Job Title: School Nurse (Residential and/or Day)
About our School
St Paul’s Cathedral School is a co-educational independent preparatory school (Reception to Y8). The majority of our (up to 285) pupils are Day Pupils. We also educate the Choristers of St Paul’s Cathedral who are boarders at the school, accommodated in a purpose-designed boarding house. The Choristers follow an extended termly programme, enabling them to play a central role in Cathedral worship at Christmas and Easter. Music permeates the whole life of the school and is central to our ethos, in the context of a holistic education
Until September 2023, all Cathedral Choristers were boys; we now educate girl Choristers as Day Pupils (they will board from September 2025, following a major refurbishment project)
Every day at St Paul’s Cathedral School, ordinary children achieve extraordinary things, with the support of a dedicated and collegiate staff team. Around 85 teachers and support staff (full and part time), all contribute, directly or indirectly, to the safety and wellbeing, the holistic development, progress and success of our pupils. Our philosophy is that all achievement must be rooted in wellbeing.
The Good Schools Guide has described us as ‘pastorally superb’ and a ‘joyful place’, noting that our parents feel that our location and exceptional ethos give pupils a strong sense of being rooted in a community.
Job Description: School Nurse (Residential and/or Day)
Purpose:
We are looking to recruit a school nurse to join our dedicated pastoral and boarding team.
This is a permanent position with flexibility to discuss as a full year or term time only post, and, depending on the candidate, with the additional option of residential accommodation with evening and on-call duties. The school would be willing to consider this post as part of a job share and/or on a rota with another candidate.
This role is an opportunity for an enthusiastic and caring practitioner to work with our pupils to provide medical care, and pastoral support to during day and/or boarding hours.
For candidates interested in this as a residential post, accommodation is provided on-site.
General day time duties
- Undertake first aid duties, such as treating sick pupils, liaising with parents and staff, and arranging transport home or to the hospital where appropriate.
- Administer emergency first aid to provide immediate help to casualties with either injuries or illnesses, medical or health concerns.
- Provide immediate pastoral care to distressed pupils.
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of relevant first aid issues and legal guidelines.
- Administer medicines safely to pupils where necessary in line with the school’s policies where necessary.
- Administer, organise, liaise and support with health screening and vaccination programmes.
- Work closely with the teaching staff and SLT on matters associated with child protection and health education.
- Support local safeguarding arrangements.
- Maintain confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity.
- Support the assessment of children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing needs.
- Provide mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention approaches.
- Support the delivery of the RSHE curriculum.
- Develop and monitor health plans for pupils with illnesses and disabilities.
- Develop and maintain appropriate policies and protocols and updating policies as required.
- Write risk assessments for pupils with specific medical needs.
- Conduct screenings and write referrals for health services where necessary.
- Ensure first aid kits are in place around the school and kept stocked with the necessary supplies.
- Liaise with staff members, the boarding team, pupils, parents and local GPs where necessary.
- Provide first aid cover at specific school events eg: Sports day, Carol Service, school trips as required.
- Ability to provide first aid training, or willingness to train as a trainer.
- Attend staff meetings as directed – including the Health & Safety meeting.
- Support the day and/or boarding staff teams to look after pupils during hours on duty.
Day to Day Organisation
- Undertake general administrative duties regarding first aid.
- Ensure all accidents are recorded in line with the school’s policies.
- Ensure the planning and organisation of vaccination programmes.
- Maintain accurate medical information of pupils with special medical requirements, and those with prescriptions and treatments.
- Maintain manual and computerised medical records in line with the school’s policies.
- Produce information and data as required.
- Update display boards with current first aid and health information.
- Maintain and safeguard first aid stock and supplies.
- Keep pupil’s medical history and vaccination records up to date.
- Maintain an up-to-date register of first aiders.
- Keep an up-to-date record of the locations of the first aid kits in the school.
Safeguarding
- Liaise with the DSL to ensure that any identified safeguarding concerns are dealt with appropriately and effectively.
- Monitor pupils who are at risk of harm, or have been subjected to harm, provide support and ensure their welfare.
- Maintain knowledge of local safeguarding arrangements.
- Maintain knowledge of current safeguarding legislation and guidance.
- Be aware of the signs and indictors of various safeguarding concerns.
School Nurse person specification
| Qualifications and training | |
| Essential | Desirable |
|
· Degree in nursing. · Registered nurse (RN) license. · CPR, BLS and first aid certification. · Specialist community public health nursing – school nursing (SCPHN-SN) certification. |
· Mental health first aid certification. |
| Skills and experience | |
| Essential | Desirable |
|
· At least one year of nursing experience. · Excellent organisational and communication skills. · Excellent clinical skills to dispense medications and treat minor ailments and injuries. · Basic maths skills to ensure correct dosages when dispensing medications. · Ability to work independently or with others. · Ability to assess situations and act quickly. · Ability to cope with challenging situations. |
· Experience working with children. · Experience working in an educational environment. · Experience working in paediatric nursing. |
| Knowledge | |
| Essential | Desirable |
|
· Basic computer software knowledge. · Knowledge of many areas of health and wellbeing, including mental health. · Knowledge of medicines and nursing practices. |
· Knowledge of local safeguarding arrangements. |
| Personal traits | |
| The successful candidate will be | |
|
· Able to remain focussed and calm when dealing with a medical emergency. · Compassionate, caring and patient. · Understanding and sensitive. · Confident in their role and abilities. · Punctual and organised. |
|
| Additional requirements | |
| The successful candidate will have | |
| · Basic knowledge and understanding of legislation and government guidance on health and safety, safeguarding and mental health. | |
Line Management:
This post is line managed by a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Hours, Terms and Conditions:
Working Hours:
The working hours for the school day role are 08:00-16:30. If also involved in the boarding rota, this works on a shift pattern each week with working hours from 15:30-21:30. Overnight call as part of a shift pattern would also apply if accommodation is required.
Attendance at termly INSET is also required, as is attendance at the compulsory Cathedral services including Advent and Palm Sunday (falling on Sundays).
A competitive salary is offered, commensurate with qualification and experience.
The school has adopted many of the Cathedral HR policies, including a generous employer Defined Contribution pension scheme.
We are committed to supporting the professional development of all our team members; all staff may apply to the Deputy Head for support with relevant training courses.
Employees may also be entitled to discounted school fees for dependent children, subject to the standard admission process and the availability of places.
The school has adopted many of the Cathedral HR policies, including a generous employer Defined Contribution pension scheme.
Application
All applications must be made via our School application form on the TES (not the TES form) or the St Paul’s Cathedral School website, accompanied by a letter addressed to the Head, Mrs Judith Fremont-Barnes. The deadline for application is Monday 2nd June 2025.
Safeguarding:
Safeguarding is the responsibility of all staff at St Paul’s Cathedral School and all staff are expected to share our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children in our care. Staff must be aware of the procedures within the school which support safeguarding and must act in accordance with the school’s Safeguarding Policy and Staff Code of Conduct.
All job descriptions may be adapted to suit the skillset and experience of the post holder and are kept under regular review. Job descriptions are not comprehensive; the post-holder may at times be expected to carry out other tasks and undertake training in line with business need when reasonably requested by the Head.
