Specialist Health Practitioner – Care Leavers

Job summary

Are you passionate about improving health outcomes for vulnerable young people as they transition into adulthood? We have an exciting opportunity to join our dynamic Babies, Children, Young People and Community Services team in Buckinghamshire as the Specialist Health Practitioner for Children Looked After, Care Leavers and Transitions. Following a successful year-long pilot funded by the Q Exchange, we are now embedding this vital role permanently into our service to support care leavers as they transition from Children Looked After (CLA) services into adult health services.

This is a pivotal and highly rewarding role that combines clinical practice, strategic leadership, and service development. You'll be instrumental in shaping how health support is delivered to care-experienced young people, working closely with local authorities, NHS partners, and voluntary sector organisations.

Main duties of the job

Lead on improving health outcomes for care leavers transitioning into adulthood.

• Provide expert clinical advice and direct support to young people, ensuring a person-centred approach that amplifies their voice.
• Act as the transition advisor across our services, ensuring continuity of care and that young people don't fall through the gaps.
• Build strong multi-agency partnerships across health, social care, and education.
• Contribute to strategic service development and innovation, embedding best practice into policy and provision.
• Champion the principles of corporate parenting across all professional interactions.
• Support our organisation in meeting statutory duties with regards to Children Looked After and care leavers.

About us

Why colleagues think we are "a great place to work!"

What does Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust offer you?

As part of our BHT family, you'll benefit from learning and development opportunities to support your career progression.

Alongside NHS benefits of generous annual leave entitlement and pension scheme, you'll have access to NHS discount schemes.

We provide a range of health and wellbeing services to promote a healthy, happy workforce.

What do we stand for?

Our vision is to provide outstanding care, support healthy communities and be a great place to work.

Our mission is to provide personal and compassionate care every time.

We are working hard to increase diversity at all levels within the trust. We believe a diverse workforce can have a positive effect on both staff wellbeing and patient outcomes.

We welcome applications from black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates, candidates with disabilities and care-experienced candidates.

We are proud to achieve the Gold award for the Armed Forces Covenant and support applications from the Armed Forces Community. Please contact [email protected] (our Armed Forces Covenant Lead) if you would like guidance or assistance with your application.

We make employment decisions by matching our service needs with the skills and experience of candidates, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Job responsibilities

For a comprehensive list of responsibilities and duties, please kindly refer to the Job Description and Person Specification by downloading the JD and PS attachment in the advert.

If you have a disability that makes submitting this online application difficult and would like assistance. please contact us on [email protected] quoting the vacancy reference number.

Person specification

Education,Qualifications & Training

Essential

• Current registration with NMC as a Nurse or HCP with current HPCP registration.
• Evidence of learning and/or experience to Master's level
• Qualified School Nurse, Health Visitor, Paediatric/ Mental Health Nurse/ HCP with 3-4 years relevant experience.
• Up to date Safeguarding Training
• Evidence of on-going professional development.
• Evidence of additional Emotional well-being/ Mental Health learning/relevant experience.

Desirable

• Sexual Health Training

Experience

Essential

• Relevant post-qualifying experience in working with children and young adults.
• Experience post-qualifying in supporting young adults with mental health including self-harming behaviours and suicidal ideations.
• Experience in working with children and young adults who have suffered abuse and trauma.
• Experience of multi-agency working and the ability to network.
• Experience of working with children and young adults exhibiting risky behaviours; this would include substance misuse, frequent episodes of missing and possible Child Exploitation

Desirable

• Experience of carrying out audits and contributing to reports.
• Experience of providing clinical supervision.
• Experience post-qualifying in supporting children in transition to adult health services

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge

Essential

• Highly effective communication skills - verbal and written - MI Skills
• Willingness to work with all age groups including those who may not wish to engage
• Ability to assess and identify health needs, including the ability to analyse information
• Good range of IT skills, i.e., use of excel, EPR systems, SharePoint, MST office and AI.
• Awareness of current legislation/guidance/ policy with regards to Looked After Children/Care Leavers and the ability to inform/influence colleagues at every level
• Commitment to team and multi-agency working but with the ability to work on own initiative.
• A commitment to team & service development
• Ability to demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance frameworks Ability to be articulate, respectfully assertive and at the same time diplomatic

Desirable

• Project management skills to develop potential change ideas and test these in practice using the Trust's QI framework
• Teaching & Presentation skills/Certificates
• Awareness of Corporate Parenting Roles & Responsibilities and the ability to inform/influence colleagues at every level of their own responsibilities as corporate parents.

Special Circumstances

Essential

• Ability to have flexibility around working hours to meet service need
• Willingness & ability to travel to wherever the children/young adults are placed (countywide) and wish to be seen in agreement with Lead Named Nurse
• Ability to work within BHT's Agile working policy