Community Learning Disability Nurse

Job overview

This is an exciting opportunity to join our specialist, integrated community learning disability team.   We are a multi-disciplinary team with a shared goal of supporting adults with learning disabilities to maximise their opportunities in health and social care in order to achieve their potential.

We aim to provide excellent care and support to adults with learning disabilities in their own homes and across wider community settings, often working in partnership with family members and carers.  We are an innovative,  proactive team and  collectively proud of the service we deliver.

The successful candidate will have the skills required to provide health and mental health support, positive behavioural support and to support decision making and capacity assessments.  There will be opportunity for the post holder to consolidate existing skills and develop knowledge through available training and working alongside our established team.

Applicants are required to hold a professional Registered Learning Disability Nursing qualification with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)  and  the successful candidate will be required to apply for an enhanced DBS disclosure prior to appointment.  This role is an essential car user post and the successful candidate will have a full driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate with work in an integrated team of health and social care professionals and will be required to manage a caseload, delivering nursing interventions to adults with learning disabilities.

The post holder will be responsible for delivering high quality nursing interventions including health and mental health support, behaviour support planning, sexual knowledge assessments, learning disability screening assessments and mental capacity assessments in line with the Mental Health Act.

The successful candidate will be able to manage their time, work as part of a team but also able to use their initiative to develop and deliver nursing care plans independently.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The post holder will provide community nursing support to service users who have a learning disability.  The successful candidate will be required to work across a variety of community settings to deliver nursing assessments, interventions and reviews to individuals who may have complex presentations.  With support from senior nursing colleagues, there will be opportunity to participate in research and development activity and contribute to the overall development of learning disability services.  The role includes the delivery of specialised nursing assessment of individuals with learning disabilities who may have complex needs which may include additional mental health problems, autism and/or behaviours of concern.   The post holder will be skilled in formulating and implementing care plans, health action plans, epilepsy guidelines, behaviour support plans and guidelines to assist in the safe use and administration of medication following appropriate periods of assessment and review.

There is a requirement to  participate in capacity assessments alongside members of the MDT.  This will require a good working knowledge of Mental Capacity Act and use of appropriate MCA documentation.

The postholder will manage a clinical caseload with supervision from a senior nurse colleague, whilst retaining professional responsibility for assessment, intervention and discharge.  There is also responsibility to provide specialist nursing advice, guidance and consultation to other professionals contributing directly to an individual’s intervention plan.

To undertake risk assessment and risk management for individual’s and to provide advice to other professionals on nursing aspects of risk assessment and risk management.

The post holder will be required to participate in regular clinical supervision in accordance with NMC guidance and will contribute to student placements and induction plans for new members of the team.

There is opportunity to contribute to sessions of teaching and training to staff who work with adults with learning disabilities across a range of agencies and settings, alongside other health and social care professionals.