The Development Role is for qualified nurses or midwives to get a feel for the School Nurse role before committing to, or applying for, the SCPHN training.

It allows you to do school nursing for up to two years before doing the full SCPHN training course. It was a positive experience before I committed to the training aspect. I worked autonomously but was supervised by really lovely colleagues within a supportive team. I had a buddy and was supported via Teams, phone and in person.

Completing the SCPHN course has helped me to grow as a practitioner and I now have the practical and theoretical experience. I appreciated the training more having done the role without it. I felt the course helped give context to what I had already learned in the development role, adding depth and putting the pieces all together. The Development Role reduced the stress of learning the practical side of things, as I had already worked in the role.

The application process for the SCPHN course is robust; I had to do a presentation, an interview and speak to staff members and also young people. I initially was not selected for the SCPHN training but was offered the Development Role instead. This was the best outcome for me in the long run. I felt really well supported starting the Development Role and I shadowed for the first three months. I made steady progress and transition to working autonomously. Adjusting to a new role was challenging but good; I had transferable skills and was supported. I enjoyed working with teenagers and learning new areas such as mental health.

I successfully applied to the SCPHN training and after one year in my Development Role I became student. Had I not been successful I could have undertaken the Development Role for an additional year. Having successfully completed the SCPHN course, I automatically got a School Nurse job within Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.

Moving into school nursing has made a massive difference to my life. The work life balance has improved and I am a lot happier. I have a more stable work pattern and this has benefitted by family. It has been a nice new challenge and I have moved to a lovely team, where I feel valued and not just a cog in a wheel.

The Development Role is beneficial because it makes sense to trial the role and this reduces drop out and retains staff. I was much better prepared for the SCPHN training and I knew this was the job for me.