About this role
Job summary
Are you a skilled health visitor with excellent interpersonal skills and sound clinical assessment skills? Would you like the chance to reshape and reinvigorate services to meet the needs of all families living in Medway? Are you passionate about the care you give to children and young adults?
If you answered yes, we've got the perfect role for you!
We are looking for a health visitor to join us in our new children's centre, Snapdragons.
We work closely with our children's centres developing services and supporting families to empower them with the knowledge confidence and life skills they need to raise healthy happy children. We also offer all our new parents access to an award winning five week post natal education course.
Main duties of the job
To plan, deliver and evaluate an efficient and cost effective Health Visiting service for an identified population To provide leadership within the Health Visiting Team and be proactive in delivering the national and local public health agendas in response to identified health and social need To work in partnership with other agencies and meet agreed standards, objectives and statutory requirements.
About us
So what else?
This is your chance to join a progressive and innovative service in a social enterprise that is patient and staff focused - you'll even have the opportunity to become an MCH shareholder.
We encourage staff to get involved in exploring new ways of working and service development.
We'll provide well established, in-service training, one to one supervision, and appraisals with regular support.
You'll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
Would you like to work flexibly?In the NHS, we are reminded every day of how important work life balance is. As a flexible working friendly organisation, we want to be sure that you can work in a way that is best for us, for our patients and for you. Speak to us about how we might be able to accommodate a flexible working arrangement.
The small print
Informal visits can be arranged on request.
We will offer you the choice of two pension schemes; the NHS Pension scheme and the scottish widows group pension scheme.
MCH is considering merging with Kent Community Health Foundation Trust (KCHFT). If the merger goes ahead, the proposed transfer date is 30th September 2026 and this role will be subject to TUPE transfer to KCHFT.
At this time, MCH cannot fund or support any further nurses who require the OSCE training. Please do not apply if you require this training.
Job description Job responsibilities
We offer plenty of opportunities to become involved in service design and are committed to ensuring all staff have the training needed to fulfil their roles We offer a comprehension preceptor programme for our newly qualified staff, as well as preceptors and mentors for new employees. We offer practice placements to pre-registrations and SCPHN students, which encourages our own staff to be up to date with current practice and research. We have whole service meetings where training is given, so staff are continuously updated with the latest research and policy to ensure high standards of service delivery. We have posts available for new and experienced health visitors and also welcome interest from health visitors who have previously left the profession and are looking to renew their registration and return to practice. Youll be able to develop your skills in a friendly and supportive team.
1.Communication and relationship skills
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills Ensure effective communication with all members of the Multidisciplinary team Ensure effective communication with clients where there may be barriers to acceptance/ understanding, e.g. child protection, bereavement, domestic violence and where English is not the first language.
Knowledge, training and experience 1st Level Registered General Nurse Qualified Community Public Health Practitioner (Part 11 NMC Register) Specialist knowledge of safeguarding of children and adults Specialist knowledge of child development and family and public health issues Nurse Prescribing qualification Specialist Mentor qualification. To ensure statutory and mandatory training is kept up to date.
Analytical and judgement skills Proven ability to undertake community and client health need assessment The ability to critique research and apply to practice.
Planning and organisational skills Possess complex organisational skills including caseload management.
Physical skills Keyboard skills Use of growth monitoring equipment e.g. scales, height/length measuring tools.
Responsibility for client care To manage the caseload effectively within the resources available To actively participate in the clinical governance agenda To act as a public health resource and be responsible for developing, organising, implementing and evaluating specialist public health programmes to ensure evidence based health education and promotion to clients Independent responsibility for managing and providing an advisory health visiting service To work as an independent prescriber, diagnosing and prescribing treatment for a range of childhood conditions and minor ailments on completion of appropriate training Safeguard the client group by adhering to child and adult guidelines and procedures. Key participant in child protection/children in need proceedings when appropriate; this may involve managing situations where conflicting opinions are expressed To ensure close collaboration with other agencies to enable robust pathway planning and service delivery in line with the clients needs.
Responsibility for policy and service development implementation Participate in clinical supervision as per organisation policy Actively participate in and support the development of evidence based practice and clinical audit in collaboration with lead professionals and managers To actively participate in service or practice initiatives to improve client care standards and outcomes.
Responsibilities for financial and physical resources Record and submit accurate and timely data as required to inform service planning, community profiling and aid local development plans.
Responsibilities for human resources (HR) Maintain professional registration by adhering to NMC requirements Provide leadership, day to day supervision or coordination of other grades within the team.
Responsibilities for information resources Ensure all records are updated and safeguard clients confidentiality within legal and ethical principles (Caldicott).
Responsibilities for research and development (R&D) Actively participate in and support of evidence based practice and clinical audit in collaboration with managers and lead clinicians
Freedom to act Guided by established policies and guidelines Professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of own work Works independently as an autonomous practitioner.
Physical effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Mental effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Emotional effort (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Working conditions (refer to effort factor questionnaire)
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
1st Level Registered Nurse Registered Health Visitor/Community Specialist Practitioner (Part 11 NMC register)
Desirable
Nurse Prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake. Achievement of graduate status or evidence of working at Level 3 Specialist mentor qualification or willingness to undertake
Experience Essential
Proven post qualification experience in health visiting
Desirable
Understanding or experience of integrated working
Special knowledge / expertise Essential
Specialist knowledge of safeguarding Specialist knowledge of child development , family and public health issues Possession of complex organisational skills Specialist knowledge of relevant health and social issues, ability to search out health needs and develop specialist health programmes Ability to lead and develop innovative practice Ability to line manage and supervise other team members
Disposition/Attitude Essential
Flexible approach to service delivery and team orientated approach
Practical/intellectual skill Essential
Evidence of Leadership skills Evidence of an up to date Personal Development Plan Understanding the principles of research including the ability to critique and apply to practice IT skills Ability to travel to dispersed settings in a timely manner
MCH values Essential
caring and compassionate, quality and value, working in partnership
Driving Essential
Full UK driving license Access to a vehicle for work purposes
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
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 Medway Community Healthcare
Address Snapdragon Children's Centre
Strood
ME2 3DL
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.medwaycommunityhealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)