Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Health Visitor)

Job description

Job responsibilities

To effectively lead and deliver the Healthy Child Programme (HCP) 0-19 (DH 2010) thereby improving outcomes for children and families.

To contribute to the Public Health Agenda, meet Public Health targets and reduce health inequalities in partnership with key agencies meeting National agendas

To promote the protection of children, adhering to the Local Safeguarding Childrens Board policies and procedures.

To actively lead teams both within Health Visiting and School Nurses and partner agencies where appropriate, e.g.: Advisory Boards of Childrens Centres.

A requirement to be rostered regularly in the hub within a defined geographical area to provide a Single point of access to families and stakeholders providing information, advice and triaging referrals within the service.

To work as part of a team to ensure that Key Performance Indicator targets that are set/negotiated by Local Area Teams/Commissioners for the service, eg: antenatal visits are met.

To support service development, standard setting, clinical audit and bench marking, deliver a high quality needs led, safe and effective service to all client groups.

This list is intended to summarise the key responsibilities and is not intended to cover every task that may be required of the role:

To provide effective clinical leadership to the Public Health nursing team, enabling the team to deliver to the current Health Visiting and School Nursing standards, ensuring that evidence based practice is used.

To take responsibility for the line management of support staff (skill mix) within the team, providing supervision and annual appraisal as per Devon County Council policy. Support the manager and professional lead/team leader in the development of the skills and knowledge of the team in order to maintain the competency level of the whole team. Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff to enhance skill mix within the team.

Facilitate inductions for public health nursing staff new to Devon County Council.

To mentor pre-registration students on a regular basis. To mentor SCPHN students as needed with the support of a Practice Teacher. To act as Preceptor for newly qualified practitioners in their first year of practice.

To actively take responsibility for appropriately identifying, accessing and participating in supervision, according to individual need i.e.: Child Protection, Restorative, and Clinical.

Work closely with Childrens Centres actively participating in joint care planning meetings and attending Advisory Board meetings as the named Health Visitor as per Partnership Agreement.

School nurses to work closely with learning communities, teachers and Boards of Governors as appropriate.

Has an awareness of national policy and how this affects local policy and service development and provision.

Initiate and participate in research, audit, surveys and service user feedback.

To lead meetings in local area bases and delegate work appropriately to the skill mix team and promote positive team working.

Develop and maintain effective communication networks, with service users, health care professionals and other statutory and voluntary organisations

Patient Care Responsibilities

To undertake clinical activities within the scope of professional practice. E.g. NHSP competencies.

Plan, implement and evaluate health enhancing activities to meet health needs of the local population through home visiting, community development, clinics, workshops, support groups and parenting programmes, focusing on key national and local targets.

To develop a workload profile, identifying needs as Universal, Universal Plus, Universal Partnership Plus.

To identify children and families in need of early help through the Common Assessment Framework, known locally as the Early Help Assessment. To act as Lead Professional as required.

Support and manage projects around health enhancing activities e.g postnatal support services, Baby Friendly Initiative, promoting the emotional health of young people.

Act as a named Health Visitor/School nurse within context of caseload management.

Act in accordance with current local and Trust guidelines/policies to protect children at risk. Takes professional responsibility and accountability in the joint decision making process within the Child Protection arena.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualification-Specialist Community Public Health Nursing Degree- Health Visitor /School Nurse.

Desirable

• Qualification at Masters level.

Experience

Essential

• Strong evidence of continuous professional development.
• Knowledge and understanding of safeguarding procedures.
• Proficient in health needs assessment, evaluation and action planning.

Desirable

• Up to date health visiting/school nursing experience.
• Previous experience participating in research projects.
• Proven ability to meet targets and deadlines.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Devon County Council

Address

Estuary House

Collett Way

Newton Abbot

Devon

TQ12 4PH

Employer's website

https://www.devon.gov.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)