Health Visitor

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To work as part of a multidisciplinary team to identify the health needs of children and young people, their families and the community and contribute to developing a strategy to address individual identified needs as well as those needs within the community. This may include being the Lead Professional in the Early Help Hub Assessment Process

To use knowledge and skills to assess, plan, implement and evaluate packages of care

To identify health needs within a geographical corporate caseload/community

To clinically triage the single point of access as required in accordance with agreed procedures

Promote local and national public health priorities

Respond to health needs assessments by referring to other professionals (e.g. GPs, consultants, speech and language therapists), and statutory and voluntary agencies (e.g. social care, housing, HomeStart)

To work with the Locality Lead to support children, young people and families who are considered to be vulnerable or at risk. To adhere to current safeguarding procedures and participate in child protection case conferences and case review meetings as required

Participate in all statutory processes in respect of safeguarding including provision of witness statements, court reports and court attendance

Undertake programmes of care in partnership with parents, foster parents and other agencies, designed to safeguard children, and minimise risk

Identify children with special educational needs and disability and facilitate support and referrals to maximise developmental potential. Act as a key worker when indicated, ensuring effective, efficient, and appropriate care plans

To provide cover for colleagues as requested by your manager

To plan evidence-based health promotion programs, order resources, compile teaching plans with aims, objectives, and outcomes, and evaluate the sessions

Actively promote community participation and work within a community development / capacity building framework within a multi-agency context

To act as a health link for other agencies, e.g., Children Centers, GPs, voluntary services, public and private agencies, and work closely with partner agencies to promote the health and wellbeing of children, young people and families

Demonstrate reflective and evidence-based practice and use this to influence strategy and policy development

To be competent as a non-medical prescriber maintaining NMC registration and competencies

To hold a special interest role and support other staff within the locality and service

To link practice with local and national targets and deliver public health programs based on current priorities and targets

To contribute to the development of local policies and procedures relevant to their area of work

To take responsibility for their own clinical practice including clinical supervision and to adhere to the NMC code of conduct

To actively participate in reflective practice development through annual clinical observations.

To maintain live mentor status and contribute to a learning environment for SCPHNs, return to practice SCPHNs, new staff members and pre-registration students

Communication

To communicate complex and sensitive information concerning the child or young persons condition to the childs parents/carers and young person. Able to communicate effectively using appropriate methods and recognising barriers to communication

To communicate within the multi-disciplinary team and model effective team working and communication skills, supporting change within the service

To develop links with childrens centres, schools and other agencies involved in promoting childrens well-being

To work closely with other professional teams and key stakeholders including service users, statutory and non-statutory organisations

To act as first line response to complaints working within national and corporate guidelines

To contribute to the training of students of nursing and other disciplines, during community experience programmes

Budgetary Responsibility

To maintain stock control

To demonstrate responsible use of resources, with an awareness of budgetary restraints

To ensure health monitoring equipment is operating to a high standard, maintained, and calibrated

Take responsibility to minimise incurred expenditure e.g., Mileage, telephone calls use of stationary etc

People Management

To ensure appropriate delegation, allocation and supervision of work and packages of care to the skill mix team. To include caseload support, monitoring and counter signing records on completion of the allocated intervention work

To contribute to the training of students of nursing and other disciplines, during community experience programmes

Maintaining own professional development and requirement to take part in appraisal and KSF process

To delegate work to other members of the team related to their capabilities and competencies, ensuring there is clarity regarding the feedback mechanisms

Research & Development Activity

Contributes to clinical audit and research highlighting unmet needs within the practice population. Contributes to the maintenance of the Health Profile of the practice population

Clinical and Practice Governance

Observe and maintain strict confidentiality with regards to any patient/family/staff/records and information in line with the requirements of the Data Protection Act

Any data that is taken/shared as part of a phone call or transported, faxed, or transferred electronically must be undertaken with regard to the Trust Information Governance and Information Security policies

The post holder must adhere to the Trust risk assessment and risk management processes.

The post holder must adhere to infection control policies and procedures

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with the NMC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration

Undertake mandatory training and any other training relevant to the role as required by Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

It is a condition of your employment that you are currently registered with NMC and it is your responsibility to maintain your professional registration

The post holder must participate in clinical and other audits as required

Provide patients and their families /carers with information on standards they should expect from the team

Participate in reflective/ clinical supervision on a regular basis

Participate and lead caseload review within the locality

The post holder is required to participate in relevant emergency preparedness process for their team

To write records in a concise, accurate and timely manner in line with Cambridgeshire Community Services Record Keeping Policy

To participate in clinical pathway developments and service improvements

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Working with people within clinic/home and community settings
• Partnership and interagency working
• Experience with children and their families

Desirable

• Experience of Mentoring Leadership and management of staff Work with different communities including minority and ethnic groups

Knowledge & skills

Essential

• High level of clinical skills, with the ability to identify, respond to and evaluate health needs
• Knowledge and effective skills in using evidence based models of intervention to deliver successful outcomes and an ability to bring research into practice
• Current knowledge of local and national policies informing Health Visiting practice

Desirable

• Audit and data analysis
• Initiating and managing change
• Research

Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Community Specialist Practitioner in Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) - Health Visitor-at Honours Degree, Diploma or Masters Level
• Registered Nurse with UK NMC (RGN/RMN/RSCN/RN-LD)
• Evidence of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Management and leadership qualification
• Registered non medical Nurse Prescriber (course to be undertaken within 1 year of commencement of post if no qualification)
• Mentor/998 or equivalent teaching qualification (course to be undertaken within 1 year of commencement of post if no qualification)

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust

Address

The Peacock Centre

351 Mill Road

Cambridge

CB1 3DF

Employer's website

https://www.cambscommunityservices.nhs.uk/careers (Opens in a new tab)