Community Learning Disability Nurse

Kent Community Health Nhs Foundation Trust; East Malling; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Job summary

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a registered nurse to support learning disability and mental health services within the community. The role includes planning and delivering holistic care, supervising junior staff, and contributing to multi-professional team work to achieve positive patient outcomes.

Applicants should have a Level 6 degree or equivalent with a nursing diploma, current NMC registration, and be able to drive.

Qualifications

• Level 6 degree or equivalent with a nursing diploma
• Recent healthcare experience through education, work experience or previous employment
• Registered health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)

Responsibilities

• Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of holistic care linked to prescribed care
• Development of integrated care programmes with the client
• Supervise and develop junior staff including Health Care Support Workers and Students
• Work as part of a multi-professional team to provide high-quality care
• Undertake a range of clinical interventions to support therapy outcomes
• Manage a caseload of people with learning disabilities with complex needs

Skills

Communication skills

IT skills

Time management

Patient focus

Education

Nurse degree / Level 6

Tools

IT systems

Job description

Job overview

Please note: at this stage, the role is open only to colleagues currently employed within Kent and Medway NHS Trusts, the Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Medway Community Healthcare or working on the Staff Bank within these organisations. Nursing and AHP vacancies are also open to Student Nurses and Newly Qualified Nurses/AHPs.

Main duties of the job

• Assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of holistic care linked to packages of prescribed care
• The development of integrated care programmes in partnership with the client
• To support in the supervision and development of all junior staff including Health Care Support Workers and Students
• To actively work as a member of the multi-professional team to provide high quality care to clients
• To undertake a range of competent clinical interventions to support the outcomes of both individual and group therapy
• Manage a caseload of people with a learning disability on a daily basis consisting of clients with complex needs associated within a specific speciality.

Please note, this vacancy does not meet the criteria for skilled worker sponsorship and therefore, we are unable to accept applications from candidates that cannot provide documentary evidence of right to work in the United Kingdom.

Working for our organisation

Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust is due to integrate with Medway Community Healthcare on 1 October 2026. Following integration and to align our community services to the new Neighbourhood Model of care delivery, there will be a period of consultation which may result in changes affecting some services, teams or roles. Depending on the area you are applying to work in, this could include potential changes to your role, work base, reporting arrangements, or terms and conditions of employment. Any changes would be subject to consultation and managed sensitively and in line with relevant employment processes. Please do contact the recruiting manager if you have any concerns about this so they can answer any questions you might have.

Rated ‘Outstanding’ by CQC, we deliver high-quality care that improves the health of our communities. We are looking for people who share our values: Compassionate, Aspirational, Responsive and Excellent.

We are proud to be an inclusive, welcoming organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We use protected characteristic information for monitoring only and it is not seen by recruiting managers, except where applicants choose to be considered under our disability guaranteed interview scheme.

We know life outside work matters. As a flexible working-friendly organisation, we welcome conversations about arrangements that help you thrive while supporting excellent care for our patients.

Explore KCHFT

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As a community Trust, many of our roles require individuals to be able to drive to perform their duties. Where driving is a requirement of the role, you will be asked to confirm that you hold a full UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) to proceed with your application. We are committed to supporting candidates with disabilities into employment. If you are unable to drive due to a disability, please contact the Recruitment Team via quoting the vacancy reference number, so we can support you further.

The job description and person specification gives you all the information you need about this role. Please look carefully at the criteria in the person specification and tell us what you have done that shows you meet this in your application. If you need an application form in an alternative format please let our recruitment team know. All information you supply on your application should, to the best of your knowledge, be true and accurate.

At KCHFT we strongly encourage colleagues in clinical and non-clinical roles who have direct or social contact with patients to be fully vaccinated. In this way we will be doing all we can to ensure your safety and that of your colleagues and the patients we serve.

Find out more about the community difference Good luck! We can’t wait to meet you and welcome you to #teamKCHFT, #cometocommunity.

Person specification

Qualifications, training and experience

Essential criteria

• You will have a Level 6 Degree or equivalent qualification, or equivalent knowledge acquired through experience plus a diploma in nursing; You’ll need to have recent experience of healthcare gained through education, work experience or previous employment. This role is ideal for a newly qualified graduate nurse; You will have experience working in learning disabilities or mental health environment; You will be a registered health care professional with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Knowledge and skills

Essential criteria

• You’ll need have sound communication skills in order to understand and communicate both verbally and in writing; You will need to be able to be able to use IT systems and databases; You will need to be able to work well under pressure and be able to organise your own work; You will need to have a customer focussed approach which is essential to provide patients, clients and their families with the best possible experience; You will have knowledge of up-to-date clinical practice by using up- to- date skills and adhering to evidence-based procedures and clinical effectiveness frameworks.

Desirable criteria

• Having an awareness of developments within the NHS would be an advantage.

Working environment

Essential criteria

• A full, valid UK driving licence or a full driving licence issued by an EU country (not exchanged from a non-EU country) and the ability to travel independently are essential for this role; Tact and sensitivity will be essential in this role. There will be times when you see distressing situations which may include vulnerable, violent or aggressive patients. You will need to adapt your style to provide reassurance and empathy; We encourage a culture where colleagues can be open and transparent about their own practice, team working to create a culture of continuous improvement and sharing good practice to improve care.