Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To ensure safe and effective safeguarding practice

Practice within an ethical framework based upon respect for the well-being and safety of the patients and clients.

To be responsible and professionally accountable for the assessment of safeguarding issues and evaluation of basic safeguarding practice.

To provide a robust and safe communication system for the effective and timely flow of information to ensure continuity of care and safe discharge and follow up as required or directed.

To provide, in collaboration with acute and community practitioners training opportunities for staff involved in the delivery of children and young people’s services to promote good professional practice and protect vulnerable children.

Co-ordinate and respond to the clinical area and reinforce the values and standards of local and national safeguarding legislation and guidance.

Upon request participate, facilitate and be responsible for the administrative role of safeguarding meetings.

Evidence-based, clinically effective practice

Ensuring the planning and delivery of safeguarding care is aligned to legislation, statutory guidance and Wolverhampton Safeguarding Together policies and procedures; act as a change agent, developing effective safeguarding practice through the effective utilisation and integration of evidence based practice.

Continuous quality improvement

Ensure a culture of continuous quality improvement through the use of audit, patient/family/stakeholder/staff feedback and reflection on practice by self.

Support the Named Nurse in ensuring a culture of protecting patients from harm and deprivation of basic rights ensuring a safe and effective service with continuous quality improvement.

Patient Safety

Promote a safeguarding environment for staff, patients and visitors by ensuring compliance with legislation, policies and protocols including, clinical governance, risk management, critical incident reporting and route cause analysis/ preparation of complex chronologies.

Ensure a high standard of basic care and record keeping in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Council, other relevant professional bodies, national legislation and local standards. Demonstrating safe and effective care including; effective and timely advice and support for clinical teams and demonstrate effective communication with the multi-professional team/multi-agency organisations regarding safeguarding issues/cases.

To support staff to identify safeguarding concerns, risks posed and health needs of children, young people and families using appropriate methods and tools.

Assess the safeguarding risks involved in cases/ situations and ensure utilisation of practices and protocols to minimise those risks.

To monitor safeguarding performance or individuals/ teams and with the support of the Named Nurse to take appropriate actions when standards fall below expected levels.

Report incidents and near misses promptly and appropriately and with support of the Named Nurse take effective action to minimise future risk. Contribute to the development and implementation of evidence- based protocols, standards, policies and clinical guidelines.

To enhance the patients experience.

Co-ordination of the patient journey

Ensure effective information sharing within the Trust and across other agencies.

Clinical expertise

Provide safeguarding advice across the Trust and other agencies if required.

Identify relevant cases requiring liaison and where proactive safeguarding is required.

Ensure all referrals are followed up and escalated where necessary.

Identify opportunities to develop care and services.

Support the Named Nurse in undertaking Child Safeguarding Practice Reviews/Domestic Homicide Reviews/Serious Adult Reviews/Multi-agency file audit within a multi-disciplinary team environment; supporting the development of a culture of Working Together and Think Family.

Be highly visible within the ward/department, communicating regularly, providing regular “drop in” services and supporting staff trust wide as required.

Ensure that everyone within the sphere of care is treated with dignity and humanity, understanding individual needs. Showing compassion and sensitivity and provide care in a way that respects all people equally.

Role Model

Act as a visible role model, adhering to expected standards of behaviour, promoting a supportive ethos to empower staff to contribute to the delivery of high quality person-centred care.

Lead by example, developing self and other staff and influencing the way care is provided in a manner that is innovative, open and responds to individual needs in line with the NHS Duty of Candour.

Contribute to any management of change within the safeguarding team supporting a continuous improvement cycle.

Utilise robust communication networks within and external to the team.

Establish and support robust communication networks within the team. Work harmoniously and effectively with colleagues, patients, parents/carers and other members of the multidisciplinary team.

In the absence of the Named Nurse take all reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and other and to co-operate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. Report incidents and near misses promptly and appropriately and take effective action to minimise future risk.

Demonstrate efficient use of time management to meet competing demands of the service.

Learning and development

Support and deliver the training programme and safeguarding agenda.

Support the Named Nurse in creating and maintaining a learning environment that ensures effective learning opportunities for staff.

To ensure effective contribution to the delivery of the organisation’s objectives

Networking

Contribute to the development of an organisational culture that supports continuous learning and development, evidence based practice and succession planning.

Attend professional forums and disseminate information under the direction of the Safeguarding Children Team Lead.

Service development

Support the Named Nurse to undertake audit and evaluation processes at the direction of the Safeguarding Children Team Lead.

Work in partnership with a range of clinicians and manager in the delivery of the service promoting involvement of families.

Seek opportunities for personal and team development supporting the research agendas of the organisation.

Political and strategic awareness

Maintain a working knowledge of local, national and professional strategy and policy.

Support police and strategy development at a departmental and organisational level and where appropriate national level.

Act up in the absence of the Named Nurse

This is not an exhaustive list, additional duties may be required at the request of the senior staff