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Job summary

Main area
Nursing and Quality
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 7
Contract
Fixed term: 18 months (Will consider secondment)
Hours
  • Full time
  • Flexible working
37.5 hours per week
Job ref
218-NM-B7-7756981
Employer
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire
Town
Coventry
Salary
£47,810 - £54,710 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
12/02/2026 23:59
Interview date
03/03/2026

Employer heading

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust logo

Learning Disabilities and Autism Nurse Specialist

NHS AfC: Band 7

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. 

Working for our organisation

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence® designated organisation – please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence ® - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

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. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • See supporting documents
Desirable criteria
  • See supporting documents

Experience

Essential criteria
  • See supporting documents
Desirable criteria
  • See supporting documents

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • See supporting documents
Desirable criteria
  • See supporting documents

Skills

Essential criteria
  • See supporting documents
Desirable criteria
  • See supporting documents

Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

Essential criteria
  • See supporting documents

Employer certification / accreditation badges

No smoking policyAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant (Silver Award)Pathway to excellenceCare quality commission - GoodPregnancy Loss PledgeHeart Charter

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

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Emma Fish
Job title
Associate Director of Nursing
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
02476966158
Additional information

Mobile: 07795317233