Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical practice, including own professional development

·         To provide comprehensive assessment of safeguarding concerns for services users and to provide guidance to support SPFT staff to address these

·         To be able to effectively communicate with SPFT colleagues and multi-agency partners to ensure positive working relationships internally and externally

·         To provide staff guidance with regard to report writing for multi-agency meetings and for legal and police purposes

·         To be able to demonstrate an ability to respond to unexpected work streams and prioritise work load accordingly

·         To recognise own limitations of knowledge and expertise and seek support as required

·         Possess the ability to escalate any concerns that could indicate a significant concern for a client, member of staff, the Trust or another agency

·         To receive management supervision from the named nurse or equivalent

·         To demonstrate excellent communication and IT skills

·         To work in partnership with other agencies to maintain robust safeguarding practice and development

Practice Development, including professional development of others

·         To utilise specialist safeguarding knowledge to provide specialist training and advice to other professionals, students and agencies.

·         To provide responsive safeguarding supervision to SPFT staff.

·         To assist the Lead Nurse/Named Nurse(s) in developing and providing safeguarding group supervision

·         To support all staff to develop their skills and knowledge of safeguarding children practice

Research and Development

·         To develop teaching and training sessions for staff and professionals on specialist subject area of safeguarding children and 'think family'

·         To contribute and participate in National and local multi-agency audits

·         Where appropriate, to undertake research, service evaluation and external and internal clinical audits.

·         To use research and audit findings in practice and develop action plans for safeguarding service development

Governance – including quality, standards, documentation & ethics

·         To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.

·         To keep accurate and timely electronic records of each contact, using care notes and other software programmes used by the Trust.

·         To adhere to the Nursing & Midwifery Council Code of Conduct, professional standards and ethics and comply with local and national standards of practice.

·         To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.

·         To contribute in the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards

·         To be aware of and work to the policies and procedures within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust

·         To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to Safeguarding children practice

·         To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required

·         To ensure own performance targets and standards are met, and to support the named nurse in implementing performance improvement plans.

·         To ensure that professional nursing standards of practice are maintained within the clinical setting.

·         To seek and attend monthly – 6 weekly clinical supervision

Clinical LeadershipTo provide effective safeguarding leadership to staff, which promotes high performance standards, both individually and as part of the safeguarding team, in the achievement of the Trust’s objectives and priorities.  The Trust’s success will be dependent on all leaders playing an active role to make sure the existing areas of good employment practice are universally embedded within the organisation.  Senior Nursing staff will be expected to:

·         Understand the Trust’s key priorities and those of your care group and translate these into key priorities for your care group

·         Work within the Trust’s HR Policies to encourage the achievement of equality, equity and optimum performance.

·         Communicate regularly through meetings with teams and individuals and provide opportunity for two-way feedback

·         Promote an effective team ethos.

• Promote equality, diversity and rights, and treat others with dignity and respect ensuring services are developed, managed and delivered to meet the specific needs of those belonging to protected characteristics.
• Promote equality, diversity and Human Rights in working practices by developing and maintaining positive working relationships, ensuring that colleagues are treated fairly and contributing to developing equality of opportunity and outcomes in working practices.
• Ensure that colleagues are treated fairly.  Behave in a non-discriminatory way and challenge the discriminatory behaviour of others.  Be supportive of colleagues or other partners/organisations who wish to raise issues about discriminatory practice or experience