Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 2 practitioners to join the Isle of Wight 0-19 Service as Public Health Nursing Assistants (PHNAs)

PHNAs are key members of the School Nursing Team. They deliver the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP), complete hearing and vision screening and identify health needs in new school entrants. PHNAs also deliver health promotion sessions.

Working under the guidance of Specialist Community Public Health Nurses (School Nurses), they collaborate closely with schools, children, families, carers, and other professionals to improve health outcomes. The role focuses on supporting the health and wellbeing of school-age population while contributing positively to the experience of children and families using the service.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has an NVQ3 in healthcare or nursery nursing or equivalent
• Has excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Enjoys working with children, young people and families.
• Is organised, reliable and able to work as part of a team.
• Has good computer skills and experience of Excel
• Values equality, inclusion and culturally sensitive practice.
• Has a passion for improving public health and wellbeing.
• A full driving licence and use of a car

This is a rewarding opportunity to make a real difference to the lives and children and their families on the Isle of Wight

Main duties of the job

To undertake the screening of children in Reception year and in Year 6 in line with the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP) and The Healthy Child Programme (5-19)

Deliver a universal hearing screening check in line with the UK National Screening Committee recommendations "hearing child"

Deliver a universal vision screening check in line with the UK National Screening Committee recommendations "vision defects and the national service specification for child vision screening"

To work with schools to ensure that data collection via the NCMP includes the contact details of parents/carers to enable the weight management service to contact and follow up with parents of children above or below a healthy weight.

To send individual NCMP letters to support children and families in achieving a healthy weight.

To manage and take responsibility for delegated work using own initiative and prioritise and organise workload to meet requirements.

To have a good awareness of safeguarding children and adhere to Hampshire and IOW Health Care NHS Foundation Trust (HIOWH) Policy and Procedure.

About us

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust provides joined-up mental and physical healthcare for around two million people across our communities. With over 13,000 staff working in the community and local hospitals, we deliver care at every stage of life, helping people live their best and healthiest lives.

Our mental health services include community-based support and early intervention in psychosis (EIP) for both adults and young people, alongside a network of specialist inpatient wards covering forensic, learning disability, eating disorder and older person's care.

We deliver extensive physical health services too, from urgent community response teams helping frail and older patients remain safely at home, to hospitals at home teams providing acute-level care in familiar surroundings. Our neurological services offer rehabilitation and treatment for conditions including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Motor Neurone Disease, Head Injury, Cerebral Palsy and Stroke. Across Hampshire, our community hospitals provide inpatient rehabilitation as a step down from acute care, and our dedicated teams also staff Treetops Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Portsmouth, offering expert, compassionate support.

Everything we do is underpinned by our CARE values of compassion, accountability, respect and excellence