Job summary
We are looking for a Band 6 Dementia Specialist Nurse who brings both expert clinical confidence and a genuine passion for transforming the experience of people living with dementia.
This role is perfect for someone who thrives on autonomy, leads with compassion, and loves inspiring others to deliver truly person-centred, relationship-based care.
You'll use your advanced assessment skills, your creativity, and your ability to influence practice to shape how our service responds to complexity and vulnerability. In return, you'll join a team that champions innovation, invests in your development, and celebrates the impact you make every single day.
If you want to lead with heart, drive meaningful change, and be part of a service where people with dementia feel understood, valued, and safe, we'd love to welcome you.
Main duties of the job
The purpose of this role is to provide specialist dementia expertise, support, and advice to patients with dementia or chronic cognitive impairment (including suspected dementia), and to their families and carers, throughout the hospital pathway.
The post holder will also provide specialist support, guidance, and education to staff across the Trust to enhance their confidence and competence in delivering high-quality, person-centred dementia care.
The post holder will:
Deliver specialist assessment, person-centred care planning, and clinical guidance to ensure individuals with dementia receive high-quality, evidence-based care tailored to their needs.
Champion and support the implementation of Trust dementia-related policies, promoting best practice and contributing to service improvement in line with national and local priorities, including the Suffolk Dementia Strategy.
Lead the delivery of dementia-specific education and training for multi-professional teams across the Trust, enhancing staff knowledge, skills, and confidence in dementia care.
Provide expert clinical support and role modelling to empower staff to deliver compassionate, person-centred, evidence-based dementia care.
Lead and coordinate the Dementia Champion workstream, supporting the development, engagement, and ongoing learning of champions across the organisation.
About us
#BeKnown at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust. By us. By our patients. By our community
We are a busy, friendly, rural NHS Trust providing high-quality care and compassion to more than a quarter of a million people across west Suffolk. We care for, treat and support people in hospital, at home and in various community settings.
The West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds provides acute and secondary care services (emergency department, maternity and neonatal services, day surgery unit, eye treatment centre, Macmillan unit and children's ward). It has 500+ beds and is a partner teaching hospital of the University of Cambridge.
Adult and paediatric community services, provided in collaboration with West Suffolk Alliance partners, include a range of nursing, therapy, specialist, and ongoing temporary care and rehabilitation, some at our Newmarket Community Hospital.
We do our utmost to achieve outstanding clinical outcomes for patients and our values of fairness, inclusivity, respect, safety and team work guide how we work and behave as a team.
With nearly 5,000 staff, from all over the world, we strive to make our organisation a great place to work. Whatever your role or ambition, we want to help you be the best you can be.
We promote a diverse and inclusive community where everyones voice counts and you can #BeKnown for whoever you are.
Join us. What will you #BeKnown for?
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please see the full job description and person specification attached for more details on the job role.
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult or Mental Health) with current NMC registration
- Evidence of post registration study in dementia care, frailty, delirium, or cognitive impairment
Desirable
- Teaching/mentorship qualification (e.g., SLiP, Practice Assessor)
- Degree level study or working towards
- Completion of dementia specific training (e.g., Tier 2/3 Dementia Training Standards Framework)
- Understanding of Quality Improvement (QI) methodology
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in acute care, mental health, older adult services, or frailty pathways
- Experience supporting people with dementia, delirium, or cognitive impairment in hospital settings Experience working with families and carers in complex or emotionally sensitive situations
- In depth understanding of dementia types, progression, behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD), and person centred care
- Strong understanding of delirium recognition, prevention, and management
- Knowledge of safeguarding, MCA, DoLS/LPS, and legal frameworks relevant to cognitive impairment
- Awareness of national dementia strategies, NICE guidance, and hospital dementia standards
Desirable
- Experience delivering training or coaching to multidisciplinary teams
- Experience leading quality improvement or service development projects
- Understanding of quality improvement methodologies (PDSA, audit, data interpretation)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Compassionate, patient, and committed to dignity centred care
- Advocates for people with dementia and their families
- Resilient, emotionally intelligent, and able to manage distressing situations
- Collaborative, inclusive, and able to build strong MDT relationships
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced communication skills, including de escalation, validation, and adapting communication for cognitive impairment
- Ability to undertake specialist assessments (cognitive screening, delirium tools, BPSD assessment)
- Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate person centred care plans
- Ability to influence and educate staff at all levels
- Ability to work autonomously and prioritise a complex caseload
- IT literacy (EPR systems, audit tools, digital documentation)
- Experience delivering training or coaching to multidisciplinary teams
Desirable
- Competence in analysing data, audit findings, and contributing to service improvement
Person Specification
Education & Qualification
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult or Mental Health) with current NMC registration
- Evidence of post registration study in dementia care, frailty, delirium, or cognitive impairment
Desirable
- Teaching/mentorship qualification (e.g., SLiP, Practice Assessor)
- Degree level study or working towards
- Completion of dementia specific training (e.g., Tier 2/3 Dementia Training Standards Framework)
- Understanding of Quality Improvement (QI) methodology
Experience & Knowledge
Essential
- Significant post registration experience in acute care, mental health, older adult services, or frailty pathways
- Experience supporting people with dementia, delirium, or cognitive impairment in hospital settings Experience working with families and carers in complex or emotionally sensitive situations
- In depth understanding of dementia types, progression, behavioural and psychological symptoms (BPSD), and person centred care
- Strong understanding of delirium recognition, prevention, and management
- Knowledge of safeguarding, MCA, DoLS/LPS, and legal frameworks relevant to cognitive impairment
- Awareness of national dementia strategies, NICE guidance, and hospital dementia standards
Desirable
- Experience delivering training or coaching to multidisciplinary teams
- Experience leading quality improvement or service development projects
- Understanding of quality improvement methodologies (PDSA, audit, data interpretation)
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Compassionate, patient, and committed to dignity centred care
- Advocates for people with dementia and their families
- Resilient, emotionally intelligent, and able to manage distressing situations
- Collaborative, inclusive, and able to build strong MDT relationships
- Commitment to continuous professional development
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Advanced communication skills, including de escalation, validation, and adapting communication for cognitive impairment
- Ability to undertake specialist assessments (cognitive screening, delirium tools, BPSD assessment)
- Ability to plan, implement, and evaluate person centred care plans
- Ability to influence and educate staff at all levels
- Ability to work autonomously and prioritise a complex caseload
- IT literacy (EPR systems, audit tools, digital documentation)
- Experience delivering training or coaching to multidisciplinary teams
Desirable
- Competence in analysing data, audit findings, and contributing to service improvement
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
