Job summary
- Main area
- Nursing & Patient Experience
- Grade
- AfC Band 8a
- Contract
- Fixed term: 9 months (9 months maternity cover contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 384-AGB-EMF19971-8a
- Employer
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust
- Town
- Guildford
- Salary
- £57,888 - £64,880 per annum pro rata includes high cost area supplements (HCAS)
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 09/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Autism and Learning Disability Nurse Specialist (Mat Cover)
AfC Band 8a
Job overview
This is a unique opportunity to work within an acute Trust to support the continued development of high quality services to meet the holistic needs of patients with Autism and/ or Learning Disabilities and to develop the educational plan for staff of all disciplines to equip them to meet these needs.
The role requires leadership for the development and implementation of the Autism and Learning Disability Strategy in the Trust. The post holder will demonstrate high level of specialist knowledge and expertise providing advice, education and support to staff, patients, their families and carers.
The post holder will deliver an effective Autism and/or Learning Disabilities service across the RSFT sites, working closely with the Paediatric learning disability nurse and the acute liaison learning disability nurse to drive service improvements
To maintain links with community LD teams, the Integrated Care Board, patient and carers groups in order to develop services which meet the needs of Autism and/ or learning disability patients and their families/ carers.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will provide clinical leadership to support the ongoing development of high‑quality services for patients with Autism and/or Learning Disabilities. They will lead the development and implementation of Autism and Learning Disability service delivery across the Trust, including the delivery of the educational programme for staff to promote best practice.
The post holder will demonstrate specialist knowledge and provide advice, support to patients and their families/carers. They will contribute to the Trust’s strategic direction by providing vision, professional leadership, and oversight to ensure the delivery of high‑quality nursing care across hospital and community services.
Working for our organisation
Royal Surrey is a compassionate and collaborative acute and community Trust. Recognising that our 5000 colleagues are our greatest strength, we offer a comprehensive health and wellbeing program along with a commitment to developing and advancing your career. Our diverse and welcoming Royal Surrey family will ensure you that you feel valued from your initial interview through your entire tenure.
We are clinically led and provide joined up care by bridging the gap between hospital and community services alongside regional specialist cancer care. Our main acute hospital site is in Guildford with community hospital sites at Milford, Haslemere and Cranleigh. We provide adult community health services in homes across Guildford and Waverley.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) have given us an overall rating of Outstanding.
Royal Surrey has a strong reputation and history to build on. We are proud of our achievements and we are investing in our colleagues through our commitment to supporting professional development as well as investing more than £45 million in our physical environment and new equipment in the next few years. There has never been a better time to join us.
Although it isn't the Trusts normal practice, adverts may close early, so you are encouraged to submit an application as soon as possible.
A video about the Royal Surrey - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R96pMboIYdo
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The post holder will deliver an effective Autism and/or Learning Disabilities service across all RSFT sites, working closely with the Paediatric Learning Disability Nurse and the Acute Liaison Learning Disability Nurse to drive service improvements. They will maintain strong links with community Learning Disability teams, carers’ groups, and patients to ensure services are developed in line with the needs of individuals with Autism and/or Learning Disabilities and their families/carers.
The post holder will work alongside the Deputy Director for Nursing to progress the Trust’s Autism and Learning Disability agenda and support the delivery of the associated strategy. They will also promote the rights, interests, needs, and choices of service users, carers, and other key stakeholders in the planning, delivery, and review of services for patients with Autism and/or Learning Disabilities.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Registered Learning Disability Nurse.
- Degree level or evidence of relevant experience.
- Teaching qualification.
- Healthcare management / leadership qualification.
Desirable criteria
- Masters or evidence of relevant expereince.
Knowledge
Essential criteria
- Experience at a senior nursing level within acute hospital setting.
- Demonstrates specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and CPD relevant to autism and/ or learning disability.
- Must have an understanding of the background to and aims of current NHS healthcare policy/national guidance/CQC/ and appreciate the implications of this on engagement.
- Knowledge of recent government legislation and documents related to Autism and/or Learning disability.
- Experience of significant contribution to innovative practice, change management and quality improvement.
- Have significant experience of caring for LD and/or Autism patients in an acute hospital.
- Evidence in changing practice and project management.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Helen Whitsed
- Job title
- Deputy Director of Nursing
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01483 571122
- Additional information
Interested applicants can contact Helen Whitsed Deputy Director of Nursing as follows:
Phone – 01483 571122 ext 2875
Or via PA Barbara Chaves [email protected]
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