Paediatric Nurse

Job summary
James Hopkins Trust nurses are special people who make a huge difference to the families they are involved with. It is a real chance to provide truly family centred care & get to know the whole family you are supporting.

You are self-motivated & can work independently or as a team player supporting the senior nurses assisting in creating & maintaining a caring, supportive and safe environment for the children you look after.

You will be a key person in a familys life, they will regularly talk to you about their children when they bring their child to James Hopkins Trust for respite or you visit them in their own home to provide respite. You will have an insight & understanding of the issues facing families where there is a baby or young child with a life threatening or life limiting condition. The kindness, compassion & exceptional family centred care you will deliver and demonstrate will be something that gives them the strength & courage to manage the complex needs of their child.

Main duties of the job
Actively encourage a family atmosphere at Kites Corner Recognise the skills &experience of the family in meeting the individual care needs of their child, work in partnership with them to provide holistic care Ensure all medication is accurately & safely administered, recorded & stored Provide care to the child during the agreed period of respite Attend, as necessary, multi-professional meetings or similar for the child/family as agreed by the Nursing Management Team Facilitate outings, play & activity that is appropriate to the age and development needs of the child Safeguarding of children is everyone's responsibility. You are expected to pass onto the appropriate manager any child safeguarding concerns that you may have in the course of your work Maintain confidential, accurate & timely records Ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately Maintain professional boundaries, confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times

About us
We are proud to have been able to provide free nursing respite care to hundreds of life limited and life threatened young children and their families for over 30 years. We are the only registered charity in Gloucestershire to provide this level of care, day and night, either in the family home or at Kites Corner, our multi-sensory respite centre and gardens.

James Hopkins Trust nurses are real life Mary Poppins to the families we support, they are passionate and care deeply about the children and families they help. It is a unique environment to work in it is a place filled with love, kindness and people who strive to make magic memories with the children and families every day.

The small team are supportive of each other and you will be able to have a great work/home life balance.

Details
Date posted: 05 August 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 5
Salary: Depending on experience
Shift enhancements for weekends and overnights
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time, Part-time
Reference number: B0392-26-0007
Job locations: Kites Corner, North Upton Lane, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 3TR, United Kingdom

Job responsibilities
As a proactive member of the Nursing Team you will assist in creating and maintaining a caring, supportive and safe environment for the children you look after. James Hopkins Trust offers family centred care so you will work in partnership with the children and their families who are eligible to use James Hopkins Trusts services.

You are self-motivated and can work either independently or as a team player and will be responsible for supporting the senior nurses with the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care provided to the children you are accountable for. In the absence of a senior nurse you may be required to manage and co-ordinate the care of children accessing respite care provision at Kites Corner whilst on shift.

You will welcome the opportunity to reflect on/assess your practice and competence through existing audit processes and regular supervisions to ensure you provide outstanding and safe care; which in turn demonstrates James Hopkins Trusts compliance with CQC regulatory requirements.

You will be a key person that a family will regularly talk to about their children when they either bring their child to James Hopkins Trust for respite or you visit them in their own home to provide respite. You will have an insight and understanding of the issues facing families where there is a baby or young child with a life threatening or life limiting condition. While interacting with the carer or parent you will show the family kindness and compassion as you assess their childs nursing and care needs while evaluating the wellbeing of the whole family. You are committed to always delivering exceptional family centred care, either at our respite centre or in families homes around Gloucestershire. These shifts will be over a 7 day period and include weekdays, weekends, on an early, daytime, late and night shift basis. There are shift enhancements to the pay rate advertised.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
Nursing and Family Care

• Actively encourage a family atmosphere within Kites Corner.
• Contribute positively towards the maintenance of a child and family focused environment when either working within Kites Corner or the child and familys home.
• Recognise the skills and experience of the family in meeting the individual care needs of their child and work in partnership with them to provide holistic care.
• Use a systematic and individualised approach to plan care of the child and family both within their homes and Kites Corner to deliver quality care that is consistent with care delivered by other providers.
• Assess, maintain and evaluate agreed standards of care in partnership with family carers and the child
• Ensure all medication is accurately and safely administered, recorded and stored.
• Give total care to the child during the agreed period of respite.
• Identify and follow the childs care routine and established pattern of care, negotiating any changes with the child and family.
• Attend, as necessary, multi-professional meetings or similar for the child and family as agreed by the Nursing Management Team and liaise with other relevant professionals as appropriate.
• Ensure that regular contact is made with the Nursing Management Team updating them of any changes in a child/family circumstance that may necessitate a review of the familys respite allocation.
• Where appropriate, inform other relevant professionals of changes to the childs care/management.
• Facilitate outings, play and activity that is appropriate to the age and development needs of the child.
• Use evidence to underpin practice by adhering to James Hopkins Trusts policies and maintaining an awareness of new and developing care options.
• The safeguarding of children is everyones responsibility and you are expected to pass onto the appropriate manager any child safeguarding concerns that you may have that arise in the course of your work.
• Every staff member has a responsibility to maintain confidential, accurate and timely records.
• Maintain an awareness of the diversity of families supported by James Hopkins Trust and ensure that the cultural needs of the children and families are met appropriately.
• Ensure professional boundaries are maintained and that due attention is paid to confidentiality, privacy and dignity at all times.

Professional Development

• Identify and at all times work within your own professional competence and expertise whilst adhering to the NMC Code of Conduct.
• Take advantage of training opportunities to further develop your skills and expertise to enhance your role within the James Hopkins Trust Nursing Team including mandatory training sessions.
• Maintain professional registration with the NMC.
• Keep a Personal Professional Profile and ensure that all mandatory training is updated as appropriate.
• Every member of staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues required to deliver quality palliative care within Kites Corner or the family home.
• Every member of nursing staff has a professional responsibility to maintain an up to date knowledge and awareness of issues around care of children and young people with complex needs including LTV, TPN, Tracheotomies, Central Lines and any other complex care required.
• Attend and participate in an individuals performance review and their clinical supervisions as and when required.

Responsibility for Clinical Governance and Quality

• Participate in quality control monitoring and auditing processes to ensure the safe delivery of care and maintain high standards through best practice
• Be proactive in identifying ways of improving practice.
• Contribute positively to the development and audit of standards and, when appropriate, taking responsibility for identified project work
• Identify ways of continued quality improvement, using reflective practice through clinical supervision
• Actively complete clinical incident documentation in line with a no blame approach and James Hopkins Trusts whistle-blowing policy
• Adhere to and comply with all James Hopkins Trusts policies and procedures
• Complete risk assessments within James Hopkins Trust as requested

Management and Team Awareness

• Take responsibility for ensuring good teamwork and a flexible approach are maintained within the Nursing Team and the wider Organisation.
• Act as Nurse-in-Charge of the shift at Kites Corner as required.
• Actively guide and supervise volunteers working with the children.
• Liaise with the Administration team regarding ordering and purchasing requirements as necessary for day-to-day running of James Hopkins Trusts services.
• Inform the relevant line manager of incidents and concerns using agreed processes.
• Participate in the induction of new staff as and when required.
• Contribute to the mentorship of students on placement at James Hopkins Trust, using up to date knowledge of university requirements.
• Carry out any reasonable additional duty as agreed by the Nursing Management Team to meet the changing requirements of the service.

Communication

• In line with James Hopkins Trusts vision, mission and values; encourage the philosophy of James Hopkins Trust with acts of kindness and helping to make magic memories.
• Always present a good public image.
• Liaise closely with the all professionals and volunteers working with the child and family to ensure a seamless service.
• Attend staff meetings and team briefings and participate in other meetings as appropriate (including external meetings)
• Take responsibility for using the appropriate channels to ensure good communication is maintained within the Organisation at all times.

Health and Safety

• Ensure that infection control guidelines and policies are strictly adhered to.
• Undertake risk assessment and management to ensure that children, families, visitors and colleagues are safe.
• Be aware of and work within James Hopkins Trusts lone working policies.
• Be aware of all Health and Safety issues and adhere to all the James Hopkins Trust policies.
• Be aware of all Fire, Health and Safety regulations at Kites Corner and maintain a safe working environment at all times.

Ways of working and collaborating

• Make a positive contribution to the team and the wider Organisation by playing an active role in growing excellent working relationships within all areas of James Hopkins Trust, such as families, volunteers and staff members.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to creating an inclusive, equal and diverse workplace
• Work within all of James Hopkins Trusts policies, processes and procedures at all times.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of current and planned activities
• To carry out any additional tasks and projects as reasonably requested in line with the general responsibility of the role.
• Lead by example and be an inspiring role model for others, building trust and living by our Vision, Mission & Values; always keeping children at the heart of what we do.

James Hopkins Trust is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Childrens Nurse RNC or RN with Paediatric Experience RGN/RSCN Live entry on NMC Register. Children & young people safeguarding

Desirable

• A paediatric palliative care qualification. Experience as a shift coordinator

Experience
Essential

• Good interpersonal skills. Ability to maintain boundaries. Flexible and used to working on own initiative. Demonstrate practice is evidence based and up to date. Ability to take responsibility for adopting best practice in the implementation of individual care plans Competent in drug calculations Willingness to learn and undertake appropriate training Proven experience of communicating sensitively in challenging situations with patients and families

Desirable

• Team mentoring/supervision Experience undertaking audits to assess clinical practice and record keeping. Have undertaken communication training e.g. PECS/Makaton Awareness of related voluntary and statutory Organisations Have an awareness of and be supportive of James Hopkins Trusts Five Year Strategic Business Plan

Other Requirements
Essential

• Ability to travel independently around Gloucestershire. Ability to work rotational shifts including nights/weekend work. Ability and willingness to undergo further appropriate training. Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Driver with a current driving licence

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.

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: James Hopkins Trust
Address: Kites Corner, North Upton Lane, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, GL4 3TR, United Kingdom
Employer's website: (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact:
Clinical Manager
Kelly Prosser-Tyrrell
View email address on meeveem.com
View phone number on meeveem.com

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