Level 4 senior/named doctor and nurse for children and young people in care job description

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.

This description should be read in conjunction with level 4 competencies, outlined within the document.

It should be noted that the level 4 senior/named, and level 5 senior strategic lead/designated professionals are distinct roles and as such should be separate post holders to avoid potential conflict of interest.

It should also be noted that these roles are dedicated posts and should not be combined with responsibilities for adult or child safeguarding.

All provider organisations should have a level 4 senior/named doctor or nurse for children and young people in care.

The job descriptions of level 4 professionals should reflect an appropriate workload, covering both roles and responsibilities for children and young people in care, and for the rest of their work. Job descriptions should be agreed by the employing organisation. The generic model job descriptions can be amended as appropriate according to national and local context.

The post holder must have an enhanced disclosure check. 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).

The level 4 senior/named doctor for children and young people in care should:

• hold consultant status or a senior post with equivalent training and experience; usually the doctor will be working within the provider but may be employed by the ICB/Health Board
• have completed higher professional training (or achieved equivalent training and experience) in paediatrics, community child health, and children and young people in care, or equivalent expertise/experience and competencies including child and adolescent psychiatry for mental health trusts/providers
• have considerable clinical experience of assessing and examining children and young people as appropriate to the role
• be currently practising and be of good professional standing, and usually be working closely with or in the children and young people in care service
• have an understanding of and be able to advise on legal and forensic medicine as it relates to children and young people in care

The level 4 senior/named nurse for children and young people in care should:

• hold a senior level post; it is expected that the post would be within the Band 8 range (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 Part 3 as a specialist community public health nurse having completed a specific programme with a child and family focus. For mental health trusts/providers – registered mental health nurse with CAMHS specialism
• have completed (or be completing) specific post-registration training relevant to children and young person in care, prior to commencement in the post (including law, policy, and practice at level 2 or Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip)); a development post can be considered
• 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

The level 4 and level 4 senior/named midwife are likely to hold responsibility for safeguarding across the whole lifetime of patients. This includes the responsibilities, leadership, accountability, and expertise summarised below for children and young people in care. However, it is recognised that different career qualifications and experience may be considered when appointing to these senior roles.

Level 4 job description:

• support all activities necessary to ensure that the organisation meets its responsibilities for children and young people in care
• be responsible to and accountable within the managerial framework of the employing organisation
• collaborate with partner agencies and advise on health matters with regards to children and young people in care
• liaise with professional leads for specialist services
• engage in appraisal, support, and supervision, and undertake reflective practice. Appraisal and accountability in line with Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) and General Medical Council (GMC)

• support and advise the board of the health care organisation about children and young people in care
• contribute to the planning and strategic organisation of provider services for children and young people in care
• work with other level 4 senior/namedspecialist and level 5 senior strategic lead/designated professionals to plan and develop the health care organisation’s strategy for services for children and young people in care
• ensure advice is available to other professionals and services across the organisation on day to-day issues about children and young people in care and their families, including involvement in fostering and adoption panels according to local arrangements

• when required, 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

• work with the specialist and level 5 senior strategic lead/designated professional to ensure that the health care organisation has relevant policies and procedures in line with legislation and national guidance
• contribute to the dissemination and implementation of organisational policies and procedures
• contribute to monitoring the quality and effectiveness of services, including monitoring

• support and present data collated against KPIs and national requests

• work with specialist and level 5 senior strategic lead/designated children and young people in care professionals locally to agree and promote training needs and priorities
• support the level 5 senior strategic lead/designated professionals to ensure that there is an organisational training strategy in line with national and local expectations
• contribute to the delivery of training for health care staff and inter-agency training
• support the specialist and level 5 senior strategic lead/designated professionals in the evaluation of training and adapt provision according to feedback from participants
• tailor provision to meet the learning needs of participants

• meet the organisation’s requirements for training attendance
• attend relevant local, regional, and national continuing professional development activities to maintain competence
• receive regular supervision and undertake reflective practice
• recognise the potential personal impact of working with children and young in care on self and others, and seek support and help when necessary

• receive annual appraisal from a professional with specialist knowledge of children and young people in care, and with knowledge of the individual’s professional context and framework; for nurses, midwives, health visitors and relevant health care staff, reference should be made to the NHS Knowledge and Skills Framework

• be accountable to the chief executive of the employing body
• report to the medical director, nurse director or board lead with primary responsibility for children and young people in care services within the organisation

• should have the authority to carry out all of the above duties on behalf of the employing body and should be supported in so doing by the organisation and by colleagues

Professionals’ roles should be explicitly defined in job descriptions, and sufficient time and funding must be allowed 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 specialist professional

The data below are a minimum guide to the resources required for the roles. These have not been updated from the last edition.