Named Nurse Children in Care

Due to the maternity leave of the current post holder we are looking for a highly motivated nurse with experience of children in care with a genuine commitment to promoting the welfare of this population of children and young people. The successful candidate will have substantial experience as a Children in Care nurse with substantial knowledge of current statutory legislation and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. This is a12 month fixed term role for 22.5 hours per week to be worked flexibly and onsite.

As part of Safeguarding and Statutory Services you will be responsible for providing visible leadership, knowledge, and expertise in relation to safeguarding and children in care for all Trust staff. You will work with a range of multi-disciplinary colleagues as well as external health colleague's multi-agencies partners such as primary care, Local Authorities, Local Safeguarding Children Partnerships and Local Safeguarding Adult Boards.

The service is committed to supporting staff to work flexibly whilst providing a high quality service across the Trust.

The post-holder will undertake the statutory role as Named Nurse for Children in Care for the Trust in accordance with the role and competencies outlined within 'Working Together to Safeguard Children' (2023), and 'Intercollegiate document - Safeguarding children and young people & children and young people in care: Competencies for health care staff' (2025).

Main duties of the job

Job Summary:

Person specification

Qualifications and Specialist Training

Essential

• Registered Nurse currently on NMC Register.
• Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) Qualification and/or Children's Nurse
• Relevant qualification in related subject at a degree level
• A minimum of three years relevant Children in Care and Safeguarding experience.

Evidence of relevant continuing professional development.

Desirable

• Leadership/Management Course
• Relevant teaching qualification
• Clinical assessment skills
• Relevant master's degree or equivalent experience.

Experience

Essential

• Significant experience of working in safeguarding
• Significant experience of working with children in care
• Experience of effective multi-agency working including liaison with Children Social Care, police and legal services.
• Evidence of working across geographical and organisational boundaries.
• Formulation and implementation of relevant policy and procedures.
• Experience and evidence of strategy development and implementation.
• Experience of leading audit / quality assurances.
• Experience of effective report writing.
• Effective multi-disciplinary/multi agency working.
• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Experience of leading groups/managing teams.
• Experience of managing risk/risk assessment.
• Experience of and able to challenge poor practice and support individuals to improve.

Desirable

• Research experience
• Experience of assessing training needs, planning, and delivering multi-disciplinary/multi-agency training.
• Development and delivery of training programmes and strategies both single and multi-agency, and experience of pre and post registration training.
• Involvement in and experience of court proceedings/preparation of reports/statements.

Knowledge

Essential

• In depth knowledge of relevant legislation and policy relating to Children in Care and Adoption
• Clear understanding and application of professional accountability
• Navigating Adult Health processes for Fostering and Adoption
• Sound, evidence-based knowledge of all aspects of 'Safeguarding' practice-related to clinical and non-clinical practice.

Desirable

• Assisted in Local Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews, Internal Management Reviews or Patient Safety Investigations.

Skills

Essential

• Ability to be a strategic thinker.
• Robust understanding of Children in Care issues across disciplines and agencies.
• Ability to promote understanding and incorporation of equality and diversity within practice.
• Demonstrate strong clinical leadership and management skills.
• Able to manage/embrace and support others through change.
• Able to work under pressure within a highly emotive climate and to meet deadlines.
• Excellent communication, organisational and analytical skills.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
• Demonstrate a commitment to always respecting and displaying the Trust Values.
• The ability to influence service development and delivery both within and outside of the organisation.
• Evidence of protocol development, formulation, and implementation of policies.
• Evidence of working with children, young people, and adults in need of support.
• Evidence of teaching and training clinical and non-clinical staff.

Ability to undertake audit and research methodology.

Well-developed IT skills i.e., ability of using common software packages.

Desirable

• Experience in producing Board reports and reporting to Trust Board meetings.

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Flexible approach to working hours to meet service needs.
• The post holder may be required to travel as part of fulfilling elements of the role.
• Demonstrate interpersonal skills that build personal and professional credibility both within and outside the organisation.
• Self-motivated, drive for improved outcomes for children, young people, and adults in need of support.
• Willingness to work flexibly and adapt to changing service needs.

About the employer

The Rainbow Centre within Alder Hey is situated on the ground floor near the Emergency Department and provides a 'hub' for the co-ordination of Safeguarding and Statutory Services.

We provide child protection medical examinations for children who have been physically harmed as well as a Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC) for children requiring forensic medical examination following sexual assault. We also provide Initial Health Assessments (IHAs), Adoption Medicals and provide the Medical Advisor role for Fostering and Adoption.

Alder Hey has a large catchment area and provides secondary health care for the boroughs of Liverpool, Knowsley, and Sefton. It is also a tertiary referral centre for specialist services with a specialist Paediatric Intensive Care Unit which receives patients from the local and regional areas.

The team works closely with a range of specialities such as Burns and Plastics, Critical Care, Ophthalmology, Radiology, Major Trauma, Children and Young People Gender Service and CAMHS colleagues. The team works in partnership in the management of some of the most complex child protection investigations within the country.