Learning Disabilities and Autism Nurse Specialist

NHS; Coventry; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent healthcare provider in Coventry is seeking a dedicated professional to support patients with learning disabilities and autism. This role involves creating management plans, providing education to the staff, and collaborating with multidisciplinary teams to improve patient care. The ideal candidate will have experience with LD and autism and a passion for enhancing the quality of care. This position offers a platform to contribute towards significant initiatives in nursing and quality assurance.

Qualifications

• Experience working in nursing, quality and safety teams.
• Ability to develop clinical guidelines and protocols.

Responsibilities

• Review patient care and create management plans for patients with LD and/or autism.
• Provide specialist advice and support to care teams for the management of patients.
• Develop and deliver education for healthcare staff regarding LD and autism management.

Job description

Overview

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

The closing date is 12 February 2026

This is an exciting new role. Working within the nursing, quality and safety team and the safeguarding team to develop and implement key initiatives related to supporting staff in wards and departments to maintain the safety of patients with learning disabilities (LD) and / or autistic people. This role will support clinical groups trust wide to implement safe and effective care to patients who have LD and / or autistic people throughout their healthcare journey at the Trust. The role will involve the development of clinical guidelines, standard operating procedures and clinical protocols based on national/local guidance and best practice. The post holder will be able to provide education to registered and unregistered healthcare staff in a variety of settings. Working within the principles of continuous improvement, involving relevant stakeholders to ensure agreed standards, aims and targets are met. A key part of this role will be to develop and support ward teams to therapeutically manage complex health needs by implementing person-centred communication strategies and management plans for patients with LD and /or autistic people, which includes discharge planning. Additionally, utilising UHCWi methodology, this role will identify opportunities to involve people with LD and autism and their families in reviewing the quality of our services, and then also being part of associated improvement plans.

Main duties of the job

• Review patient care and create management plans for people with LD and / or autistic people, working alongside ward and department teams
• Provide specialist advice and support to ward and department teams that care for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Liaise with members of the multidisciplinary team to ensure care is appropriate, considering the Mental Capacity Act and consent, ReSPECT decisions, end of life /advance care planning, medication review and discharge planning
• Link closely with ward managers, matrons and the patient experience team, to help develop focus areas for quality improvement
• Represent the Trust on Internal and External groups/meetings where appropriate
• Review and identify themes from incidents, rounding to inform Trust wide objectives and actions
• Develop and deliver education for nurses, midwives and AHPs trust wide related to the care and management of people with LD and / or autistic people, and include reasonable adjustments

Secondment will be considered for internal candidates - If you are successful after interview, you must obtain approval from your current line manager to accept the offer.

Successful applicants will be required to provide an immunisation and vaccination report, from either their current UK occupational health provider or their UK GP.

About us

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, rated as good by the Care Quality Commission, is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the UK.

We are extremely proud of our employees across our hospital sites, with high quality patient care at the heart of everything we do.

Boasting some of the most modern facilities in Western Europe, the Trust is renowned for being at the forefront of research and innovation as part of its blossoming reputation as a worldwide leader in healthcare.

We are proud to be recognised as a Pathway to Excellence designated organisation - please click the link for further details about this prestigious award. Pathway To Excellence - University Hospitals Coventry & Warwickshire (uhcw.nhs.uk)

By joining our exciting journey, you will form part of a passionate, talented team and will be able to access a wide range of learning and development opportunities. There has never been a better time to join our team.

The Trust is committed to building an organisation that makes full use of the talents, skills, experience, and different perspectives available in our diverse society. We want everyone to feel they are respected, valued, can achieve their potential and receive the most appropriate and relevant care. We will create an environment where the equality and human rights principles of fairness, respect, equality, dignity and autonomy are promoted and are part of the organisation's core values.

Job responsibilities

• Improve the quality of care received by people with a LD and / or autistic people in the acute hospital setting
• Act as a resource for staff related to LD and/ or autism
• Lead and coordinate the delivery and development of pathways for patients with LD and / or autistic people, using national guidance, standards and clinical practice and local protocols
• Provide direct care to patients with LD and / or autistic people, act as an advocate and ensure their voice is heard
• Support wards and departments to manage complex patients with LD and autistic people, including outpatients and patients coming to the hospital for elective procedures
• Support families and carers to ensure good decision making about care and management, providing advice and information
• Build links with external care providers and support discharge planning for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Work with Matrons, Ward Managers and Clinical Teams identify opportunities to drive internal improvements
• Act as a link between community-based learning disabilities services and acute Trust
• Collate, conduct analysis and validation of data related to the care and management of people with LD and / or autistic people
• Responsible for producing and ensuring reports are submitted within agreed timescales
• Facilitate open and easy access to all Trust services
• Review and develop communication methods for people with LD and / or autistic people
• Review cases and lead on any multiagency reviews related to the learning from deaths for people with a LD and / or autistic people

For further details of the role please see the attached job description.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• See supporting documents
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Experience

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Knowledge

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Skills

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Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours

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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.

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust

Address

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire

University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire