School Health Care Nurse (35Hrs P/Wk)

Context Statement

Forrest Parade School (FPS) is located in the Northern Territory, in the Palmerston suburb of Bellamack, and caters for up to 125 students with additional needs. The school offers specialised and individualised programs for students who meet the Northern Territory Department of Education criteria to attend a specialist setting. Students are aged from 3 ½ to 12 years.  

Primary Objective

The FPS nurse is a key member of the FPS team. Their primary objective is to work with the school community to ensure the safety of all students by promoting, managing, and improving the health and wellbeing of students with physical and or, intellectual disabilities in an individualised, sensitive manner.

Level of Responsibility/Direction and Supervision

The occupant is accountable for initiating, implementing, and evaluating quality nursing care and the efficient use of resources at Forrest Parade School.

The occupant operates with professional independence and is accountable for maintaining nursing practice standards and service delivery outcomes. Overall guidance and strategic leadership received from the (FPS) Principal.

Primary Duties

1. Work with the FPS Community to improve, inform and maintain a health promoting culture and improve the health and wellbeing of students and families.
2. Develop, implement, and evaluate health promotion projects.
3. Work effectively within the FPS multidisciplinary environment collaborating with both internal and external service providers and school staff and actively contribute to internal communication processes including attending and participating in team meetings.
4. Active involvement in maintaining and continually improving the quality-of-service provision. Maintain a high standard of documentation and data collection.
5. Maintain knowledge of innovations in clinical practice and research, together with maintaining and developing professional knowledge and skills through leading and participating in continuing professional learning programs.
6. Actively participate in and contribute to FPS’s Safety Management and Health and Safety Processes and adhere to relevant legislation, policies and procedures.
7. The FPS nurse supports the students to ensure optimised health and wellness – this in turn optimises student learning.
8. The incumbent can expect to be allocated duties, not specifically mentioned in the document that are within the capacity, qualifications and experience normally expected from persons occupying this nursing level.

Selection Criteria

A decision relating to appointment is based on merit in:

• An assessment made of the relative suitability of the candidates Scope of Practice; and
• The assessment is based on the relationship between the candidates’ work-related qualities and the work-related qualities genuinely required for the performance of the duties; and
• The assessment focuses on the relative capacity of the candidates to achieve outcomes related to the duties; and 
• The assessment is the primary consideration in making the decision.

Work-related qualities may include; skills and abilities; qualifications, training and competencies; capacity to produce desired outcomes; relevant personal qualities; and demonstrated potential for future development.

Selection Criteria - Essential

1. Current registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; possess a current Practising Certificate from the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Provide evidence of National Indemnity Insurance) and relevant Post Graduate Qualification. 
2. Hold a current NT Working with Children Card.
3. Demonstrated competence in the application of primary Health Care and health promotion, in accordance with National Standards and Northern Territory (NT) Legislation.
4. Effective communication and interpersonal skills, including skills relating to working within a multidisciplinary team, and demonstrated competence in problem solving and decision making.
5. Demonstrated experience and skill in the use of computer applications, including electronic data management, to support service delivery research, evaluation, and communication.
6. Proven ability to prioritise time management, planning and organisational skills and an ability to manage a high workload in a cross cultural and dynamic specialist school environment.
7. Ability to assist in writing and reviewing student individual Health Care plans. With parent consent, liaise with Paediatricians / medical staff on behalf of FPS.
8. Experience, relevant training and or willingness to undertake training to support students with chronic health issues;
   • Current First Aid Training 
   • Tracheostomy Management
   • Epilepsy Management / Administer Midazolam
   • Anaphylaxis Management and use of EpiPen
   • Diabetes Management / Hypoglycemia
   • Choking Management
   • Asthma Management / use of spacers
9. Confidence and ability to train FPS staff in the above areas
10. Demonstrated knowledge and skill relevant to the target area including competence in assessment skills, group facilitation and presentation skills.
11. Ability to plan, implement and evaluate health promotion projects.
12. Current and comprehensive knowledge of primary Health Care principles and legal requirements and ability to apply these to the FPS setting.
13. Contemporary knowledge of child development, priorities including nutrition and physical activity and mental health.
14. Hold a current NT driver’s licence or the ability to obtain before commencement.

Registration/licences that are essential requirements of this role must always remain current and valid whilst employed in this role and the status of these may be checked at any time during employment. It is the employee’s responsibility to ensure that registration/licenses remain current and to advise the FPS Principal if their circumstances change. This includes notifying the principal of any new criminal convictions and/or if their registration/license is revoked, cancelled, or has its conditions altered.