Job Description

This is a key nursing role within Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, based at Chailey Clinical Services. Our highly skilled nurses deliver specialist nursing care to the children & young people who access the Bluebells Short Breaks Service , Chailey Heritage Foundation School or the residential bungalows over the 24/7 period, 52 weeks of the year .



The children & young people have complex, often fluctuating health needs and physical disability. The post holder will ensure all the children & young people receive health care promoting a valued lifestyle and supporting independence, where possible. They will provide up-to-date knowledge and skills for the nursing management of these children & young people, helping to ensure policy and practice is developed and delivered in line with Trust and national best practice standards.



To deliver evidence-based skilled specialist nursing care according to the individual child or young person's health needs.



To ensure all children & young people receive nursing care promoting a valued lifestyle and independence, ensuring their cultural and religious needs are met.



To contribute to safe medicines management, providing nursing advice and troubleshooting for staff, including those within our partner organisation, Chailey Heritage Foundation.



To provide education, training and support to non-registered and registered professionals, including student nurses and medical students.



To be able to work rotas shift patterns and to be able to respond to stressful situations, manage time effectively, make adjustments and re-prioritise as required, using considerable mental effort on a daily basis.



To deliver direct personal and intimate care to children & young people.



To be proficient working in a variety of conditions including in school classrooms, outdoor areas and swimming pool.



To be able to demonstrate negotiation skills in the management of conflict across a range of situations.



To support nursing staff in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for children & young people with complex health needs and their families, based on research and evidence of good practice.



We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex. Our 6,000 staff serve a population of 1.3 million providing essential medical, nursing, and therapeutic care to adults and children.



Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community, helping people plan, manage, adapt to changes in their health, supporting avoidable hospital admissions and reducing hospital stay times.



We have opportunities for everyone across our wide variety of services including medical, clinical, support and corporate services.



Why work for us?



Positive 2024 NHS Staff Survey results, scoring highly in compassionate culture & leadership, and staff wellbeing support



Variety of working environments across the community, in patients' homes, within our community hospitals and bases across the county

Supportive flexible working patterns such as:

part time, flexi time, annualised hours, and flexi retirement options



Excellent training and development opportunities



Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove and Brighton



EMBRACE, Disability and Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+ and Religion Spirituality and Belief staff networks



Level 3 accredited Disability Confident Leader, committed to creating inclusive workplaces



Veteran Aware Trust, achieving accreditation from Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)



Located in stunning Sussex, with easy access to the South Downs and the coast



Access to a wide range of benefits and discounts for NHS staff



To work within a rota covering 24 hours, 52 week nursing care to the children & young people accessing Chailey Heritage Foundation School and its associated residential bungalows or the Bluebells Short Breaks Service. You may also be required to work in other 24 hour children's services to support patient safety.



To be the designated specialist link for staff for an identified area of specialist practice such as epilepsy, enteral feeding, bladder and bowel care, respiratory or tissue viability.



You will work with the Matron, Clinical Specialist Lead Nurse, Team Leader and Clinical Leads to ensure staff are delivering specialist nursing care to the children & young people. The postholder will ensure staff are provided with up-to-date knowledge and skills around their specialist area of practice and nursing management of these children & young people.



To be responsible for attending all statutory and mandatory training and ensuring you remain in date with all that is required.



To be responsible for ensuring you attend regular clinical supervision and undertake your annual Personal Development Plan.



To maintain your registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.



To be responsible for ensuring safe use of clinical and non-clinical equipment utilised whilst performing your role.



To support the clinical supervision and education of team members, including student nurses and medical students in all areas of specialist clinical knowledge and skills.



Participate in peer supervision and education sessions. To take the lead, develop and contribute to a specialist area of expertise within peer review and reflective practice as part of the nursing teams at CCS



Deliver and actively support whole service delivery of excellent standards of nursing care and management practice.



Assess and interpret altered health care needs of the children & young people. To be responsive in updating care plans accordingly.



Work together with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) to ensure the consistent delivery of safe high quality nursing care and management.



Help implement and write clinical policies and standards; adhere to national standards, clinical policies and standard operating procedures, in line with SCFT requirements.



Ensure health records are maintained and compliant with Trust policy and keep accurate, legible, contemporaneous records and written reports as required.



Participate in report writing for both internal and external requirements aligned to the needs of the children & young people and the service.

Respond and escalate and/or report any concerns re:

child protection and adult safeguarding through the appropriate routes, in line with the Trust safeguarding policy and pan Sussex Procedures.



Attend health reviews, organising a representative who knows the child or young person concerned to attend if you are unable to attend. Evaluate the effectiveness of care and in consultation with the MDT, to adjust where appropriate



Develop, implement and evaluate guidelines/teaching tools for children, young people, families, healthcare professionals and non-registered professionals.



Participate in nursing research and audit projects, as required.



Liaise with statutory agencies regarding the nursing/health needs of the children and young people.



To respond to incidents and report appropriately, in line with Trust policy.



To work on other services managed by CCS as required, ensuring safe levels of nursing care.



To respect each child or young person and their family's right to confidentiality.



To develop skills and knowledge within the field of complex fluctuating health needs and physical disability, ensuring the relevant clinical skills required for management of safe nursing care are maintained.



The post holder will work alongside the Team Leader and Clinical Leads supporting them in their role. They will also work closely with the multidisciplinary team at CCS and other health professionals within the Trust and externally across the health economy, including our partner organisation, Chailey Heritage Foundation.



The post holder will be the designated specialist link for staff for an identified area of specialist practice such as epilepsy, enteral feeding, bladder and bowel care, respiratory or tissue viability. They will be able to assume responsibility for planned teaching and assessment of competence for nurses and non-registered professionals and help support the assessment and supervision of students.



The post holder will protect, safeguard and promote the well-being of children in accordance with 'The Children Act' and 'Working Together to Safeguard Children'