Job summary
The staff team at the Horizon Centre are excited to welcome internal applications for full time Band 5 to Band 6 development opportunity working towards a Senior Clinical Practitioner on our Assessment and Treatment Unit in Wakefield.
The Horizon Centre is an 8 bedded Assessment and Treatment Unit that provides highly specialised assessment, formulation, and intervention for adults with a diagnosed learning disability, working in a person-centred way to meet each individuals needs. The service works within Positive Behavioural and Active Support frameworks and provides trauma-informed care focused on treatment and recovery, with the aim of supporting the person back into the community and their everyday lives.
You will develop with in the team and work alongside an experienced and supportive team of doctors, nurses, nurse associates, psychologists, healthcare assistants and allied health professions who work together with the person at the centre.
This is a great opportunity to develop your skills and drive some exciting new developments within a complex and fast-paced environment. You will be supported by the wider multi-disciplinary team to ensure we continue to maintain high-quality, person-centred services in line with our national and locally agreed targets.
Main duties of the job
As you develop from a Band 5 to a Band 6 Nurse once you have achieved the competencies for a Senior Clinical Practitioner, you will be responsible for supporting the Ward in deliver high quality care on the ward by acting as a positive role model and leading by example. provide quality evidence-based nursing advice, support, and care for service users within a multidisciplinary setting.
The role will entail some management responsibilities including supervising staff, managing the day to day running of shifts, creating rotas, Reviewing Datix, sickness monitoring and producing high quality care plans, risk assessments and reports.
The post holder will be responsible for overseeing the assessment, planning, implementation, and evaluation of nursing care, and have a working knowledge of local, national policies and legislation which govern current service provision for people with a learning disability.
If you would like to find out more about this role, please feel free to contact the ward on 01924 316243 and ask to speak to one of the senior leadership team.
All employees of the Trust are strongly encouraged to have their up-to-date flu vaccination to protect staff and patients.
At the time of advertising, this role does meet the minimum requirements set by UK Visas and Immigration to sponsor candidates to work in the UK. We look forward to receiving your application.
About us
We are a specialist NHS Foundation Trust that provides community, mental health and learning disability services for the people of Barnsley, Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield. We also provide low and medium secure services and are the lead for the west Yorkshire secure provider collaborative.
Our mission is to help people reach their potential and live well in their communities, we do this by providing high-quality care in the right place at the right time. We employ staff in both clinical and non-clinical services who work hard to make a difference to the lives of service users, families and carers.
We encourage and welcome applications from all protected characteristic groups, we value diversity and want our workforce to be reflective of our communities.
Being a foundation Trust means were accountable to our members, who can have a say in how were run. Around 14,300 local people (including staff) are members of our Trust.
Join us and you will be one of over 4,500 staff committed to supporting and improving the mental, physical and social needs of the thousands of people we meet and help each year.
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all colleagues and volunteers to share this commitment.
We do reserve to right to close vacancy before the advertised closing date if necessary, so please apply as soon as possible.
Details
- Date posted: 22 July 2026
- Pay scheme: Agenda for change
- Band: Band 5
- Salary: £32,073 to £48,117 a year Band 5 to 6 Development Post
- Contract: Permanent
- Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working
- Reference number: C9378-W1519
- Job locations: Fieldhead Hospital, Ouchthorpe Lane, Wakefield, WF13SP, United Kingdom
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
This is a generic band 5 staff nurse job description designed to reflect learning disability services Trust-wide.
The postholder will be the named professional for a number of clients who require assessment and treatment on an outreach or inpatient basis.
He/she will apply a systematic approach to care and will be required to provide skilled nursing interventions as agreed by the Multi-disciplinary Team.
There will be a requirement for the postholder to contribute towards and develop effective working relationships with other members of the Multi-disciplinary Team, Community Team for Learning Disability, clients/carers, other health professionals and individuals from statutory/voluntary agencies.
The postholder will contribute to the development of the Assessment & Treatment Service and junior staff, including student nurses. He/she will be expected to take charge of the clinical area in the absence of the Team Manager.
KEY RESULT AREAS:
JOB SPECIFIC COMPETENCIES
CLIENT CARE
The post holder will: Carry out nursing duties in accordance with the NMC Code of
Professional Conduct and ensure all Professional Standards and Trust Policies are complied with.
- Use professional knowledge, skills and experience to assess, plan, implement and evaluate programmes of care to meet identified needs with the aim of promoting positive health.
- Complete specific assessments including epilepsy, mental health, behaviour which challenges services.
- To have an awareness of clinical effectiveness and ensure interventions are based on research findings or evidence based practice and linked to outcome measures.
- Ensure all nursing records are current and accurate.
- Plan and prioritise care in accordance with available resources.
- Provide pro-active health promotion advice, education and guidance to clients/carers during episodes of care.
- Ensure all medication interventions/practices comply with the Trust Drug Policy and the NMC Standard for Administration of Medicines.
- Establish close working links with the Community Learning Disability Team and contribute and participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings and admission and discharge process.
- Liaise effectively with other agencies to provide an overall healthcare package for people with learning disabilities.
- Act as named nurse and be responsible for the ongoing assessment and treatment of clients ensuring emotional and professional support to clients and carers during episodes of assessment and treatment.
For full band 5 and band 6 job descriptions, please see attached supporting documents.
We are aware that an increasing number of applicants are using AI technology to generate responses on NHS Job application forms. Over reliance on AI-generated content in application forms is strongly discouraged and we will conduct a thorough screening process before selecting candidates to progress to the next stage. If you are using AI to enhance your application, please disclose this in your NHS Jobs application form.
Person specification
Training
Essential
- BAND 5:
- Evidence of personal professional development
- BAND 6:
- Professional knowledge relevant to practise acquired by degree, diploma, specialist training and short courses
Desirable
- BAND 5:
- Clinical supervision
- Physical disabilities
- Sensory disabilities
- Challenging Behaviour/Mental Health
- BAND 6:
- Further training in areas relevant to practise eg, autism, challenging behaviour, long term conditions
- Leadership training
Experience
Essential
- BAND 5:
- Experience of working as part of an MDT.
- BAND 6:
- Substantial post qualifying experience in care of people with a learning disability.
- Contributed to and Worked as a member of a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- BAND 5:
- Some experience of specialist assessment & treatment services within learning disabilities, in particular working with people who challenge services.
- Involvement in quality initiatives
- Worked with people with dual diagnosis, ie learning disabilities and mental health, physical disabilities, sensory disabilities
- Application of Mental Health Act and CPA to practice
- Taken regular charge of a service provision, eg residential unit
- Involvement in a systematic approach to care
- Working as a member of a MDT
- Working with carers
- Worked with people with challenging behaviour
- BAND 6:
- Managing Care
- Service Development
- Working with families and
- carers
- Leadership skills
- Supporting and mentoring staff
Qualifications
Essential
- BAND 5:
- 1st level registration in learning disability nursing or RMN (with relevant Learning Disability experience)
- BAND 6:
- RNLD
- Relevant training qualification
Desirable
- BAND 5:
- Experience of mentoring/supporting learners or ability to demonstrate the skills required for effective mentoring
- NVQ D32/33
- BAND 6:
- Evidence of additional academic study at Diploma /Degree level
- Training in area relevant to service eg Positive Behaviour Support, Autism,
Personal Attributes
Essential
- BAND 6:
- Self Motivated
- Good communication and interpersonal skills
- Enthusiasm
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role
Physical Attributes
Essential
- BAND 5:
- Ability to work 24 hour rotation
- 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).
- BAND 6:
- 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).
Values and Behaviours
Essential
- BAND 5:
- Commitment to adopt the Trusts core Values and Behavioural standards.
- In addition to the core standards an ability to demonstrate the following role specific behaviours:
- Enthusiasm
- Motivated to work with individuals with challenging behaviour
- Professionalism
- Resourcefulness
- Flexible attitude
- Common sense approach
- Initiative, tact and diplomacy
- Positive self-image
- Effective team member
- Ability to cope with change
- Commitment to high clinical standards when working with patients
- Reliable
Special Knowledge/Skills
Essential
- BAND 5:
- Current philosophies underpinning learning disability
- Planning and organisation
- Good verbal and written communication skills.
- Ability to work with patients therapeutically on a 1:1 basis or in groups.
- Awareness of the skills in the prevention and management of violence and aggression.
- Ability to coach, train, mentor and act as a role model to other team members and learners.
- Ability to work without direct supervision.
- Ability to work flexibly
- Ability to commute between the various sites as applicable
- Ability to travel around the Trust as appropriate to the role
- BAND 6:
- 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
- Managing challenging behaviours
Desirable
- BAND 5:
- Standard setting/audit
- Research/evidence based practice
- Clinical Governance
- Teaching and assessing
- Leadership ability
- BAND 6:
- Knowledge and understanding of cultural and diversity issues.
- Mental Health
- Challenging Behaviour
- Complex health needs
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Band 5 to Band 6 Nurse Developement with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust in Wakefield, North East and Yorkshire, England. It is listed as a Band 5 Nurse (adult and children) role. The advertised salary is £32,073 to £48,117 a year. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 05 Aug 2026.
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