Job summary
Children's Epilepsy Nurse Specialist (Band 6/7 Development Role)
- Location: Somerset
- Hours: Part-time with potential to increase to full-time
- Salary: Band 6 (development post) or Band 7 (dependent on experience)
- Working pattern: Monday to Friday, 9am--5pm (some remote working available)
Are you a compassionate and motivated Registered Nurse seeking a new challenge or opportunity for career progression?
We are excited to offer a Children's Epilepsy Nurse Specialist position within our innovative and growing epilepsy service in Somerset. This role is open as either a developmental Band 6 post with a clear progression pathway to Band 7, or as a Band 7 for experienced candidates.
You'll be part of a small, friendly and supportive community nursing team, working across both urban and rural settings--from the Quantock Hills to Exmoor--supporting children and young people with epilepsy and complex needs. This role is varied and highly rewarding, with opportunities to work in clinical settings, schools, homes, and the wider community.
We are committed to your development, offering training opportunities including the Independent Nurse Prescribing course, regular national conferences, and professional mentorship.
Main duties of the job
As a Children's Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, you will become a key figure in a specialist community nursing team providing support to children, young people and families living with epilepsy. You will manage a caseload, working autonomously while also receiving close clinical support from Consultants and peers.
A core part of your role involves:
- Educating and empowering families and carers.
- Supporting safe and confident school integration.
- Leading on aspects of clinical care including assessments, care planning, and treatment reviews.
You will provide expert training and guidance to families, carers, educators, and healthcare professionals, promoting confidence in managing epilepsy and associated conditions. You will also support service users who require specialist interventions, such as ketogenic dietary support or VNS therapy.
The role supports a hybrid working model, offering flexibility with some home-based working alongside in-person clinical and outreach duties. We actively encourage professional growth and will support your continued learning through formal qualifications and informal learning opportunities. We also prioritise wellbeing, offering access to psychological support for both staff and patients.
About us
As an organisation, the NHS offers a wide range of benefits including flexible working, fantastic pension contributions, market leading annual leave allowance, career progression and regular conversations, not to mention our Blue Light Card and NHS exclusive discounts. As a community worker you have access to a car salary sacrifice.
The benefits of working in Somerset include the idyllic countryside, with our areas of outstanding beauty and stunning coastlines. You will get to enjoy these perks whilst still only being a stone's throw away from bustling city centres like Bristol, Bath and Exeter and only two hours away from London. This post is based out of East Reach House in central Taunton, only a short walk away from a bustling town centre. Free local parking is available for staff. Taunton is just off the M5 allowing quick access to Bristol, Cornwall and London. Fast rail services are also available.
The community nursing team is a small, friendly team, who promote team working. We also have access to psychological support as well as Trust wellbeing services and high-quality training options. Staff routinely attend conferences around the country as part of their development.
There are excellent educational facilities in the area and, when compared to other regions, house prices are reasonable. You will experience the best of both in Somerset, the countryside and the cosmopolitan -- there is truly something for everyone!
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support the delivery and development of a specialist epilepsy nursing service for children and young people.
- Manage a caseload, with the ability to make autonomous decisions around care and treatment, supported by Consultant Paediatricians.
- Plan and deliver nurse-led clinics and create individualised care plans tailored to each child's needs.
- Provide training, guidance, and treatment planning in schools, community settings, and clinics--including making medication changes where appropriate.
- Deliver both telephone and face-to-face consultations, home visits, and school support to children, young people, families and carers.
- Build strong and collaborative relationships with families, schools, educators, and other health and social care professionals.
- Offer responsive support via a jointly managed telephone helpline.
- Provide care and support to children with VNS devices and those on ketogenic diets.
- Actively contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and audits.
- Engage with local and tertiary paediatric services and work closely with community teams to deliver integrated, patient-centred care.
- Support newly diagnosed patients through inpatient and outpatient visits, helping children confidently integrate into school and community life.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Support the delivery and development of a specialist epilepsy nursing service for children and young people.
- Manage a caseload, with the ability to make autonomous decisions around care and treatment, supported by Consultant Paediatricians.
- Plan and deliver nurse-led clinics and create individualised care plans tailored to each child's needs.
- Provide training, guidance, and treatment planning in schools, community settings, and clinics--including making medication changes where appropriate.
- Deliver both telephone and face-to-face consultations, home visits, and school support to children, young people, families and carers.
- Build strong and collaborative relationships with families, schools, educators, and other health and social care professionals.
- Offer responsive support via a jointly managed telephone helpline.
- Provide care and support to children with VNS devices and those on ketogenic diets.
- Actively contribute to service development, quality improvement initiatives, and audits.
- Engage with local and tertiary paediatric services and work closely with community teams to deliver integrated, patient-centred care.
- Support newly diagnosed patients through inpatient and outpatient visits, helping children confidently integrate into school and community life.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN(child), RGN accepted with appropriate experience.
- Experience of epilepsy in community or ward setting.
- Independent Prescribing qualification or willingness to take.
Desirable
- Teaching/mentorship qualification, and/or speciality courses relevant to the work
- Experience of complex needs children
- Community qualifications.
- PET 1,2 or 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of paediatric care and epilepsy
Desirable
- In-depth knowledge in epilepsy and its comorbidities
- Experience of working in the community and/or care of complex needs children.
- Experience of clinic work and organisation
- Caseload management and lone working experience
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- Experience of multi-professional communication. Able to handle a variety of challenging situations.
- Current driving licence and access to vehicle.
Desirable
- Courses in lone working.
- Experience of Continuing Health Care.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- RSCN/RN(child), RGN accepted with appropriate experience.
- Experience of epilepsy in community or ward setting.
- Independent Prescribing qualification or willingness to take.
Desirable
- Teaching/mentorship qualification, and/or speciality courses relevant to the work
- Experience of complex needs children
- Community qualifications.
- PET 1,2 or 3 or equivalent
Experience
Essential
- Experience of paediatric care and epilepsy
Desirable
- In-depth knowledge in epilepsy and its comorbidities
- Experience of working in the community and/or care of complex needs children.
- Experience of clinic work and organisation
- Caseload management and lone working experience
Additional Criteria
Essential
- Evidence of a good standard of Literacy / English language skills
- Experience of multi-professional communication. Able to handle a variety of challenging situations.
- Current driving licence and access to vehicle.
Desirable
- Courses in lone working.
- Experience of Continuing Health Care.
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
