Learning Disability/Autism Lead Nurse

Job overview

Why is there a need for specialist Learning Disability and Autism (LDA) nurses at UHN?

NHS England and NHS Improvement LD Standards (2018) state that it has been widely recognised that some people with learning disabilities, autism or both encounter difficulties when accessing NHS services and can have much poorer experiences than the general population.

The LD population is living longer through the hard work that has been occurring over a number of years. As a result the demand on acute settings will continue to rise and it is widely recognised that this patient group requires specialist knowledge and skill to support. The aim is to ensure that people with learning disabilities are able to access mainstream services with specialist input available to ensure they receive the high standard of healthcare they are entitled to. KGH is an inclusive trust and specialist support is essential to ensure staff are providing an equitable service.

The LDA service at UHN is a resource available to all clinical teams caring for patients with a Learning Disability and/or Autism. The service exists to provide specialist advice and support which complements the care provided by the patient’s own clinical teams

Main duties of the job

This post holder is required to support the continued development of high-quality clinical services to meet the holistic needs of patients with a Learning Disability and/or Autism and lead the development of an organisational culture that enables equal and accessible healthcare services for this patient group.

This role will work across University Hospitals Northamptonshire (UHN) incorporating Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS Foundation Trust & Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• The post holder will:
• Provide leadership to the Trust by delivering an effective Learning Disability & Autism service for children and adults supported by a Band 6 LD/Autism Nurse and Band 2 Support Worker/Expert by experience.
• Be responsible for driving improvement of the quality of care received by individuals with a Learning Disability and/or Autism within the acute hospital setting.
• Maintain links with community LD teams, carers groups and patients in order to continuously develop services which meet the needs of the patient group
• Promote the rights, interests, needs and choices of service users, carers and other interest groups in the planning, delivery and reviewing of services for patients with a Learning Disability and/or Autism
• Have a high degree of autonomy and will work collaboratively with all members of the Corporate Nursing team, Safeguarding Team, Multi-agency Partners, CCG, Nursing Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals
• Be accountable as the line manager for the Learning Disabilities & Autism Team for the effective and efficient delivery of the service
• Be a highly visible senior nurse, providing specialist knowledge, advice and clinical expertise to all staff in the Trust in all areas of Learning Disabilities and Autism
• Maintain personal clinical skills, knowledge, competence and credibility
• Act as a role model and clinical expert within the speciality of Learning Disability nursing across all areas of the Trust, supporting clinical staff in the management of care planning for patients with Learning Disabilities & Autism.
• To actively participate in the health assessments, interventions and evaluation for service users with Learning Disabilities and highly complex needs.
• To support ward staff in delivering high quality clinical care utilising individual knowledge and skills to achieve the best outcome for the patient and ensure positive patient experience.
• To provide leadership for staff with regards to escalating ward level and hospital based service provision
• To initiate or participate in multi-professional meetings/case-conferences including those relating to safeguarding.
• Responsible for identifying the barriers to healthcare for people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism and their carers. Working directly in partnership with clinical services/pathways to address these barriers, supporting the implementation of recommendations and monitoring in order to maintain a safe high-quality level of service.
• To advise on issues relating to complex discharges including NHS Continuing Health Care for patients with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.
• To empower the hospital workforce to challenge professional and organisational boundaries, by supporting the hospital workforce to enhance their skills and knowledge development to ensure that people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism have equity of access to healthcare services.
• Support and challenge providers in relation to their responsibility to facilitate an individual’s access to healthcare including advice and support on preparing the individual and advocating on their behalf and to support the pre planning and implementation of health interventions required.
• To work in partnership with primary and secondary services to meet the healthcare outcomes for people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.
• To raise awareness of local and national policies and directives, facilitating and leading the application of such within the hospital setting by working alongside healthcare professionals, managers and commissioners.
• To liaise with the relevant representatives from the Local Area Team (NHS England) and explore and inform in relation to people’s needs.
• To advocate on behalf of individuals unable to access mainstream health services and where identified challenge discriminatory and/ or poor practice.
• To lead on national reporting and self-assessments that are specific to Learning Disabilities and/or Autism on behalf of the acute service.
• To facilitate the implementation and monitoring of NHS National Standards in relation to Learning Disabilities and/or Autism.
• To work regionally and locally to improve access to NHS Screening Programmes to enable people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism equity of access to these services.
• To directly influence or produce policies, procedures and pathways in the acute service and work in partnership to develop integrated pathways across acute, primary care and specialist services.
• To provide appropriate training within clinical areas and contribute to programs of education relating to patients with Learning Disabilities and/or Autism for healthcare professionals within the Trust.
• Critically analyse data and produce reports to be presented regularly as part of Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance.
• To provide assurance to the Board via the Vulnerable Persons Steering Group into Safeguarding Assurance Committee
• Produce the annual report on LD/Autism for the Board with support from Named Nurse/Professional Vulnerable Persons
• To undertake regular validated audits relating to Learning Disabilities and/or Autism care provision and present the findings to Quality Monitoring Groups.
• To ensure the development of proactive and effective communications and relationships with internal and external stakeholders
• To regularly engage with people with a Learning Disability and/or Autism and their carers using feedback to develop and enhance services empowering patients to be partners in the care they receive.
• To lead, support relevant staff or provide expert knowledge in the investigation and root cause analysis into significant clinical incidents related to patients with a Learning Disability and/or Autism.
• To formulate a range of programmes and work collaboratively with all multi-agency teams to meet organisational requirements
• Self-manage own workload effectively ensuring work plans are realistic
• Liaise with medical, nursing and therapies colleagues to promote holistic care for patients
• Develop and create statistical reports and present information to produce action plans, e.g., Excel spreadsheets and Word action plan tables.
• Support the work and development of the Enhanced Care Team
• Travel between the Kettering and Northampton Hospital sites and other sites where required