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Job summary

Main area
School Health Service
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Permanent
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
349-LCOD-8099613-RL4
Employer
Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Citywide
Town
Wythenshawe
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 Per Annum, (Pro Rata)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
05/07/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust logo

School Nurse Specialist Practitioner

Band 6

Job overview

 This post is positioned within the School Health Services, part of the Children’s Community Services Directorate in Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust. The School Health Services consist of School Nursing and Healthy Schools. They operate citywide across Manchester working in partnership with schools to improve the health outcomes of children, young people and their families.

Comprising of child focused functions; National Child Measurement Programme and Screening; Healthy Weight Team; Healthy Schools Programme; and the Healthy Child Programme, the School Health Service contributes to tackling health inequalities by addressing the city’s key public health priorities for children.

 This is a great opportunity for personal/professional development. The post holder will deliver the Healthy Child Programme (DHSC 2026) in line with the Manchester School Health Service offer, ensuring that care is evidenced based with safe levels of intervention as well as contributing to the safeguarding arena with report writing in line with the trust policies.

 

Whilst staff will primarily work within one team, they may be required to work at other locations to ensure equitable service delivery. Core service hours are Monday to Friday 8.00 am to 5.00 pm.

 
Staff are required to travel between multiple bases at short notice and may on occasion be required to transport training materials or equipment.

 

Main duties of the job

To work as part of the school health team to provide clinical leadership support and professional direction.

Be proactive in the identification of service development in consultation with Team Leads and Heads of Service and participate in developing, monitoring, and evaluating quality standards within the service.

To assess, allocate, and respond to requests for advice and support in order to promote and maintain the health and well-being of children and families.

Maintain professional standards of accurate and timely record keeping and storage in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) guidelines, Data Protection Act and MFT policies and procedures.

Keeps an accurate and up to date diary on EMIS and follows Trust policy regarding confidential information.

To liaise with partner agencies as appropriate to ensure an effective communication system.

The post holders will promote the safeguarding of children, working within a multi-agency team.

The post holder will have responsibility for the completion of 1:1's and appraisals of named staff members to ensure completion of an annual Appraisal and Development Plan.

Working for our organisation

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation, and continuous improvement.

Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working - empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.

Your journey at MFT is more than a job - it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need for this role, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the ‘Documents to download’ heading.   

Explore ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’

To help you feel confident, prepared and fully informed before you apply, we invite you to explore Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place.  This welcoming one‑stop hub gives you a real sense of who we are, what we stand for, how we reward and support you, and the many ways we care for you as you care for others.  You’ll also find practical hints and tips for submitting a great application, along with the essential information you need to know before you apply.

To access ‘Inside MFT – Your Candidate Place’, simply click on the relevant PDF document under the ‘Documents to download’ heading and once opened, you can either scan QR code or click on the link provided.

Closing vacancy listings early

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters
MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application 

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other.
As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role specific questions is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.

Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.

Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role. 

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment.   If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred. 

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dbs-fees-are-changing-in-december

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices.  For more information, please visit the DBS Update Service. 

 

Person specification

Education and Professional Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • First level Registered Nurse (degree level)
  • Evidence of post registration education and training HE level 6 / 7
  • Practice Assessor/Supervisor competent
  • Specialist Community Public Health Nurse qualification (SN) OR School Nursing Certificate / Diploma

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable evidence of professional development
  • Demonstrable and considerable experience working within the safeguarding children arena
  • Demonstrable or relevant experience in delivering health promotion and health education programmes
  • School nursing experience
  • able to evidence working with individuals and groups.
  • Experience of managing complex caseloads

Knowledge and Understanding

Essential criteria
  • Detailed knowledge of health and social care policy relating to children’s services to include safeguarding
  • Detailed knowledge of national and local strategies relating to the school nursing service
  • Demonstrates an understanding of the public health issues in Manchester
  • Good understanding of the Manchester School Health Service and it’s delivery of the Healthy Child Programme
  • Has a good understanding of the challenges of school health nursing in Manchester.

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Evidence of utilising evidenced based practice and appraising standards, providing clinical direction and support for staff
  • Demonstrates leadership skills and understanding of professional responsibilities within the team.
  • Evidences establishing and maintaining key relationships with colleagues and other disciplines both internally and externally
  • Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
  • Demonstrate the ability to facilitate andIs able to organise and prioritise own workload support implementation of service development within a team.
  • Delegates and reviews work in line with trust policy

Other Requirements

Essential criteria
  • IT skills including the use Microsoft packages, the ability to access information using the internet and electronic record systems
  • Car driver/owner and willing and able to travel city wide for work purposes; may include occasional regional/national travel
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing needs in the service, including attending parents evenings in line with role requirements
  • Respects the values, culture and beliefs held by others

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Veteran AwareApprenticeships logoArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardDisability confident employerStep into healthHappy to Talk Flexible Working

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Shelley Todd
Job title
Team Lead
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07815654703
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