Band 5 Nurse

Defence Children Services (DCS) Army

Grade: Health Professionals

Salary: £31,049 - £37,796

Are you a motivated individual who strives to deliver excellent healthcare to children in school?

Are you a Registered Nurse looking for a captivating role with children and young people, working in a unique environment, in a boarding school alongside caring and nurturing teaching staff? If so, then we would love to hear from you.

Queen Victoria School (QVS) is a Ministry of Defence (MOD) funded non-academically selective, fully boarding, co-educational boarding school with a capacity of 277 pupils from the age of 10/11 up to 18 (P7 – S6). It is part of the MOD family of schools administered by Defence Children Services (DCS)

The school is currently in need of a second nurse to be responsible for the health and wellbeing for all pupils, this post will be on a rotational shift pattern including covering weekends during the term. The Health and Wellbeing Centre (HWBC) is a dedicated facility within the school’s grounds to provide on-site medical and emotional/well-being support to the pupils.

This position is advertised as full time at 37.5 hours per week.

Defence Children Services (DCS) is a Defence delivery organisation, subordinated under Army Regional Command. Our Vision is that we Educate the Child – Support the Family – Defend the Nation. HQ DCS is UK based at Trenchard Lines, Upavon and has forward deployed staff all over the world. DCS is responsible for the education and care of children of accompanied Service and Defence entitled personnel in MOD schools and settings; provides advice and guidance in respect of education for service families in the United Kingdom and the wider world.

Job Description

Within this role you will:

· Provide a high standard of service within NMC guidelines and school policies.

· Deliver first aid and emergency care to students.

· Assess and support students who are feeling unwell.

· Liaising with parents or guardians as appropriate as well as working closely with local GP.

· Supporting students who reside in the boarding houses, accompanying them to medical appointments if required.

· Provide care to students with chronic medical conditions in consultation with their medical advisors.

· Contribute to the promotion of health and wellbeing of staff and students.

· Administration tasks include maintaining medical records, healthcare plans whilst adhering to school policies.

· Assist arranging with a schedule of vaccination timetables and dates.

· Teaching awareness and procedures to staff.

· Contribute to child protection, safeguarding, and uphold health and safety standards at all times.

· Responsible for Medicines Management within the school.

Knowledge, skills and experience required:

· Registered General Nursing qualification RGN/RSCN.

· Current NMC registration.

· Minimum of 3 years post registration experience, ideally in school nursing or practice nursing.

· Experience working in a boarding school environment is particularly desirable.

· Paediatric and hospital experience is desirable.

Full job description and list of responsibilities can be found at the link below.

Person Specification

Skills, aptitudes and experience:

Essential

· Confident in carrying out unsupervised assessment of the pupils’ medical needs, evaluate the high standard of evidence-based care given.

· Excellent communication skills. To maintain comprehensive and accurate documentation of nursing records.

· Implement safe working practices as required by the Health & Safety at Work Act.

· Ability to liaise with the House and teaching staff regarding pupil care - ensuring that they have the skills, knowledge and resources to carry out duties delegated to them when caring for pupils.

· Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team including nurses, doctors, medical secretary, counsellors, mental health nurse, external eating disorder teams, CAMHS, Social Services, mental health liaison team, Safeguarding team, physiotherapy, and other clinical specialities.

· Evidence of continuing educational and professional development.

Desirable

· Experience working with wound management, asthma and allergies.

· Communication skills in a manner and pace appropriate to the age of the individual pupil’s age and level of understanding.

· Evidence of teaching others. Ability to participate in the health education to pupils and staff and nursing team.

· Basic counselling skills.

· Advanced Life Support or Advanced Paediatric Life Support.

· Understanding of Gillick competency and Fraser guidelines.

· Sport First Aid

· Ability to use a digital medical record system My Concern, Teams, Outlook 365.

Qualifications and Requirements:

· Registered General Nursing qualification RGN/RSCN.

· Current registration with NMC as a registered nurse and PIN number up to date.

· In date Enhanced Disclosure (DBS) or a member of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme.

· Evidence of qualification/Licence/Membership will be required at interview.

All qualifications/licences/memberships declared must be held at point of application and if applicable be in date. Equivalent Qualifications will not be accepted.

Benefits

We are passionate about delivering extraordinary things for our people. We employ people who challenge and guide each other, working within a highly capable team who will support you to develop your skills and experience.

Benefits for QVS employees include:

· NHS Pension

· Personal and professional development opportunities.

· Part of a forward-looking organisation with inclusive workplace policies and prides itself on being a supportive employer.

· Access to the Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), a free service that assists you with achieving a productive, healthy environment that is conducive to a healthy lifestyle.

· On campus car parking.

· Access to excellent sports facilities, including a multi-gym.

· A culture encouraging inclusion and diversity

Discover My Benefits: Please follow the link to visit the Discover My Benefits site which showcases the benefits and discounts offered when working as a civilian for the MOD. https://discovermybenefits.mod.gov.uk/civilian/

To apply please visit Civil Service Jobs using the button provided to submit your completed application before the deadline of Friday 27th March 2026.

Defence Children Services is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.