Clinical nurse specialist - learning disability

University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Learning Disability

Closing date: 28 June 2026

Are you an experienced Learning Disability nurse ready to lead and influence care at a strategic level? We are seeking an exceptional Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist to champion equitable, person‑centred care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across UCLH.

This is a highly visible and impactful role within a complex acute trust, where you will act as a clinical expert, advocate and change agent. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to reduce health inequalities, improve reasonable adjustments, and ensure compliance with national standards and legislation.

We are looking for a confident practitioner with strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and a passion for improving patient experience and outcomes. In return, you will join a forward‑thinking organisation committed to innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement, with opportunities to shape service development at scale.

Main duties of the job

You will provide advanced specialist clinical input for patients with learning disabilities and autistic people with complex, high‑risk or multi‑factorial needs. Using your strong clinical foundation, you will undertake comprehensive assessments, contribute to complex decision‑making, and guide multidisciplinary teams in delivering safe, evidence‑based care.

The role requires expert knowledge of mental capacity, best interests, safeguarding, risk assessment and reasonable adjustments within acute hospital settings. You will support clinicians managing behavioural distress, diagnostic oversight and complex discharge planning, ensuring high standards of clinical governance.

In addition to direct clinical involvement, you will lead education and training initiatives, contribute to audit and quality improvement work, and influence policy and pathway development. You will be expected to demonstrate professional authority, clinical credibility and the ability to challenge practice constructively to improve patient safety and experience.

About UCLH

UCLH is a complex NHS trust delivering acute and specialist services across eight sites, with a focus on women's health, cancer, infection, neurological, gastrointestinal and oral disease. We are committed to sustainability, aiming for net‑zero emissions by 2031.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Qualifications

• Higher professional or management degree (Masters level or higher) or equivalent
• PhD (or equivalent), or working towards
• Specialist and expert knowledge relevant to the portfolio
• Evidence of on‑going personal and professional development
• Portfolio of career long learning

Experience & knowledge

• Proven nursing/midwifery leadership and management experience
• Experience of leading, implementing and monitoring objectives and priorities
• Experience of reviewing, contributing to and managing contracts, maintaining legal, professional and governance standards
• Demonstrable understanding of relevant national strategy/policy and how this relates to the portfolio
• Demonstrable record of applying professional judgement for the purpose of decision making in complex situations
• Experience of successfully leading and developing teams
• Experience of leading and delivering on complex projects
• Capacity to appraise, analyse and interpret complex facts or situations
• Ability to think independently and plan strategically, tactically and creatively, and work autonomously prioritising work programmes in the face of competing demands.
• Experience as a chief, principal or co‑investigator.
• Experience of academic teaching, mentoring or supervising at a postgraduate, pre‑ and post‑doctoral level

Communication

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to adjust communication style to suit the audience.
• Ability to collaborate to create the conditions for effective communication with colleagues and partner organisations.
• Excellent influencing and negotiating skills
• Excellent report writing and formal presentation skills

Personal And People Development

• Demonstrate emotional intelligence, self‑awareness, self‑management (including self‑control, transparency and optimism)
• Relationship management skills (ability to influence, develop others and act as a change catalyst)
• Skilled in reflection with a strong commitment to professional development – positive professional role model
• Organisational and time management skills – completer finisher
• Facilitation and education skills (provides mentorship, supervision and education related to research)
• Able to demonstrate initiative and work autonomously – self‑starter
• Solution and achievement orientated
• Flexible and adaptable to change

Health, Safety And Security

• Monitors and maintains health, well‑being, safety and security of self and others
• Promotes, monitors and maintains best practice in health, safety and security

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.

Salary: £56,276 to £63,176 a year, inclusive of HCAS.