Lead School Nurse
- Job title: Lead School Nurse
- Job Type: Term Time
- Salary: £42,500 pro rata (FTE £48,500)
- Department: Wellbeing Team
- Reporting to: Director of Pupil Wellbeing
- Location: Highgate, North London
- Start: As soon as possible
- Closing Date: 24 April 2023 at 12:00 am
Are you a qualified Nurse (Band 7/8) who is able to bring their skills and expertise to a busy school environment?
We have an exciting opportunity for a Lead School Nurse to join our friendly and dynamic Health and Wellbeing Team. You’ll be motivated and highly organised to provide a robust medical service within the school and be responsible for the management of the medical team. This role directs and manages the medical office in its daily functions which includes the assessment, evaluation, treatment, and support of pupils. We’re looking for a confident communicator who is able to work across multiple teams to ensure we deliver effective physical and pastoral care.
The Department
Wellbeing matters at Highgate and we aim to embed good wellbeing practices for pupils in all we do. The Medical team is part of the Health and Wellbeing Team and together we understand the strong relationship between physical health and emotional wellbeing and recognise the importance of good health and wellbeing support for pupils.
Our Wellbeing team consists of a Director of Pupil Wellbeing, two Wellbeing Practitioners, Counsellors and Play Therapists across the Foundation and a Medical team. The Medical team and Wellbeing Practitioners work closely together where physical and mental health needs overlap. The Wellbeing team works collaboratively with school staff to ensure they are equipped to understand and respond to the health and wellbeing needs of pupils, knowing when to refer on if needed.
We have a wellbeing hub where pupils can go to emotionally regulate and to seek help and treatment of physical ailments. The medical facilities are well equipped in order to facilitate the immediate care, both medical and pastoral, of pupils and staff at Highgate. There are two main sites where medical care is available – the Senior School Medical Centre on North Road and the Bishopswood Road Medical Centre. The Lead Nurse, School Nurse and Medical Assistants share the responsibility for the day-to day medical provision across the whole school and may be required to cover at either site.
We take a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing that is based on education and awareness, prevention, and therapeutic support. Health and wellbeing education is incorporated in our PSHE lessons with contributions from the Medical and Wellbeing team where needed.
The Lead School Nurse provides a robust medical service within the school and will be responsible for the management of the medical team. The role directs and manages the medical office in its daily functions which includes the assessment, evaluation, treatment, and support of pupils. Responsible for ensuring compliance of all student records, developing, and implementing policies and procedures, managing relationships with the school staff, pupils and parents, supervising the nurse and medical assistant, and identifying areas of improvement to the care of students.
Reporting to the Director of Pupil Wellbeing and Deputy Head (Pastoral), the Lead School Nurse will direct the nurse programme in accordance with the NMC Code of Conduct.
Main Responsibilities
- Liaise with parents and relevant medical professionals and ensure that all student health records are current and up to date.
- Take lead in planning with the school staff for vaccinations that take place across all 3 schools.
- Take the lead planning and organising medical care plan for pupils with additional medical needs.
- Oversee and manage the pupil medical records, including pupil who attend and receive support from the medical service.
- Alongside the school medical team, assess pupils who come to the medical office, administer appropriate medical support and ensure they return to their classes if they are believed to be well enough.
- Provide confidential health advice to individual students.
- Establish and maintain records of all visits and dispensed medication.
- Organise the medical team to ensure that the medical office and area, including keeping the treatment rooms hygienic, well-stocked, with excellent supervision of students.
- Maintain communication with school medical team and school staff in order to promote and maintain students’ health and welfare.
- Respond to medical emergency situations as required.
- Organise the co-ordination of first aid and key medical training across school staff.
- Review, revise and implement emergency policies, including in-service health and safety.
- programs for the school.
- Develop policies and procedures for the medical team.
- Adhere to NMC Code of Conduct.
- Responsibility for the day-to-day running of the Mills Centre and Senior School Medical Centres and for providing support where required for the Junior School Medical Room.
- Ensuring that the Mills Centre and Senior School Medical Centres (and Junior School Medical Room where required) are appropriately staffed, stocked and equipped.
- Regular meetings with key pastoral and wellbeing staff (Principals, Deputy Heads, Assistant Heads, Heads of Year, Heads of House, etc.) to provide advice on effective pastoral care for particular pupils.
- Liaising with the wellbeing, safeguarding and inclusion team regarding any concerns about individual pupils as needed.
- Take the lead in promoting health and working closely with PSHE lead to educate pupils on the following: Exercise and healthy eating; Sexual health and relationships; Drug and alcohol abuse and smoking.
- Criteria
- How will these be tested or verified?
- Qualifications & Experience
Essential
SCN, RN–child, or RGN with relevant experience (i.e. A&E, School nursing, Practice nursing) Band 7/8
- Skills, Knowledge & Abilities
Essential
- Experience as a School Nurse, preferably in a school or independent school setting.
- In depth knowledge of laws governing nurses and their implementation
- Licensed & qualified as a paediatric Nurse (Band 7/8)
- Strong interpersonal, communication and organisational skills
- Demonstrates professional experience supervising nurses and medical staff
- A clear interest in being part of a school community and working to establish a school based medical service.
- A strong work ethic.
- Ability to work independently and collaborate with a team.
- Adaptability, initiative, and flexibility.
- Attention to detail and accuracy.
- Approachable with interpersonal skills.
- Excellent time management skills, punctual and ability to prioritise work.
- Good communication skills (verbal and written); excellent grammar and punctuation.
- Integrity; good judgment and decision-making abilities, problem-solving skills, and organisational and planning skills.
- Reliability and able to maintain confidentiality.
- Skilled at information gathering and data management.
- Able to use their own initiative. Assumes responsibility and ownership for work issues and problems of a primary operational nature.
- Imparts a positive impact with student and staff.
- Supports the aims, objectives, goals, ethos, and mission of the school.
- Establishes team direction and responsibilities for school medical staff.
- Is proactive rather than reactive in approach and can act on their own initiative. Proactively plans for situations and circumstances that emerge relating to pupil’s medical health and the medical service.
- Takes responsibility and ownership for work issues and problems of a primary operational nature.
- Has positive impact with students and staff.
- Speaks clearly, sensitively, and persuasively when interacting with internal personnel.
Benefits
Location | Highgate Village, adjacent to Hampstead Heath, with quaint shops and easy connections across London.
Pension | AVIVA workplace pension scheme offered – 21% employer contribution, with the ability to flex up to 11% of this as additional non-pensionable salary, employees contribute a minimum of 5%.
Personal development | Comprehensive induction support for new staff. Focus on continued professional development for all employees.
Leisure facilities | Free access, at stipulated times, to our sports facilities, including a fitness suite and swimming pool (recently refurbished).
Holidays | Generous holiday allowance of 33 days (including bank holidays) for full-time staff. Most holidays will be taken during school holiday periods.
Lunch | A complimentary lunch including hot meals, sandwiches, salads, fresh fruit and dessert.
Help with sustainable travel | Access to the Cycle to Work Scheme and a Season Ticket Loan scheme for public transport.
Family-friendly policies | Highgate appreciates that employees sometimes have family commitments so we try to be as supportive as possible, for example with enhanced maternity pay (8 weeks’ full pay, then 10 weeks’ half pay) and paid dependant leave.
Working at Highgate
A culture of community, kindness and belonging
Highgate is a caring, open-minded community, where we promote kindness, empathy and friendship. Everyone who works and studies with us deserves to feel they are part of a welcoming environment that enables them to be themselves and to thrive as individuals.
Our community extends beyond the school, through partnerships, charity work and our commitment to equality, inclusion and sustainability. All members of our school community are encouraged to look outwards and play an active role.
In a recent ISI inspection (Dec 2021), it was noted that “Pupils show exceptional respect for, and appreciate diversity within the school and wider community, and their own and other cultures, demonstrating sensitivity and tolerance to those from different backgrounds and traditions.”
Staff wellbeing
Highgate is committed to staff wellbeing, which we promote by encouraging a strong work-life balance; trying our best to support flexible working requests; providing a nutritious complimentary lunch in the dining hall; and offering access to sporting facilities including our recently renovated swimming pool.
The Staff Wellbeing Committee, with representatives across the School, meets regularly to drive forward initiatives, and a selection of staff have been trained as Mental-Health First Aiders.
We encourage an open culture throughout our school, with regular staff surveys, action committees and opportunities to feedback. We strive for continual learning and improvement, and staff training and development is paramount. There are opportunities to participate in the wider life of our school, such as taking part in trips or societies and getting involved in partnership projects.
More details about working at Highgate can be found here:
Charitable work and sustainability
As an independent school, we want to use our position as a charity effectively: to make high-quality education accessible to as many children as possible – through our bursary programme at Highgate and through our work with local state schools. We have partnerships with over 60 state schools across 7 London boroughs, and we are the principal educational sponsor for London Academy of Excellence, Tottenham – an academically-selective state sixth form in a community where such opportunities are lacking.
Alongside this, our staff and pupils undertake charitable activities throughout the year. These range from staff giving up their time to neighbourhood schools and charitable organisations, focused fundraising campaigns, to pupils undertaking community work in the local area or further afield.
As a school, we have a central role to play in educating our pupils, staff and parents about the importance of environmental sustainability. We are taking positive action to adapt our operational performance to tackle the negative effects of climate change. We encourage all our staff to reflect upon their personal and professional practices, to support our environmental agenda and to make positive changes wherever possible.
Application procedure
- Closing Date: 24th April 2023
- Timing of interviews: Week beginning 1 May 2023
Contact: Kemi Omijeh, Director of Pupil Wellbeing is happy to answer any questions about this post.
Early Application: Applications will be considered ‘as and when’ received and we may close the vacancy if we appoint before the closing date.
Inclusion
We know that more diverse teams are stronger teams, and that the more inclusive we are, the more our staff and pupils will feel a sense of belonging and will thrive. To enable us to make reasonable adjustments, please let us know of any disabilities (including neuro-divergence) when you submit your application.
Safeguarding
As this role will have regular unsupervised contact with children you must, if appointed, comply with Highgate’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct. If in the course of carrying out the duties of the post the post holder becomes aware of any actual or potential risks to the safety and welfare of our pupils, these concerns must be reported immediately in accordance with the Safeguarding Policy. If whilst in the post, Highgate becomes aware of any safeguarding concerns to staff, pupils or the community; these will need to be followed up in line with the safeguarding policy and code of conduct which is underpinned by KCSE and other legislation. These concerns may need to be shared with other agencies. A copy of these policies will accompany all offers of employment. Training will also be provided to all staff to support Safeguarding practice.
Please read before you apply
Highgate is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to this post, including checks with past employers, the Disclosure and Barring Service and overseas police check if necessary. Candidates from overseas must provide information about their past conduct, for example, by providing documents issued by overseas teaching authorities.
Please note that this role is ‘exempt’ from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore, you are required to declare any convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings that are not ‘protected’ (i.e. filtered out) as defined by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (as amended in 2013). Shortlisted candidates will be asked to provide details of all unspent convictions and those that would not be filtered, prior to the date of the interview.
In accordance with the latest guidance from KCSIE, we shall be conducting online searches on any candidates who are shortlisted.