Registered General Nurse

The primary goal of this post is to improve the health outcomes for care experienced young people.

To identify, assess and plan for the health needs of all Looked After Children at Rossie Young People’s Trust who are accommodated within the residential or secure campus. To promote the highest standards of personalised care and management and is committed to reducing inequalities in health care by identifying and addressing the relevant health needs of this vulnerable group.

The post holder will report directly to the Lead Nurse and in their absence to the Senior Deputy Service Manager of the Specialist Intervention, Health and Wellbeing Team. As a key member of the health team, the nurse will have shared responsibility in managing a small caseload and providing health care for all children and young people who are accommodated at Rossie Young People’s Trust. This includes the delivery of high quality nursing assessments and the promotion of physical, mental and emotional health and well-being. The post holder will have shared responsibility for encouraging the development of healthy lifestyle choices to our young people within the secure and residential settings.

As part of a multi-disciplinary team, you will work in collaboration and will actively participate with SIHW practitioners, care and education colleagues to ensure the physical, emotional and mental health needs of our young people are met. In addition, you will work in partnership with a range of external health professionals including GP’s, Primary Care and Acute Care Services within NHS trusts, CAMHS, community dental services, opticians and Ninewells Hospital to support the health needs of our young people.

Main Tasks

Take a shared role in assessing, identifying and addressing the health needs of Looked After Children and Young People. Act as the liaison person for health; providing advice, support and consultation to colleagues in primary care as well as other professionals involved in care provision, whilst ensuring that there is consultation and involvement of young people and their parents/carers.

Undertake comprehensive health assessments in order to address specific health concerns and identify health and social need. Co-ordinate continuing health care and refer, where appropriate, to specialist services. This will ensure appropriate clinical interventions and referrals to other agencies are implemented and that health inequalities are reduced.

In collaboration with members of the young person’s local authority Looked After Children’s Team; plan, implement and evaluate specialist programmes of care for Looked After Children and Young People ensuring that health needs are met and that health care becomes an integral part of assessment, review and care planning.

Participate in clinical assessments, child protection, care planning and review meetings, and produce written analytical reports when required. Ensure that information is shared appropriately and effectively in partnership with young people, their families, carers and key professionals.

Work proactively with multi-agency colleagues and provide health recommendations, support and advice. This will ensure there is a holistic and streamlined approach in addressing and working towards meeting the identified needs of care experienced young people.

Take shared responsibility in facilitating prompt access to health services and act as an advocate ensuring that systems are in place to offer ongoing health care provision, particularly through transition from children’s to adult services.

Promote a wider understanding of the particular health needs of Looked After Children and Young People, including addressing risk taking lifestyles, while also promoting healthy lifestyle choices including mental health and sexual health.

Support in the co-delivery of health education and health promotion and training initiatives in conjunction with other health and education colleagues.

Undertake clinical duties and nursing procedures including a daily Nurse led clinic, medication management, medication ordering processes, emergency first aid, assessment of minor illness or ailments.

Arranging and supporting GP, dental and optician clinics on site.

Supporting young people and multi-disciplinary colleagues to manage chronic health conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, asthma, allergies and mental health issues and liaison with Specialist Nurses in primary and acute care services.

Support in the facilitation and delivery of group and individual health promotion with other members of the health team and with colleagues in education.

Manage and prioritise workload and in the absence of the lead nurse, provide support and guidance to HCSWs and delegate roles and responsibilities.

Maintain accurate and up to date clinical records/care plans in line with national, local and Rossie policies and procedures, and relevant professional guidelines.

Participate in clinical audit, research and evaluation activities and monitor the quality of health care assessments and interventions to ensure best practice and continuous improvements in care.

Other activities

Support other Registered Nurses with employee training:

Practical Administration of Medication Assessments

Anaphylaxis and Use of an Epipen

Administration of Buccal Midazolam medication

Training to Senior Practitioners and Duty Managers on role of out of hours service and A&E Connect.

Facilitate group and individual health promotion:

Work in collaboration with education and care colleagues to deliver regular health promotion programmes.

Maintain accurate and up to date clinical records/care plans in line with national, local and Rossie policies and procedures, and relevant professional guidelines:

Ensure up to date written and electronic records are maintained in accordance with Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), NHS Tayside and Rossie/ GIRFEC guidelines.

Ensure documentation reflects an accurate record of patient information and maintain confidentiality.

Work to national guidelines, principles and governing bodies requirements.

Maintain / develop service quality, contribute to audit and service review, standard setting and implementation / evaluation of service development:

Develop networks and partnerships to improve the range of our services.

Provide statistical information through auditing.

Assist in the reviews of health and wellbeing policies/procedures.

Decisions & Judgements

Professional autonomous decisions on a daily basis including provision of advice to the multi-disciplinary team

Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates programmes of individual care along with other members of the multi-disciplinary team to maintain and support the health and well-being of care experienced young people

Discusses clinical findings with other health and medical colleagues when required

Uses professional judgement relating to child protection issues whilst working within the realms of client confidentiality in line with Rossie’s Child Protection procedures and in accordance with professional NMC regulations

Uses evidence-based practice or best practice guidelines to co-ordinate work

Uses professional judgement in relation to age of Legal Capacity Act (Scotland) to provide client specific advice and materials

Freedom to act is guided by precedent and clearly defined in Rossie’s protocols, procedures and codes of conduct in accordance with NMC regulations.