Senior Primary Care Liaison Nurse

Devon Partnership NHS Trust

The closing date is 06 April 2025

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the Specialist Community Team for People with Learning Disabilities (LD) in East Devon. The role is for a Primary Care LD Liaison Nurse, who will work alongside and support the wider Multi-Disciplinary Team.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, forward-thinking nurse who is passionate about making a difference in the lives of people with learning disabilities. In return a supportive team environment is available, alongside opportunities to further develop your knowledge and skills. Based within a Trust which values work-life balance, allowing flexibility to maintain a fulfilling career while also prioritising your wellbeing.

As a Primary Care LD Liaison Nurse, you will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the needs of the person with a Learning Disability are met when they require support in accessing healthcare services. This involves communicating with and working in partnership with a range of clinicians and services, working to change systems and educating where appropriate. It also involves close communication and involvement with family, carers and others.

The successful applicant will bring excellent communication skills and a holistic, person-centred approach to care. A commitment to evidence-based practice, together with the ability to provide supportive supervision to junior colleagues, is fundamental. Given the community nursing nature of the role, the ability to travel and work autonomously is a key requirement.

Main duties of the job

To assist providing people with a LD equality of access to the same healthcare as the general population, with added support to achieve the same health outcomes.
To develop an action plan which aims to deliver appropriate improvements in service delivery and health outcomes for people with a LD.
To work with identified individuals to achieve the goals set out in the action plan.
Exercise leadership to ensure that services are provided in line with current local and national policy & guidance for people with LD, which promotes their rights and inclusion.
Undertake all aspects of practice as an autonomous practitioner including professional and legal accountability for own work within an agreed policy framework.
To ensure a smooth transition between pre admission, admission and discharge arrangements.
To act as a point of contact for family, carers and other professionals during the service users admission.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to improve the quality of care received by individuals with a LD.
To manage the interface between mainstream general hospital services, primary care services and specialist LD services.
Develop effective and collaborative working with healthcare and multi-agency colleagues, including identifying and meeting the training needs and providing specialist and nursing advice.
Work to incorporate Valuing People and the principles embedded within the overarching structures for people with LD, clinical governance framework and Disability Equality Schemes.

About us

About Devon Partnership Trust

We provide mental health, learning disability and neurodiversity services, as well as a range of specialist & secure services for the wider south west region & nationally. We are passionate about promoting good mental health & wellbeing. We strive to use the expertise & resources within our organisation, and through our partnerships, to deliver high quality services that are safe & focused on people's recovery.

We are committed to developing a culture of coproduction, involving patients, families & carers in everything we do

Our values

We not only recruit based on qualifications & experience - we recruit individuals who possess & demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trusts core values. These include such attributes as showing a commitment to quality of care, improving lives of others, giving respect, dignity & compassion. We can bring those values to life in our everyday tasks by giving a smile; making time for people; challenging ourselves & others, & being open to new ideas.

We are committed to being an inclusive employer & applications are encouraged & welcomed from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time & flexible working applications will be considered & supported, where possible. We particularly encourage applicants with lived experience of mental health conditions, neurodiversity or learning disabilities. We are a Disability Confident Leader.

Date posted

25 March 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9369-25-0121

Job locations

Orchard Way

Honiton

Devon

EX14 1HU

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

To assist in Primary and Secondary care to exercise their duty to provide people with a learning disability equality of access to the same healthcare as the general population, with added support to achieve the same health outcomes as those for the general population.
To work with Primary and Secondary care to develop an action plan which aims to deliver appropriate improvements in service delivery and health outcomes for people with a learning disability.
To work with identified individuals within Primary and Secondary care to achieve the goals set out in the action plan.
Exercise leadership within Primary and Secondary care to ensure that services are provided in line with current local and national policy & guidance for people with Learning Disabilities, which promotes the rights and inclusion of this client group.
Undertake all aspects of practice as an autonomous practitioner including professional and legal accountability for own work within an agreed policy framework.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to ensure a smooth transition between pre admission, admission and discharge arrangements.
To act as a point of contact for family, carers and other professionals during the service users admission.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to improve the quality of care received by individuals with a learning disability.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to manage the interface between mainstream general hospital services, primary care services and specialist learning disability services.
Facilitate open and easy access to hospital services for people with learning disabilities in Primary and Secondary care.
Develop effective and collaborative working with healthcare and multi-agency colleagues, including identifying and meeting the training needs and providing specialist and nursing advice.
Work to incorporate Valuing People and the principles embedded within the overarching structures as set within Primary and Secondary care for people with learning disabilities, clinical governance framework and Disability Equality Schemes.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Provide and receive information some of which may be contentious, sensitive and highly complex to and from individuals and their families/carers, where there may be barriers to understanding.
Provide a high standards of written and verbal communication that is clear and in line with professional documentation standards
Communicate with clients, relatives and the clinical team to explain clinical issues and how activities of daily living needs will be able to be met.
Making use of special communication techniques such as total communication.
Form effective working relationships in Primary and Secondary care with clinicians and other teams.
To act with diplomacy making decisions as situations develop, ensuring appropriate feedback to partner organisations.
Liaise closely with all Learning Disability Teams in Primary and Secondary Care.
To contribute to the development of healthcare information and resources in accessible formats for service users and their families/carers. Liaise with voluntary services.
To support communication within the clinical setting both primary and secondary care with senior clinical and managerial staff, and, where appropriate, challenge all staff within the clinical care pathway.
Raise the profile of the health care needs of people with a learning disability within Primary and Secondary care bridging the gap between clinical care areas to enable better access to healthcare and appropriate health outcomes.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options
Skills for assessing and interpreting complex needs of patients/clients
The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse will assist clinical teams in analysing their care pathways and systems to enable equality of access and health outcomes for people with a learning disability, overcoming barriers to success.

Planning and Organisational Skills

The post holder is expected to plan and organise the team diary and daily working schedule as well as attending, and in some cases facilitating, clinical meetings. They are responsible for ensuring their own administration returns such as timesheets, travel etc. are completed on time, are accurate and are submitted through the correct channels.
Responsible for managing their own workload to ensure the needs to the individuals who use our services are met taking the wider needs of the team into consideration.
Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies.
The post holder will ensure all Core Training, as identified by Devon Partnership NHS Trust and their Host District General Hospital, is up-to-date.
To be a competent and knowledgeable practitioner. To act as a role model within the speciality field and work across a large organisation challenging culture and attitude to all staff groups.
Develop constructive relationships by attending, and contributing specialist knowledge to, case conferences / clinical meetings and discharge planning meetings as appropriate, and to make referrals direct to social services / other agencies as required.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

The post holder is responsible for assessing the clients needs in terms of their disability and the impact this may have on treatment plans. They will assist the wider care team to devise and implement specialist programmes to mitigate against risks to health.
Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates clinical care of patients/clients; gives specialist advice to patients/clients/carers/ Develops and implements specialist programmes of care
They are responsible for ensuring accurate recording of advice within the agreed electronic system, and any intervention and the monitoring of any interventions.
To actively assist people with learning disabilities, as well as carers and health and social staff when using Primary and Secondary care services.
To provide support and advice regarding mental capacity, consent & best interest to the service user, their family / carer, and the professionals involved in decision making about their care.
To identify reasonable adjustments with people with learning disabilities and communicate with primary and secondary care as appropriate.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Follows policies, makes comments on proposals for change/Implements policies and proposes changes to working practices or procedures in own work area
Assist clinical areas in recognising potential barriers to primary and secondary care access and other communication issues in relation to individuals with learning disabilities, and provide advice and support as required.
Contribute to clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided, this will include ensuring performance targets are met to provide high quality care.
To promote active participation of service users and their families / carers in the healthcare process, working within the Public and Patient Involvement agenda.
To assist in the development of monitoring of local standards in partnership with people with learning disabilities, Patient Liaison Service (PALS), and carers groups.
To work in partnership with people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy groups, PALS and carers groups in the development, implementation and maintenance of service provision.
To assess the impact of local and national initiatives and provide feedback on trust initiatives relating to skills competency of its workforce.
Promote the early resolution of issues and complaints working closely with appropriate staff and General Managers.
Contribute to an annual report describing the work of the Learning Disability Liaison Nurse.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

It is expected that the post holder will offer managerial supervision, and support to more junior staff and student nurses on placements. The post holder will offer training to non-specialists in their own area where appropriate.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to identify training needs in relation to learning disabilities and assisting with the development of teaching materials / training packages.
To co-ordinate and assist in the delivery of training to meet identified needs specifically to ensure that colleagues in acute hospitals are aware of and able to meet the needs of people with a learning disability.
To contribute or deliver educational sessions to all staff groups, liaising with other agencies and users in order to gain their participation in the education delivery.
Demonstrate and role model excellent clinical leadership skills.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

To utilise information systems as instructed (including paper based and electronic system). To gather, record and maintain information on individual clients and general work activity.
To ensure all returns are completed in a timely manner.

Freedom to Act

Works within broad occupational policies
Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

To take part in relevant meetings in order to influence good practise in Primary and Secondary care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Duties and Responsibilities

To assist in Primary and Secondary care to exercise their duty to provide people with a learning disability equality of access to the same healthcare as the general population, with added support to achieve the same health outcomes as those for the general population.
To work with Primary and Secondary care to develop an action plan which aims to deliver appropriate improvements in service delivery and health outcomes for people with a learning disability.
To work with identified individuals within Primary and Secondary care to achieve the goals set out in the action plan.
Exercise leadership within Primary and Secondary care to ensure that services are provided in line with current local and national policy & guidance for people with Learning Disabilities, which promotes the rights and inclusion of this client group.
Undertake all aspects of practice as an autonomous practitioner including professional and legal accountability for own work within an agreed policy framework.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to ensure a smooth transition between pre admission, admission and discharge arrangements.
To act as a point of contact for family, carers and other professionals during the service users admission.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to improve the quality of care received by individuals with a learning disability.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to manage the interface between mainstream general hospital services, primary care services and specialist learning disability services.
Facilitate open and easy access to hospital services for people with learning disabilities in Primary and Secondary care.
Develop effective and collaborative working with healthcare and multi-agency colleagues, including identifying and meeting the training needs and providing specialist and nursing advice.
Work to incorporate Valuing People and the principles embedded within the overarching structures as set within Primary and Secondary care for people with learning disabilities, clinical governance framework and Disability Equality Schemes.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Provide and receive information some of which may be contentious, sensitive and highly complex to and from individuals and their families/carers, where there may be barriers to understanding.
Provide a high standards of written and verbal communication that is clear and in line with professional documentation standards
Communicate with clients, relatives and the clinical team to explain clinical issues and how activities of daily living needs will be able to be met.
Making use of special communication techniques such as total communication.
Form effective working relationships in Primary and Secondary care with clinicians and other teams.
To act with diplomacy making decisions as situations develop, ensuring appropriate feedback to partner organisations.
Liaise closely with all Learning Disability Teams in Primary and Secondary Care.
To contribute to the development of healthcare information and resources in accessible formats for service users and their families/carers. Liaise with voluntary services.
To support communication within the clinical setting both primary and secondary care with senior clinical and managerial staff, and, where appropriate, challenge all staff within the clinical care pathway.
Raise the profile of the health care needs of people with a learning disability within Primary and Secondary care bridging the gap between clinical care areas to enable better access to healthcare and appropriate health outcomes.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Complex facts or situations requiring analysis, interpretation, comparison of a range of options
Skills for assessing and interpreting complex needs of patients/clients
The Learning Disability Liaison Nurse will assist clinical teams in analysing their care pathways and systems to enable equality of access and health outcomes for people with a learning disability, overcoming barriers to success.

Planning and Organisational Skills

The post holder is expected to plan and organise the team diary and daily working schedule as well as attending, and in some cases facilitating, clinical meetings. They are responsible for ensuring their own administration returns such as timesheets, travel etc. are completed on time, are accurate and are submitted through the correct channels.
Responsible for managing their own workload to ensure the needs to the individuals who use our services are met taking the wider needs of the team into consideration.
Ensure that interventions are planned in an integrated and co-ordinated manner particularly where dependent on other external agencies.
The post holder will ensure all Core Training, as identified by Devon Partnership NHS Trust and their Host District General Hospital, is up-to-date.
To be a competent and knowledgeable practitioner. To act as a role model within the speciality field and work across a large organisation challenging culture and attitude to all staff groups.
Develop constructive relationships by attending, and contributing specialist knowledge to, case conferences / clinical meetings and discharge planning meetings as appropriate, and to make referrals direct to social services / other agencies as required.

Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy

The post holder is responsible for assessing the clients needs in terms of their disability and the impact this may have on treatment plans. They will assist the wider care team to devise and implement specialist programmes to mitigate against risks to health.
Assesses, plans, implements and evaluates clinical care of patients/clients; gives specialist advice to patients/clients/carers/ Develops and implements specialist programmes of care
They are responsible for ensuring accurate recording of advice within the agreed electronic system, and any intervention and the monitoring of any interventions.
To actively assist people with learning disabilities, as well as carers and health and social staff when using Primary and Secondary care services.
To provide support and advice regarding mental capacity, consent & best interest to the service user, their family / carer, and the professionals involved in decision making about their care.
To identify reasonable adjustments with people with learning disabilities and communicate with primary and secondary care as appropriate.

Responsibility for Policy and Service Development Implementation

Follows policies, makes comments on proposals for change/Implements policies and proposes changes to working practices or procedures in own work area
Assist clinical areas in recognising potential barriers to primary and secondary care access and other communication issues in relation to individuals with learning disabilities, and provide advice and support as required.
Contribute to clinical governance arrangements in order to ensure the quality of the service provided, this will include ensuring performance targets are met to provide high quality care.
To promote active participation of service users and their families / carers in the healthcare process, working within the Public and Patient Involvement agenda.
To assist in the development of monitoring of local standards in partnership with people with learning disabilities, Patient Liaison Service (PALS), and carers groups.
To work in partnership with people with learning disabilities, self-advocacy groups, PALS and carers groups in the development, implementation and maintenance of service provision.
To assess the impact of local and national initiatives and provide feedback on trust initiatives relating to skills competency of its workforce.
Promote the early resolution of issues and complaints working closely with appropriate staff and General Managers.
Contribute to an annual report describing the work of the Learning Disability Liaison Nurse.

Responsibility for Human Resources, e.g. Supervision, Training, HR Advice and Management

It is expected that the post holder will offer managerial supervision, and support to more junior staff and student nurses on placements. The post holder will offer training to non-specialists in their own area where appropriate.
To assist Primary and Secondary care to identify training needs in relation to learning disabilities and assisting with the development of teaching materials / training packages.
To co-ordinate and assist in the delivery of training to meet identified needs specifically to ensure that colleagues in acute hospitals are aware of and able to meet the needs of people with a learning disability.
To contribute or deliver educational sessions to all staff groups, liaising with other agencies and users in order to gain their participation in the education delivery.
Demonstrate and role model excellent clinical leadership skills.

Responsibility for Information Resources and Administrative Duties

To utilise information systems as instructed (including paper based and electronic system). To gather, record and maintain information on individual clients and general work activity.
To ensure all returns are completed in a timely manner.

Freedom to Act

Works within broad occupational policies
Works within codes of practice and professional guidelines

Any Other Specific Tasks Required

To take part in relevant meetings in order to influence good practise in Primary and Secondary care.

Person Specification

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

Able to problem solve and assist others in this process.
Ability to assess and manage risk effectively.
Experience of working across professional team and organisational boundaries.
Skilled negotiator.
Skilled in the analysis of complex situations and the planning of interventions to meet identified needs.
Skilled in the practice of delegation and prioritisation of workload of junior staff.
Skilled in the management of various demanding agendas within the workplace.
Evidence of effective time management.

Experience

Essential

Substantial post registration experience.
Experience working within an MDT.
Experience of Clinical Supervision and Practice Assessor/Supervisor role.
Experience of managing staff.
Managing own workload.
Experience of Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Evaluation of Nursing Care.
Experience of dealing with violence & aggression.
Experience of mainstream health services.

Knowledge

Essential

Good knowledge of Learning Disability Services.
Understanding of recovery principles in Learning Disability Services.
Understanding of professional and current issues in learning disabilities nursing.
Understanding of the health needs of people with learning disability and the health inequalities of people with a learning disability.
A good knowledge of equality and diversity.
A good knowledge of Clinical Governance.
A good knowledge of safeguarding adult services, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act including DOLS.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Good computer skills.
Able to provide and receive complex sensitive information in relation to staff, service users, families and carers.
Openness Shares information and good practice appropriately.
Mutual respect Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times.
Accountability Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working.
Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Experience of total communication.
A good level of understanding in practice of diversity and equality.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Essential

Able to problem solve and assist others in this process.
Effectively support the management of admission/discharges by the hospital.
Experience of assessment and management of risk effectively.

Qualifications

Essential

RN-LD or Equivalent RN Qualification and experience of working with people who have a learning disability and UK professional registration with NMC.
Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by diploma level specialist training, experience, short courses.

Physical Skills

Essential

Able to undertake nursing procedures e.g. manual handling, physical restraint.
Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.

Person Specification

Planning and Organisational Skills

Essential

Able to problem solve and assist others in this process.
Ability to assess and manage risk effectively.
Experience of working across professional team and organisational boundaries.
Skilled negotiator.
Skilled in the analysis of complex situations and the planning of interventions to meet identified needs.
Skilled in the practice of delegation and prioritisation of workload of junior staff.
Skilled in the management of various demanding agendas within the workplace.
Evidence of effective time management.

Experience

Essential

Substantial post registration experience.
Experience working within an MDT.
Experience of Clinical Supervision and Practice Assessor/Supervisor role.
Experience of managing staff.
Managing own workload.
Experience of Assessment, Planning, Intervention and Evaluation of Nursing Care.
Experience of dealing with violence & aggression.
Experience of mainstream health services.

Knowledge

Essential

Good knowledge of Learning Disability Services.
Understanding of recovery principles in Learning Disability Services.
Understanding of professional and current issues in learning disabilities nursing.
Understanding of the health needs of people with learning disability and the health inequalities of people with a learning disability.
A good knowledge of equality and diversity.
A good knowledge of Clinical Governance.
A good knowledge of safeguarding adult services, Mental Health Act and Mental Capacity Act including DOLS.

Communication and Working Relationship Skills

Essential

Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
Good computer skills.
Able to provide and receive complex sensitive information in relation to staff, service users, families and carers.
Openness Shares information and good practice appropriately.
Mutual respect Treats others with courtesy and respect at all times.
Accountability Takes responsibility for own actions and promotes good team working.
Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Experience of total communication.
A good level of understanding in practice of diversity and equality.

Analytical and Judgemental Skills

Essential

Able to problem solve and assist others in this process.
Effectively support the management of admission/discharges by the hospital.
Experience of assessment and management of risk effectively.

Qualifications

Essential

RN-LD or Equivalent RN Qualification and experience of working with people who have a learning disability and UK professional registration with NMC.
Professional knowledge acquired through degree supplemented by diploma level specialist training, experience, short courses.

Physical Skills

Essential

Able to undertake nursing procedures e.g. manual handling, physical restraint.
Ability to be mobile across a geographical area.
Computer literacy.

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.