Learning Disabilities and Autism Nurse Specialist

Job overview

This is an exciting new role. Working within the nursing, quality and safety team and the safeguarding team to develop and implement key initiatives related to supporting staff in wards and departments to maintain the safety of patients with learning disabilities (LD) and / or autistic people. This role will support clinical groups trust wide to implement safe and effective care to patients who have LD and / or autistic people throughout their healthcare journey at the Trust. The role will involve the development of clinical guidelines, standard operating procedures and Clinical protocols based on national/local guidance and best practice. The post holder will be able to provide education to registered and unregistered healthcare staff in a variety of settings. Working within the principles of continuous improvement, involving relevant stakeholders to ensure agreed standards, aims and targets are met. A key part of this role will be to develop and support ward teams to therapeutically manage complex health needs by implementing person-centred communication strategies and management plans for patients with LD and /or autistic people, which includes discharge planning. Additionally, utilising UHCWi methodology, this role will identify opportunities to involve people with LD and autism and their families in reviewing the quality of our services, and then also being part of associated improvement plans.

Main duties of the job

• Review patient care and create management plans for people with LD and / or autistic people, working alongside ward and department teams
• Lead process development
• Provide specialist advice and support to ward and department teams that care for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Liaise with members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure care is appropriate, considering the Mental Capacity Act and consent, ReSPECT decisions, end of life /advance care planning, medication review and discharge planning
• Link closely with ward managers, matrons and the patient experience team, to help develop focus areas for quality improvement
• Represent the Trust on Internal and External groups/meetings where appropriate
• Review and identify themes from incidents, rounding to inform Trust wide objectives and actions
• Develop and deliver education for nurses, midwives and AHPs trust wide related to the care and management of people with LD and / or autistic people, and include reasonable adjustments

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates – If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Improve the quality of care received by people with a LD and / or autistic people in the acute hospital setting
• Act as a resource for staff related to LD and/ or autism
• Lead and coordinate the delivery and development of pathways for patients with LD and / or autistic people, using national guidance, standards and clinical practice and local protocols
• Provide direct care to patients with LD and / or autistic people, act as an advocate and ensure their voice is heard
• Support wards and departments to manage complex patients with LD and autistic people, including outpatients and patients coming to the hospital for elective procedures
• Support families and carers to ensure good decision making about care and management, providing advice and information
• Build links with external care providers and support discharge planning for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Work with Matrons, Ward Managers and Clinical Teams identify opportunities to drive internal improvements
• Act as a link between community-based learning disabilities services and acute Trust
• Collate, conduct analysis and validation of data related to the care and management of people with LD and / or autistic people
• Responsible for producing and ensuring reports are submitted within agreed timescales
• Facilitate open and easy access to all Trust services
• Review and develop communication methods for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Review cases and lead on any multiagency reviews related to the learning from deaths for people with a LD and / or autistic people

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.