating serious concerns to Practice Development team/Nurse managers as needed.
• Actively monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of learning interventions in the work place that enhance the learners practice experience.
• Deputise for senior practice development nurse at Trust meetings as a team representative by developing and maintaining strong communication links to enhance partnership working.
• Contribute to department meetings and assist with cascading of information from other sources
• Responsible for carrying out duties in line with the Trust’s e-rostering processes, including managing rosters, supporting staff allocation, and contributing to effective budget reconciliation and workforce planning
Patient care delivery
• Ensure that all planning and delivery of nursing care incorporates the Trust values and Vision, and reflects best evidence based practice.
• Ensure that all patients have appropriate individualised, clinical assessments.
• Ensure that all patients/clients’ needs are identified and programmes of care are implemented to meet individual patient and client needs.
• Ensure that best practice in care is delivered.
• To work as part of a team ensuring effective communication with all health care professionals within the clinical team and across all disciplines.
• Recognise and act on situations that may be detrimental to the health and well-being of an individual.
• Recognise own limitations and only work within own scope of professional practice and competence
• To contribute to the monitoring and auditing of the standards of care in the clinical area.
Learning and development
• Attend mandatory training updates as required.
• Undertake training as necessary in line with the development of the post and as agreed with the line manager as part of the personal development process.
• Achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development within agreed timescales.
• Identify own learning needs and jointly plan training requirements with your line manager
• Participate in the Trust’s appraisal process to discuss how your role will help deliver the best possible care to our patients and help to deliver any changes in service.
Please note: This role does not meet the minimum criteria for visa sponsorship under the current UK immigration rules, which set specific salary and skill thresholds. As such, we are unable to provide sponsorship for this post. Applicants will therefore need to already have the right to work in the UK to be considered. We include this information at the outset to provide clarity and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for applicants.
If you do not meet the sponsorship requirements, and you are applying using a Graduate visa as your right to work, you must have a minimum of 18 months remaining on your visa at time of application.
Person specification
Paediatric HDU Educator
Essential criteria
9. Registered Nurse (Child or Adult within significant Paediatric experience)
10. Degree level education or equivalent
11. Practice Supervisor / Practice Assessor / Mentorship Module or equivalent
12. Minimum 3 years post registration
Desirable criteria
13. PG Cert in education
14. Experience within Paediatric HDU setting
15. Simulation Delivery Experience
16. Professional Nurse advocate
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion
Essential criteria
17. Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role).
18. Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues
Important information for applicants:
A Note on AI Use in Applications
We value the individuality and authenticity that each candidate brings to the application process. While AI tools are increasingly accessible, we strongly discourage their use in completing your application. Your responses should reflect your own voice, experiences, and motivations—elements that are essential to a fair and accurate evaluation.
Applications that rely heavily on AI-generated content may misrepresent your abilities and could result in your application being rejected. We encourage you to take the time to present your genuine self, as this helps us better understand your potential and ensures a transparent selection process.
Closing Adverts Early: In the event of exceptional interest, we may close adverts earlier than specified.
Some of our adverts are capped for a limited number of applications; therefore, the advert will close once the cap has been reached. We therefore encourage you to submit your application as soon as possible if you are interested in the position to prevent you from missing out on applying for the opportunity.
Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager.
DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check. We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.
Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for the roles that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker. It is your responsibility as the applicant to ensure that you meet this criteria.
UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications