Acute Children's Outreach Nurse

Job overview

The Acute Children’s Outreach Nursing Service (ACORNS) is formed of highly experienced Paediatric nurses who triage, assess, review and safety net patients and families. The service aims to support infants, children and young people during an acute episode of illness. Patients are referred to the service from a variety of teams across the Children’s hospital. The assessment of the patients is protocol and experience driven and we work with patients and families both at home and via remote monitoring.

The aims of the service are to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions, facilitate early discharge, reduce re-attendance to hospital and provide an outstanding patient experience for families and service users. The team uses robust assessment tools and digital programmes. Remote monitoring via telephone and video calls has made the implementation and evaluation of patients more accessible to families whilst remaining at home. We provide advice, support, education and health promotion to the family with every interaction.

We work alongside the Children’s Emergency Department (CED) which means the ACORNS team have a strong working relationship with the wider clinical team and we work to support each other. We also provide a safety netting service for patients and families who can no longer wait to be seen by a clinician within the Children’s Emergency. Excitingly, the service is consistently evolving and developing ways of improving the patient experience.

Main duties of the job

We welcome applications from those who currently hold a UK NMC registration. If you currently hold an overseas nursing qualification and require sponsorship we are not currently direct hiring Internationally Qualified Nurses.

Our Acute Children’s Outreach Nurse Service started in August 2017 in response to increasing admissions of acutely unwell infants and children who could be managed safely in their own homes with the correct support and on-going assessment.

The team continues to develop and expand under the Sussex Virtual Ward and Children's Emergency directorate. Our team works closely with services across the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital and we facilitate continuing assessments of patients who are acutely unwell. The nurse’s clinical competence, development and expertise will be utilised when communicating with families across multiple platforms such as text, telephone calls and video calls. We use a variety of IT programmes to deliver the best care we can and remain up to date and efficient in our delivery of care.

The ACORNS Nurses take their acute clinical skills and expertise into the child and family’s home when we facilitate visits. We know that comprehensive assessments empower and support families. It is beneficial for the emotional well being and quality of life for children and their families and we have received fabulous feedback. 

Working for our organisation

At UHSussex, diversity is our strength, and we want you to feel included to help us always put the Patient First, as shown in our Outstanding for Caring CQC rating. Your uniqueness and experiences will be part of our creative and innovative community where everyone is encouraged to succeed. We have a range of Staff Networks to help break down barriers, and can offer a buddy to help new members settle in. We’re proud to be a Disability Confident Employer (Level 2) and a Veteran Aware Trust. 

We treat our patients and staff with the same compassion and empathy we expect for ourselves. We’re here for them when they need us, and we go above and beyond to meet their needs. This can be seen in our Wellbeing Programme for staff which is extensive and designed to support you when you need it - because we know that to look after others we must first look after ourselves. 

As a university trust and a leader in healthcare research, we value learning, teaching and training so that we can be the best that we can be. From the moment you start with us and throughout your career we will help you to grow and develop. We hope that in choosing UHSussex you are choosing a long and happy career where you will be able to see the difference you make and feel valued for all that you do. 

We look forward to receiving your application and the start of your journey with UHSussex

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To provide an evidence based and structured clinical telephone and video assessment to all children on the ACORNS caseload. This includes a highly competent set of communication skills to assess, monitor and plan care. We aim to provide consistency, continuity and advice to families at home.

To provide a holistic, autonomous and clinical nursing service using wholly evidence based practice. To carry out initial assessments/home visits and plan, implement and evaluate nursing care for all patients for whom he/she has continuing responsibility.

Act in partnership with the child and family when assessing a child’s needs and planning. To provide advice contributing to the well-being of the patient and participate in health promotion.

To carry out physical assessment, initiate nursing and emergency interventions by recognising the deteriorating child. Monitor acute exacerbation's of illness and initiate appropriate nursing interventions. Ensure all your clinical practice is based on current local and national guidelines for the assessment & recognition of the sick child.

To initiate appropriate work, accepting referrals and be able to work autonomously with the child and family in the community setting. 

To provide structured clinical assessment of individual needs that empowers children, young people and parents to support their acute care needs.

To regularly attend and liaise with acute hospital colleagues to enable timely and safe discharge from hospital and appropriate follow-up in the community setting eg care of children with viral wheeze needing inhalers and observation at home, fluid challenges for children with diarrhoea and vomiting and many other high volume conditions that present in the CED.

Person specification

Experience

Essential criteria

Registered Nurse - Child Branch or Adults nurses with Conversion certifications Experience working with children in an Acute inpatient or acute community setting PILS Acute nursing skills

Desirable criteria

Substantial Experience working within Childrens Emergency nursing or a Hospital at home service Childrens ED course, Physical assessment course or Equivalent Previous Autonomous Practice experience Teaching and assessment in clinical practice or equivalent APLS/EPLS provider or Equivalent

Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion

Essential criteria

Evidence of having championed diversity in previous roles (as appropriate to role). Evidence of having undertaken own development to improve understanding of equalities issues

Important information for applicants

Flexible Working: If you would like to explore potential options regarding flexible working please speak with the appropriate recruiting/line manager. 

DBS Checks: As part of our commitment to a safe working environment, we undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service check on all new employees where the role is eligible for a criminal record check . We make offers in line with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1975.

Skilled Worker Visa: Applications for Skilled Worker sponsorship are welcome for those that meet the Visa and Immigrations eligibility criteria. For further information please visit the gov.uk website searching for Skilled Worker.

Closing adverts early: Please apply as early as you're able for this role. In the event of exceptional interest we may close adverts earlier than specified.

UHSussex reserves the right to close the role early if we receive a high volume of applications

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