Go back South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
Specialist Community Learning Disability Nurse
The closing date is 16 October 2025
Hello, I'm Melissa Learning Disability Team Manager atBarnsley CAMHS.
I'm excited to be developing our service and I'm lookingfor a passionate and skilled Learning Disability Nurse to join us in abrand-new Band 6 role.
What makes me proud is the people behind our service. Werea friendly, close-knit team who support one another and care deeply about thework we do.
You'll be part of a small, dedicated team helping to shapea vital service for children and young people with:
Moderateto severe learning disabilities
Complexmental health needs
Significantbehaviours of concern
You'll also be linked into LD colleagues across SWYPFT,giving you access to a strong peer support network. We value flexibility, ahealthy work-life balance, and a culture that encourages innovation and growth.
Atthe time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UKVisas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forwardto receiving your application.
Main duties of the job
In this role, you will:
Work through aconsultation and systems based approach
Hold avaried caseload
Carryout specialist assessments
Delivertherapeutic interventions
Advocatefor children and young people with LD
Contributeto service development and staff learning
Your compassion and clinical expertise will help tacklehealth inequalities, improve access to services, and ensure the voices of youngpeople with LD are heard and valued.
This is a fantastic opportunity to develop your skills,make a real impact, and be part of a service thats evolving with ambition. Ourlong-term ambition is to grow into a fully inclusive LD service and wed loveyou to be part of that journey.
Please give me acall to chat the role through or pop in for a visit and meet the team!
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to befully vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect patients.
We are aware that anincreasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responseson NHS Job application forms. We strongly discourage this and will conduct athorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the nextstage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this inyour NHS Jobs application form.
About us
Weare a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental healthand learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale,Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and arethe lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission isto help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do thisby providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employstaff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make adifference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourageand welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we valuediversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Beinga foundation Trust means were accountable to ourmembers, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people(including staff) are members of our Trust.
Joinus and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improvingthe mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet andhelp each year.
Weare committedto safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people andvulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share thiscommitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holdercarries the responsibility for a defined caseload working with adults in theCommunity team for people with Learning Disabilities. The caseload will include clients of alllevels of ability as defined by the team criteria. The post holder will serve as an effectivemember of the multi-disciplinary team. The post holder will promote aconsistent multi-agency approach.
The post holderwill contribute to the leadership and development of the Specialist LearningDisability Health team in accordance within local and national guidance
The post holderwill have the ability to work independently as specialist individualpractitioner and make autonomous decisions as required. Have good clinical, management and leadershipskills.
KEYRESULT AREAS:
Management
To promote positive leadership throughexcellent communication and interpersonal skills.
To liaise with members of themulti-agency, multi-disciplinary teams.
Support the effective management of resources anddelegation as required.
Provide audit information as necessary.
Manage patient crisis and respond in atimely manner.
Contribute towards care managementprocesses where appropriate.
Managean individual caseload by prioritising need.
Supportjunior nursing staff in the implementation of their duties.
Organise and contribute to patient reviews as necessary.
To ensure that existing, relevant, agreed local districtpolicies are known and adhered to within the nursing team.
Contribute towards screening of referrals, taking enquiries and signpostingto other services.
Report untoward occurrences to Nurse Lead/Operational Team Managerand record on datix.
Professional
To be personally responsible for keeping a breadth ofchanges in the nursing profession in terms of clinical development, nursingeducation and care management.
Ensure that they receive regular clinical supervision.
Support initiatives in progressive client care that areevidence based.
To be aware of current legislation, terms and developmentwithin Learning Disability Services.
To undertake training and continued professionaldevelopment as agreed with the lead nurse/operational team manager
To advise the Lead Nurse/Operational Team Manager ofshortcomings of the nursing service suggesting appropriate actions.
To ensure that the policy for safe usage and storage ofdrugs is adhered to on Trust premises or in the community.
Provide clinical supervision and professionaladvice/support to all nursing staff and other appropriate disciplines.
Liaise with specialist clinics in relation to medical andpatient nurse support where appropriate
Support health improvement initiatives.
Ensure that professional registration is maintained.
Personnel
Maintain staff moral and provide juniorstaff emotional and professional support and supervision.
Education
Support a suitable learning environmentfor all staff, implementation of teaching programs
andsupervision of learners in accordance with requirements of the Nursing andMidwifery Council and the University curriculum.
Facilitate and undertake the trainingand development of staff in areas of responsibility.
Co-ordinate teaching activities for teammember, student nurses, health professionals and other professionals patientsand carers as appropriate.
Support and engage in pre-registrationsto university teaching programmes.
Assessing,planning, implementing, evaluating programmes of care to meet identified needs,through close liaison with clients, carers and other professionals.
Devise specialist individual programmesof care.
Ensure interventions are based onresearch findings or evidence based practice.
Ensuring all nursing records are currentaccurate defensible and audited periodically.
Plan and prioritising care within thedelegated team.
Practice health promotion advice toclients/carers/multi-agency workers during episodes of care.
Educating clients and carers duringepisode of care.
Assess and manage report and record riskin accordance with trust policy.
Monitor patient care and supervisejunior staff to enable them to actively undertake aspects of client care andensure that their recording is current and accurate.
Provide a high level of specialisthealth facilitation to individual patients or to improve practice in health orsocial care settings.
Evaluate assessment information forplanning patient care and interventions.
Undertake Safeguarding investigatorsrole (training will be given)
Contribute to an individuals development planning andsupport to families, including parents with Learning Disabilities.
The post holder will promote and contribute to the ongoingcare of the client. This will includeemotional and professional support to clients and carers during episodes ofcare.
Workcollaboratively with housing, education, social care and community team membersto participate in assessment and care management/care planning, childprotection, undertake risk assessment to ensure client focus care packages aredeveloped and implemented where appropriate
Attendappropriate residential respite care, education, child protection, panel meeting/ reviews. Establish close working links with otherservices.
Supporting clients to access specialist learning disabilityoutpatients clinics, primary healthcare services and acute health care services ad providing reports whennecessary.
Provide for the timely efficient discharge of patientsafter episodes of care through agreement and supervision
Undertake continuing health needs assessments for caremanagement in line with locality arrangements
Prepare reports as required to support patient careclinically, for reviews or fulfilling legal requirements.
Undertake the direct health facilitation role forvulnerable patients within all health and social care setting both to enhancepatient care and positive practice.
Support specialist MH assessment with medical staffapproved social workers or crisis resolution teams.
Provide flexible support in crisis and at unsocial times asnecessary in agreement with senior staff.
Contribute towards colleagues assessments where appropriate
Provide general and signposting advice, guidance to meetpatient carers needs.
Make formal professional referral to other clinicalprofessionals or service as required by patient needs.
Assess patient continence needs and provide practical,emotional and behavioural advice and arrange the supply of continence aids andtheir review in line with locality arrangements
The post holder will respect people as individuals and willdemonstrate this in all aspects of care given.This includes the promotion of equality for all individuals by:
Ensuringthe clients privacy and dignity are respected at all times.
Promotingand ensuring the protection of vulnerable individuals from abuse andexploitation by adhering to Adult Abuse and Child Protection Multi-AgencyPolicy and Procedure.
Thepromotion of anti-discriminatory practice.
Maintainingthe confidentiality of information.
Promotingand supporting individuals rights, choices and development.
Acknowledgingindividuals personal and spiritual beliefs and identity.
Supportingindividuals and referring to Advocacy Services as appropriate.
The post holder will contribute to improving the serviceprovided. This includes:
Promotingand maintaining the health and well-being of clients at all times.
Takingan active role in research projects and attaining a high standard of clinicaleffectiveness.
Contributingto local continuous quality improvement (CQI) initiative, standard setting andaudit (Clinical/Service Governance)
Provideinformation and support to managers for larger scale service improvements.
Acceptand assist in implementing agreed changes required by purchasers of theservice.
Respondingpositively to clients or their carers comments or complaints.
Acceptingresponsibility for self-development.
The post holder will understand their role within the team,also the roles and contribution of fellow team members. This will include:
Promotingand co-ordinating the philosophy of care in all aspects of care delivery foradults with Learning Disability.
Workingin partnership with others to ensure specialist care is delivered in aneffective way.
The post holder will promote a positive image of the Trustat all times. This includes:
Upholdingand enhancing the good standing and reputation of the Trust.
Dealingwith incidents appropriately and according to Trust policy.
Seekopportunity to promote the Trust and its service to clients and purchasers ofcare.
Provideaccurate and timely activity information to ensure contracting and reportingdata can be provided to managers.
For full details of the role please see the supporting documents attached.
Person Specification
Training
* Professional knowledge relevant to practise acquired by degree, diploma, specialist training and short courses.
* Further training in areas relevant to practise eg, autism, challenging behaviour, long term conditions.
Physical Attributes
* Ability to undertake the duties and demands of the post.
* A satisfactory sickness record over the previous 2 years (subject to the need to act with fairness and equality of opportunity, particularly where the sickness is related to a disability and/or pregnancy).
Experience
* Substantial post qualifying experience in care of people with a learning disability.
* Contributed to and Worked as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
* Managing Care.
* Service Development.
* Working with families and carers.
* Care Management.
Special Knowledge/Skills
* Specialist Knowledge across a range of areas relevant to practise underpinned by theory.
* Current philosophy underpinning learning disability community care provision.
* Planning and organising skills.
* Health promoting/facilitation.
* Teaching practice.
* Health promoting/facilitation.
* Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
* Mental Health.
* Complex health needs.
Qualifications
* RNLD.
* Teaching qualification.
* Evidence of additional academic study at Diploma / Degree level.
Personal Attributes
* Self Motivated
* Good communication and interpersonal skills.
* Ability to work under pressure.
* A current driving licence and access to a car during the working day is essential (reasonable adjustments will be considered for any applicants who are unable to drive due to a disability).
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Trust
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