Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1.           Communication and relationship skills

To communicate effectively with patients and carers and other health care professionals and non-professionals using a wide range of verbal and non-verbal communication tools to share assessment findings, agree treatment plans, progress and modify management programmes, give advice, teaching etc. This will include patients, family members or carers with communication and comprehension difficulties and those who may be unable to accept diagnosis.

To liaise with health and social care professionals and other agencies regarding paediatric patient care, treatment progress and discharge planning.

2.           Knowledge, training and experience

All staff must complete on-going mandatory and role-specific training pertinent to their post, and this should be confirmed with their line manager.

Independent prescribing course should be undertaken within first 18 months of employment if not already obtained.

Staff should ensure that they help to create a positive patient experience at all stages of a patient’s interaction with MCH.

3.           To support and facilitate the provision of specialist education, training and information to children, families and members of the multi-disciplinary team

To provide an individualised programme of education and advice for each family in the nature of the condition, its treatment and support services available.

To provide patient information leaflets and health education within specialist clinics.

To provide accurate training regarding safe administering and storage of controlled drugs – for parents, children and educational establishments.

To organise and participate in formal and informal teaching programmes for other health professionals, education staff and local authorities.

4.           To be responsible for monitoring patient condition, communicating change to other members of the team and advising about treatment

Facilitate clinics for monitoring treatment and assessing follow-up patients. Complete care plans, prescriptions and electronic notes as appropriate.

Ensure that care is evaluated, communicated and documented appropriately.

Ensure that the patient’s condition is monitored effectively by accurately recording growth, vital signs, functional ability and impact at home school and wider community.

Feedback any alterations in patients’ conditions to the multi-disciplinary team as appropriate.

Refer to CAMHS / NELFT /paediatricians as appropriate following discussion with specialist nurse prescriber

Advise about treatment and medications using agreed local and national protocols and guidelines.

5.           To be responsible for clinical practice development

Participate in multi-disciplinary discussions for service developments.

Participate in carrying out research within specialty.

Participate in the development of evidence based clinical protocols for this specialist area in collaboration with other team members.

Comply with all policies, procedures, clinical protocols, standards and guidelines based on legislation, evidence based nursing practice and NMC guidelines for conduct and professional practice.

Adhere to the local child protection policies and guidelines.

Adhere to the medicines management code and NMC standards for the safe keeping and administration of medication.

Adhere to procedures and protocols on moving and handling in line with current legislation.

Ensures accurate record keeping as per MCH policy and NMC guidelines on patient records

6.           To facilitate the provision of the specialist service in a variety of setting, ensuring the quality of care provided to children

To develop specialist care plans for each patient and communicate these to the child, family and others involved in the child’s care.

To liaise with other services (teaching staff, LEA parent partnership, social services, CAMHS, GP, CPN etc).

To provide a telephone advice service to patients and serve as a point of contact for other health professionals.

Provide, receive and act upon highly complex and sensitive information.

To undertake school observations as necessary (interpret behaviour using specialist knowledge), gain information from teaching staff – provide report as required.

To assess complex children – requiring specialist multiagency intervention

To provide specialist programme of care which may need rapid intervention

To develop excellent communication and negotiating skills required for an allocated client group

7.           Key working relationships internal and external

Internal: Patients, parents, guardians, relatives and carers

To liaise with members of the multi-disciplinary team in contributing towards effective service delivery.

External: clinical and non-clinical staff within children’s health services clinical & non clinical staff within child & adolescent mental health services. Local authority children & young people’s services

Education services and others with the consent of the child and carers

8.           Quality assurance

MCH has adopted comprehensive quality assurance, and all members of staff employed by the organisation are expected to play their part. The aim is to provide a good quality service, which the customer accepts is appropriate and which is provided in the best possible way.

9.           Health and safety

Staff are required to observe local Health & Safety arrangements and take reasonable care of themselves and persons who may be affected by their work.

10.        Equal opportunities

Staff are required to comply with the MCH approach to equal opportunities and treat everyone the same, regardless of their gender, race, disability, marital status, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age.

11.        Infection prevention and control

Staff must adhere to current policies and procedures on infection prevention and control to ensure that the staff are aware of these provisions. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, but more an outline framework against which staff and managers have flexibility to develop and define the detail of the work undertaken.

12.        Information governance

Staff are required to keep all patient and staff information confidential unless disclosure is expressly authorised by your employer. Misuse of or a failure to properly safeguard any data considered to be confidential may be regarded as misconduct/gross misconduct and a disciplinary offence.

13.        Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults

All employees have a responsibility for safeguarding children and vulnerable adults in the course of their daily duties and for ensuring that they are aware of the specific duties relating to their role.