Job summary
FIXED TERM 1 YEAR
Are you interested in pursuing a career in the community as a School Nurse, working with children and families to improve their health and well-being?
Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer suitable applicants, an exciting opportunity to develop their career by undertaking the Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) School Nursing Course. This is run as a joint programme between Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust and either Oxford Brookes University or Bucks New University. All university tuition fees are paid for you.
During the course your time will be split between practical training within a School Nursing Team and academic study. The practice placements are offered in Wokingham, Reading and West Berkshire.
The course commences in September 2025 and is currently offered on a full-time basis only. Please ensure that you indicate if you have commenced the course previously in another university and the reason you did not complete.
The course is run at Post Graduate Diploma - level 7, at both Bucks New university & Oxford Brookes. Detailed information about the courses can be found by accessing the university websites or contacting them directly.
If you are interested in a career with BHFT as a School Nurse, we offer support throughout your training, and there is a requirement to take a substantive post as a School Nurse when you qualify for a minimum period of 2 years, subject to availability of vacant School Nurse posts within BHFT.
Main duties of the job
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To work with CPA and university lecturers to reflect on academic learning and practice, contribute to assessment of progress, plan learning objectives and submit academic coursework according to university deadlines.
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To assess and re-assess care needs, develop, implement, and evaluate packages of care in liaison with and under the direct tutelage of the CPA / Supervisor.
About us
Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust is a specialist mental health and community health services trust. Rated 'outstanding' by the CQC, we're committed to providing the best possible care to people across Berkshire. As an employer, we're committed to offering an inclusive and compassionate environment where our people share in a sense of belonging and are supported to flourish.
Our values at Berkshire Healthcare are:
- Caring for and about you is our top priority
- Committed to providing good quality, safe services
- Working Together with you to develop innovative solutions
Your wellbeing is important to us. Some of the benefits of working for us include:
- Flexible working options to support work-life balance
- 27 days' annual leave rising with service + opportunity to buy and sell
- Generous NHS pension scheme
- Excellent learning and career development opportunities
- 'Cycle to Work' and car leasing scheme including electric vehicles
- Access to a range of wellbeing tools and services
- Discounts at hundreds of popular retailers and restaurants
- Staff networks for race, diversity, disabilities, the environment and armed forces community to support equality
- Generous maternity, paternity, adoption and special leave
- Free parking across Trust sites
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for you to be considered for this role:
- Meet the university entrance requirements and be able to evidence the academic ability to study at a minimum of level 6.
- Current NMC Qualification as a nurse at time of application.
- Evidence of a period of completed preceptorship.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The must haves for you to be considered for this role:
- Meet the university entrance requirements and be able to evidence the academic ability to study at a minimum of level 6.
- Current NMC Qualification as a nurse at time of application.
- Evidence of a period of completed preceptorship.
For further information about the role, please see attached job description and person specification.
We strongly encourage you to review how you meet the criteria in the person specification and write about this point-by-point in your supporting statement for the best chance of being shortlisted.
Were committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to inclusion is reflected in our accreditations: Race Equality Matters Silver Trailblazer, Neurodiversity in Business Corporate Member, Disability Confident Leader, Carer Confident Level 2, and the Armed Forces Covenant Gold Award. Reasonable adjustments will be provided to candidates as needed.
Please note, if we receive a high number of applications, we may close this role earlier than the advertised closing date, so please submit your application as soon as possible.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current NMC Qualification as a nurse
- Meet the university entrance requirements - Level 6 qualification(or above) or evidence of previous education and learning to this level
- The applicant must be registered with a PIN at time of application.
- Evidence of completed preceptorship or equivalent post qualification.
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Mentoring qualification or equivalent.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role of a School Nurse in the context of the wider health team in community settings.
- Knowledge of current legislation and national policies which influence the provision of School Nursing practice
- Awareness of principles of Safeguarding and identification and management of risk within context of School Nurse role
- Awareness of current issues and knowledge of developments for the School Nursing specialist practice pathway
- Demonstrate the ability to support children and families to make informed decisions in relation to their health and well- being
- Understanding of structure and functions of the NHS.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate excellent and effective communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
- Ability to plan, organise and prioritise work.
- Demonstrate ability to adapt to working within a changing environment
- Evidence of appropriate understanding of knowledge and skills required to undertake role
- Enthusiastic and motivated to undertake School Nursing and take substantive employment within BHFT (2 years post course)
- Ability to withstand pressures of undertaking demanding academic study and able to balance with personal commitments
- Demonstrate understanding of Equality and Diversity and implications for service delivery.
- Evidence of effective teamwork
- Numeracy and Literacy skills
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of a continuous professional development (CPD) within the last 5 years
Desirable
- Paediatric experience
- Community Nursing experience
- Demonstration of effective leadership qualities
- Evidence of being a proactive and innovative/reflective practitioner
Analytical and judgmental skills
Essential
- Knowledge of quality issues, the audit process and clinical governance
- Academic ability to study independently at degree or postgraduate level
- Competent to use a range of IT systems and databases
Desirable
- Ability to research/present relevant topics to a range of audiences
Personal skills
Essential
- Evidence of effective team working
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Ability to work flexibly in order to respond to service needs
- Willingness to teach students and colleagues
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Ability to form strong professional working relationships
- Car Driver who holds full driving licence with access to a vehicle.
- Ability and willingness to travel across the BHFT footprint of School Nursing services.
- The post requires a degree of agility and the ability to carry/manoeuvre light to moderate loads
- Enhanced DBS checks are a requirement for this role
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current NMC Qualification as a nurse
- Meet the university entrance requirements - Level 6 qualification(or above) or evidence of previous education and learning to this level
- The applicant must be registered with a PIN at time of application.
- Evidence of completed preceptorship or equivalent post qualification.
Desirable
- Educated to degree level
- Mentoring qualification or equivalent.
Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the role of a School Nurse in the context of the wider health team in community settings.
- Knowledge of current legislation and national policies which influence the provision of School Nursing practice
- Awareness of principles of Safeguarding and identification and management of risk within context of School Nurse role
- Awareness of current issues and knowledge of developments for the School Nursing specialist practice pathway
- Demonstrate the ability to support children and families to make informed decisions in relation to their health and well- being
- Understanding of structure and functions of the NHS.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrate excellent and effective communication skills both written and verbal.
- Ability to work on own initiative as well as part of a team
- Ability to plan, organise and prioritise work.
- Demonstrate ability to adapt to working within a changing environment
- Evidence of appropriate understanding of knowledge and skills required to undertake role
- Enthusiastic and motivated to undertake School Nursing and take substantive employment within BHFT (2 years post course)
- Ability to withstand pressures of undertaking demanding academic study and able to balance with personal commitments
- Demonstrate understanding of Equality and Diversity and implications for service delivery.
- Evidence of effective teamwork
- Numeracy and Literacy skills
Experience
Essential
- Evidence of a continuous professional development (CPD) within the last 5 years
Desirable
- Paediatric experience
- Community Nursing experience
- Demonstration of effective leadership qualities
- Evidence of being a proactive and innovative/reflective practitioner
Analytical and judgmental skills
Essential
- Knowledge of quality issues, the audit process and clinical governance
- Academic ability to study independently at degree or postgraduate level
- Competent to use a range of IT systems and databases
Desirable
- Ability to research/present relevant topics to a range of audiences
Personal skills
Essential
- Evidence of effective team working
- Ability to work without direct supervision
- Ability to work flexibly in order to respond to service needs
- Willingness to teach students and colleagues
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Ability to form strong professional working relationships
- Car Driver who holds full driving licence with access to a vehicle.
- Ability and willingness to travel across the BHFT footprint of School Nursing services.
- The post requires a degree of agility and the ability to carry/manoeuvre light to moderate loads
- Enhanced DBS checks are a requirement for this role
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
