Specialist nurse for children and young people in care

All health care staff need education, support, and leadership both locally and nationally in order to fulfil their duties in meeting the needs of both children and young people in care, and care leavers.

These role descriptions should be read in conjunction with appropriate level 3 (link to IHA section), 4 and 5 competencies. Significant expertise, knowledge and skills related to health and outcomes for children and young people in care, and care leavers is a pre-requisite for senior posts.

These posts should be separate to other safeguarding children, young people, and adult posts.

The post holder must have an enhanced disclosure check, in line with health professionals in clinical practice working with children and young people less than 18 years old. These professional posts comprise a regulated activity under the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) (for England and Wales), Disclosure Scotland (for Scotland) and Access Northern Ireland (for Northern Ireland).

Professionals should be of good professional standing.

The specialist nurse for children and young people in care should:

• hold a senior level post; it is expected that the post would be banded at Band 7, dependent on the precise responsibilities outlined in the role description (the role would be subject to the usual Agenda for Change Job Evaluation process)
• have completed specific training in the care of babies/children and young people and be registered on either Part 1 of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register as a registered children’s nurse or mental health nurse (in mental health organisations) or Part 3 as a specialist community public health nurse having completed a specific programme with a child and family focus
• have completed (or be willing to complete) specific post-registration training relevant to children and young people in care (including law, policy, and practice at level 2 or Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip))
• have a minimum of three years’ experience related to caring for babies/children and young people and relevant experience with children and young people in care

• support the level 4 senior/named professionals to ensure that the organisation meets its responsibilities to children and young people in care
• be responsible to and accountable within the managerial framework of the employing organisation
• at all times and in relation to the roles and responsibilities listed, work as a member of the organisation’s children and young people in care ’s health team
• collaborate with partner agencies and advise on health matters with regards to individual children and young people in care, and liaise with other specialist services
• deliver a leadership and advisory role, and contribute to the implementation of organisational policies and procedures
• liaise with professionals from other partner agencies; collaborate with other children and young person in care specialists at local, regional, national levels; work with safeguarding colleagues
• work with senior professionals to ensure an organisational training strategy; promote and deliver training, which is adapted to participants needs, inter-agency in its focus and appropriately evaluated
• contribute to monitoring the quality and effectiveness of services, including monitoring performance against indicators and standards

• undertake health assessments for children and young people in care, and provide written reports on the health of prospective carers as appropriate
• support and advise colleagues in the clinical assessment and care of children and young people, whilst being clear about others’ personal clinical professional accountability
• provide advice and signposting to other professionals about legal processes, key research, and policy documents
• encourage case discussion, reflective practice, and the monitoring of significant events at a local level

• professionals’ roles should be explicitly defined in job descriptions, and sufficient time and funding must be allowed, in order to fulfil their responsibilities effectively
• the time required to undertake the tasks outlined in this job description will depend on the size and needs of the children and young people in care population, the number of staff, the number and type of operational units covered by the health care organisation, and the level of development of local structures, process, and function
• the health care organisation should supply dedicated secretarial and effective support

Given the stressful nature of the work, the health care organisation should provide focused support and supervision for the health professional.