Paediatric Allergy Specialist Support Nurse

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated Registered Children's Nurse to join the Allergy Nursing Team as a Band 6 Paediatric Allergy Support Nurse.

The post holder will work alongside the Paediatric Allergy Clinical Nurse Specialist and wider multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of safe, effective and high-quality specialist nursing care to children and young people with a range of complex allergic conditions within outpatient and day case services.

The role will include supporting specialist allergy assessments and investigations, including skin prick testing, phlebotomy, food and drug allergy investigations and challenge activity. The post holder will also support the safe administration of specialist allergy treatments, including immunotherapy and biologic therapies, following appropriate training, competency assessment and within their scope of practice.

An important part of the role will be providing specialist education, advice and support to children, young people and their families, including allergy avoidance and the management of allergic reactions, while promoting confidence and effective self-management.

Working collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team, the post holder will contribute to the delivery and ongoing development of the paediatric allergy service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder is responsible for the provision of high quality, patient focused care

Responsible for assessing, developing and implementing specialist nursing care programmes

Responsible for providing specialist advice and support to, and liaising with, other staff

Working for our organisation

Come Nurse with us...

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke's Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It's a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together - Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

• Our values and reputation for outstanding care
• Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
• Career and development opportunities
• Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
• Research experience and opportunities
• Lovely location and quality of life
• Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria

• Registered Children's Nurse (RN Child/RSCN) with current NMC registration
• Educated to Degree level or equivalent experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development relevant to paediatric nursing
• Willingness to undertake specialist allergy education, training and competency assessment relevant to the role

Desirable criteria

• Post-registration qualification relevant to paediatrics, allergy or specialist nursing
• Teaching/mentorship or practice assessor/supervisor qualification or equivalent experience
• Additional study relevant to allergy, immunology or paediatric care
• Advanced communication or counselling training/qualification
• Evidence of leadership development or training

Experience

Essential criteria

• Significant post-registration experience within paediatric nursing, including caring for children and young people with acute and/or chronic health conditions
• Experience of assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating care for children and young people
• Experience of caring for children and young people with complex or specialist healthcare needs
• Evidence of working collaboratively and effectively within a multidisciplinary team
• Experience of providing education, information and support to children, young people and their families
• Experience of supporting, teaching, supervising or developing junior staff and/or students

Desirable criteria

• Previous experience within paediatric allergy, immunology or a related speciality
• Experience within paediatric outpatient and/or day case services
• Experience of allergy investigations or treatments, e.g. skin prick testing, food/drug challenges, immunotherapy or biologic therapies
• Experience of audit, clinical governance, service evaluation or quality improvement
• Experience of contributing to the development of clinical pathways or patient information
• NHS experience

Knowledge

Essential criteria

• Sound knowledge of professional issues relevant to paediatric nursing and the NMC Code
• Understanding of evidence-based practice and its application to clinical care
• Understanding of clinical governance, patient safety and risk management
• Sound understanding of safeguarding children and young people, including recognition, response and appropriate escalation of concerns
• Knowledge of child and family-centred care and the physical, psychological, developmental and emotional needs of children and young people
• Understanding of consent, assent and involving children and young people appropriately in decisions about their care
• Understanding of effective multidisciplinary team working and positive team dynamics

Desirable criteria

• Knowledge of common paediatric allergic conditions and their management
• Knowledge of paediatric allergy investigations and treatment pathways
• Understanding of the recognition and emergency management of allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis
• Awareness of transition from paediatric to adult healthcare services

Skills

Essential criteria

• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to communicate effectively with children, young people and families
• Ability to communicate sensitive and complex information with empathy, adapting communication to age, developmental stage and individual needs
• Effective clinical assessment, analytical and decision making skills
• Ability to recognise changes in clinical condition, respond appropriately within own competence and escalate concerns promptly
• Ability to remain calm and respond effectively in challenging, rapidly changing or emergency clinical situations
• Well-developed organisational, planning and time management skills with the ability to prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to work independently within agreed scope of practice and collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team
• Flexible and adaptable approach to changing clinical situations and service priorities
• Effective interpersonal, diplomacy and negotiation skills, demonstrating self-awareness and emotional intelligence
• Ability to provide education, support and guidance to children, young people, families, colleagues and students. 11. Ability to maintain accurate, clear and contemporaneous clinical documentation
• Evidence of effective team working and developing leadership skills
• Ability to use feedback, reflection and learning to improve own practice and contribute to service improvement
• Appropriate IT skills to support clinical practice and documentation

Desirable criteria

• Competence in paediatric phlebotomy
• Experience or competency in skin prick testing
• Experience of supporting food and/or drug challenge procedures
• Experience of administering specialist allergy treatments, including immunotherapy and/or biologic therapies
• Additional specialist paediatric or allergy clinical skills relevant to the role

Additional Requirements

Essential criteria

• Demonstrates professional accountability and practises in accordance with the NMC Code and Trust policies
• Committed to providing safe, effective and high-quality care to children, young people and their families
• Commitment to maintaining and developing specialist knowledge and clinical competence
• Ability to recognise own limitations and seek appropriate advice, support and escalation
• Ability to work effectively with a wide range of professionals, services and external agencies involved in the care of children and young people
• Flexible and adaptable approach to meet the needs of children, young people, families and the service
• Ability to contribute positively to team working, support colleagues and encourage the development of others
• Ability to contribute to the development and improvement of the specialist paediatric allergy service
• The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent

Desirable criteria

• Evidence of involvement in service development, quality improvement, audit or changes in clinical practice
• Awareness of wider developments and emerging practice within paediatric allergy care

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

• Applicant information pack (PDF, 200.7KB)
• Completing your application - Information for Applicants (PDF, 222.9KB)