Forensic Nurse Examiner

Are you an exceptional, qualified, experienced, trauma informed nurse looking for a new challenge?

The Bridge Adult and Paediatric Centre of Excellence SARC are expanding their team and we are looking to recruit a passionate and motivated individual to join us as a Forensic Nurse Examiner. You will be joining a successful trauma informed multi-disciplinary team who provide 24hr a day care for anyone who has experienced sexual violence at any time in their lives for populations across Avon, Somerset, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire. 

The service is part of the SARC community across England and Wales, works in line with the Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine (FFLM) and is currently undergoing accreditation against new standards set by the Forensic Science Regulator. The role will also involve time developing the service to meet the stringent requirements of FSR accreditation. As part of these regulations all SARC staff will be required to provide a DNA sample which will be held on a SARC Elimination Database and on the Central Elimination Database

If you want to know more about joining a team who are committed to providing compassionate person-centred care please contact the Bridge on the details below. 

Additional working pattern details: This role will involve week day (12 hour shifts), weekend day and on call nights on a rota basis

Main duties of the job

• The post holder, alongside crisis workers, will be the first point of contact for anyone seeking advice following a sexual assault.
• The post holder will work alongside Crisis Workers, Forensic Nurse Examiners, Doctors and Paediatricians to support anyone who has experienced rape, sexual assault or sexual abuse
• The post holder will help provide crisis support to anyone attending the SARC.
• To ensure all actions undertaken are consistent with service users wishes and with the service users consent.
• The post holder will be expected to learn how to take a full and relevant health, social, psychological and forensic history and conduct appropriate physical health, mental health and social risk assessments for anyone attending the SARC.

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as ‘Good’ overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward-thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone’s throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we’re meeting our pledge.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Person specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential criteria

• RGN.1st Level or registered paediatric nurse
• Current NMC Registration
• 1st Degree in nursing or health related subject or working towards
• Relevant accredited post registration qualification at level 3
• Willingness to work towards Masters level academic study
• Level 3 Safeguarding training
• Intermediate life support

Desirable criteria

• Qualification in Teaching, assessing and Mentoring

Knowledge and Experience

Essential criteria

• Relevant post registration experience in any nursing speciality
• Appropriate proven leadership and management experience
• Proven commitment and experience, evidence in teaching

Desirable criteria

• Experience of undertaking research or audit projects
• Evidence of commitment to research based practice or evidence of project work undertaken
• Experience as preceptor / mentor
• Experience in working with vulnerable populations
• Previous experience in sexual health, procedures allied with sexual health
• Experience / knowledge in child and adult safeguarding
• Previous experience in working with survivors of sexual violence

Skills and Abilities

Essential criteria

• Organisation and management skills
• Teaching
• Ability to work effectively under pressure
• Ability to problem solve
• Flexibility, adaptability to meet needs of a changing service
• Ability to perform clinical activities specific to speciality
• Competency in medication administration including intravenous medication
• Ability to lead a team
• Ability to work alone or as part of a team
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Able to manage difficult situations
• Able to influence other team members
• Act as a role model and as a mentor/assessor
• Innovative and participates with practice and policy change
• Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and others
• Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care
• Awareness of current national changes in nursing / NHS
• General good health, Able to work on feet for long periods. Aware that the role can be stressful and emotional at times

Aptitudes

Essential criteria

• Respecting Everyone
• Embracing change
• Recognising Success
• Working Together