Epilepsy Nurse Specialist in Learning Disabilities

Oxleas; Sidcup; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 54,000; Part time

Job summary

Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust in Sidcup is seeking an Epilepsy Nurse Specialist (Band 6) to join the Learning Disabilities team at Queen Mary’s Hospital. The role focuses on improving quality of life for adults with learning disabilities living with epilepsy and bridging gaps between secondary and community care.

You will work in a multidisciplinary team and provide autonomous nursing care, with support for ongoing learning from the Bromley epilepsy team.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse in Learning Disabilities, Mental Health, Adult General or Paediatric field.
• Post-registration Epilepsy experience prefered.
• CPD relevant to the role and ongoing learning support.

Responsibilities

• Direct involvement in epilepsy management in partnership with the Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities.
• Provide specialist assessment and intervention for epilepsy and risk with service users and families.
• Offer guidance and training to the learning disability nursing team and other community services.
• Establish links with local Neurology teams and epilepsy networks across the region.

Skills

Epilepsy care

Nursing

Team collaboration

Education

Registered Learning Disability Nurse or Mental Health/Adult General/Pediatric Nurse

Job description

Epilepsy Nurse Specialist in Learning Disabilities

Band 6

Main area Adult Learning Disabilities Grade Band 6 Contract Permanent Hours Part time - 35 hours per week (Monday - Friday, hours to be confirmed with successful candidate.) Job ref 277-8198650-ALD-A

Site Queen Mary's Hospital Town Sidcup Salary £45,953 - £54,254 pro rata inc Salary period Yearly Closing 07/10/2026 23:59

Job overview

A post has been created within the Bexley Community Learning Disability Team for a B6 Epilepsy Specialist Nurse to work alongside the Senior Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, to improve the quality of life and care provided to individuals with a learning disability living with epilepsy.

You will support the further development of the service, which aims to close the gap between the specialist epilepsy services provided in secondary care and those in the community.

You will join a multidisciplinary team consisting of other specialist health professionals including Psychiatry; Psychology; Occupational Therapy; Speech and Language Therapy; Physiotherapy and Behavioural Support.

The post holder will provide comprehensive support to services users through the assessment of risk, development of reports, teaching of their families and care givers as well as dealing with clinical matters as they arise. Working autonomously is a key aspect of the role. You will receive specialised support and guidance from the Bromley
epilepsy team to support with your ongoing learning and development needs.

We welcome applications from candidates who may not have worked specifically within an epilepsy service, although knowledge and experience of this physical health need is advantageous. Training specific to epilepsy and orientation to learning disabilities nursing (if you are not a learning disabilities nurse) is an integral part of the role to
develop your career as an Epilepsy Specialist Nurse.

Main duties of the job

• Direct involvement in the clinical management of epilepsy in partnership with the Consultant Psychiatrist in Learning Disabilities with a Special Interest in Epilepsy
• Providing specialist assessment and intervention in the management of epilepsy and risk 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, as well as other community based health and social care services.
• Establishing links with the local Neurology Departments to encourage partnership working, and other Epilepsy Specialist Nurse networks across South-East region.

Working for our organisation

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 Listen
• We Care

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Under the guidance and supervision of the consultant and epilepsy specialist nurse, manage a highly complex clinical caseload ensuring high standards of care that is flexible to the needs of the service user.
• Responsibility to manage epilepsy confidently and safely under the support and supervision of the consultant and senior epilepsy nurse.
• When appropriate, provide direct nursing support and / or facilitate access to generic health services in accordance with individual needs.
• In collaboration with the Senior Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, contribute 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 screening, risk assessment and management planning).
• Participate and when appropriate, run nurse led clinics for people with learning disabilities and epilepsy.
• Participate in consultant 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.
• Support to develop and maintain 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.
• To support the epilepsy specialist nurse in the delivery of epilepsy awareness training and emergency medication administration training to service providers, carers and staff.
• B e computer literate and to be able to use the trusts record keeping system and use documents such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Teams etc.

Person specification

Education and Qualifications

• Registered Learning Disability, Mental Health, Adult General Nurse or Paediatric Nurse
• Additional CPD relevant to the role being applied for

Experience

• Sufficient post-registration experience of working with individuals with epilepsy
• Experience of supporting adults with learning disabilities
• Experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team

Skills, Abilities and Knowledge

• Clinical assessment skills
• Communication and relationship skills
• Teaching others

We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and supports individuals of all abilities. Remember, if you meet the minimum criteria for this role and you have a disability, you can be guaranteed an interview under the Disability Confident Scheme - Please ensure you select this on your application form. We would encourage you to be open about your needs so we can work with you to design a comfortable and accessible interview experience. Any information you provide regarding a disability or a need for adjustments will be treated in confidence and will only be shared with colleagues who are supporting this request.

If you require any adjustments to participate fully in the interview process, please let us know by adding the relevant details when scheduling your preferred interview date and time. Please feel free to contact the appointing manager to discuss your needs.

We encourage applicants to contact the hiring manager before their interview, if they have any questions about the role or the process. This is a great way to get clarity and prepare effectively for the interview.

If you have declared you are part of the armed forces community, you may be asked to provide evidence during the recruitment process. If you misrepresent this information, your offer may be withdrawn. For Armed Forces specific support, see our webpage: https://oxleas.nhs.uk/armed-forces-community/

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

If you choose to use AI or other tools to assist in writing your application, it's essential to personalise this information, particularly your supporting information section. While AI can help streamline the writing process, these tools cannot fully grasp the context or requirements of the job you’re applying for. There is also a risk that it can generate false or misleading information. AI-generated job applications can often be generic, impersonal and may not accurately reflect your qualifications, knowledge, skills, and experiences. It is crucial that you personalise your supporting statement by articulating these in your unique voice. Relying solely on AI to write your application or supporting information section is not advocated by Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust and could negatively impact your chances of success in the application process.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully. You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.