Job summary
A post has been established within the Bexley Community Learning Disability Team (CLDT) as part of a new initiative to improve the quality of life and care provided to individuals with a learning disability living with epilepsy. An Epilepsy Specialist Nurse (ESN) is required to join a friendly and dynamic team.
The post holder will be supported to develop this new service that looks to close the gap between the specialist epilepsy services provided in secondary care and those delivered in the community.
This will be achieved by:
- Providing specialist assessment and intervention in the management of epilepsy and learning disability in close partnership with service users, their families, carers and other community health and social care providers.
- Providing advice, support and training to the wider learning disability nursing team in Bexley
- Establishing links with the local Neurology Departments to encourage partnership working
You will join a talented multidisciplinary team consisting of other specialist health professionals including specialists in Psychiatry; Psychology; Occupational Therapy; Speech and Language Therapy; Physiotherapy and Behavioural Support.
Unique aspects of this role include the opportunity for close working with other members of the multidisciplinary team, more intensive epilepsy support to patients when compared with a conventional ESN's work and close involvement in assessing risk.
Main duties of the job
As part of an integrated Learning Disability Service, the post holder will provide high quality specialist nursing services that reflect the needs of adults with learning disabilities who have epilepsy living in Bexley. Provide specialist assessment and intervention in the management of epilepsy and learning disability in partnership with service users, their families, carers and other generic community health and social care providers. Provide advice and support to the wider learning disability nursing teams in Bexley for epilepsy, health promotion and ensure that people with learning disabilities have access to appropriate health care services.
About us
Oxleas offers a wide range of NHS healthcare services to people in community and secure environment settings. Our services include community health care such as district nursing and speech and language therapy, care for people with learning disabilities and mental health care such as psychiatry, nursing and therapies. Our multidisciplinary teams look after people of all ages and we work in close partnership with other parts of the NHS, local councils and the voluntary sector and through our new provider collaboratives. Our 4,300 members of staff work in many different settings including hospitals, clinics, prisons, secure hospitals, children's centres, schools and people's homes.
We have over 125 sites in a variety of locations in the South of England. In London we operate within the Boroughs of Bexley, Bromley Greenwich and into Kent. We manage hospital sites including Queen Mary's Hospital, Sidcup and Memorial Hospital, Woolwich, as well as the Bracton Centre, our medium secure unit for people with mental health needs. We are the largest NHS provider of prison health services providing healthcare to prisons within Devon, Dorset, Bristol, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, Kent and South London. We are proud of the care we provide and our people.
Our purpose is to improve lives by providing the best possible care to our patients and their families. This is strengthened by our new values:
- We're Kind
- We're Fair
- We Listen
- We Care
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To accept referrals according to locally agreed guidelines. To manage a highly complex clinical caseload ensuring high standards of care that is flexible to the needs of the service us
- When appropriate, provide direct nursing support and / or facilitate access to generic health services in accordance with individual needsContribute to the development and implementation of Policies, Procedures and Clinical Guidelines in the community setting particularly in areas associated with epilepsy.
- To be responsible for delivering specialist epilepsy assessment, (including risk screening assessment and management planning).
- Participate and when appropriate, run nurse led clinics for people with learning disabilities and epilepsy.
- Develop formal links and working relationships with local Adult Neurology, Paediatric and Acute Service in Bexley.
- Take the lead for developing links and working relationships with local and national voluntary epilepsy groups / organisations, to ensure access to relevant information and support for service users and their carers.
- Work jointly with other professionals within the Learning Disability Partnership and ensure prompt and appropriate delivery of services.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- To accept referrals according to locally agreed guidelines. To manage a highly complex clinical caseload ensuring high standards of care that is flexible to the needs of the service us
- When appropriate, provide direct nursing support and / or facilitate access to generic health services in accordance with individual needsContribute to the development and implementation of Policies, Procedures and Clinical Guidelines in the community setting particularly in areas associated with epilepsy.
- To be responsible for delivering specialist epilepsy assessment, (including risk screening assessment and management planning).
- Participate and when appropriate, run nurse led clinics for people with learning disabilities and epilepsy.
- Develop formal links and working relationships with local Adult Neurology, Paediatric and Acute Service in Bexley.
- Take the lead for developing links and working relationships with local and national voluntary epilepsy groups / organisations, to ensure access to relevant information and support for service users and their carers.
- Work jointly with other professionals within the Learning Disability Partnership and ensure prompt and appropriate delivery of services.
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- RNLD or BSc. Hons. Nursing and Social Work Studies (Learning Disabilities) with significant post qualifying experience
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Further appropriate training in the area of Learning Disability and Epilepsy is essential, ideally to BSc or MSC standard
Desirable
- Advanced clinical assessment skills and independent prescribing
Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a community team or equivalent
- Experience in managing epilepsy in people with a learning disability
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of mentoring students
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- Up to date knowledge of the current NHS agenda
- Leadership abilities within own profession
- Computer literacy
- Communication and relationship skills
- Analytical and judgemental skills
Other Requirements
Essential
Person Specification
Education/Qualifications
Essential
- RNLD or BSc. Hons. Nursing and Social Work Studies (Learning Disabilities) with significant post qualifying experience
- Educated to degree level or equivalent
- Further appropriate training in the area of Learning Disability and Epilepsy is essential, ideally to BSc or MSC standard
Desirable
- Advanced clinical assessment skills and independent prescribing
Experience
Essential
- Experience working within a community team or equivalent
- Experience in managing epilepsy in people with a learning disability
- Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
Desirable
- Experience of mentoring students
Skills/Abilities/Knowledge
Essential
- Up to date knowledge of the current NHS agenda
- Leadership abilities within own profession
- Computer literacy
- Communication and relationship skills
- Analytical and judgemental skills
Other Requirements
Essential
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
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).
