Mental Health/Learning Disability and Autism Specialist Nurse

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust; Manchester; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare organization in the UK seeks a Mental Health/Learning Disability and Autism Specialist Nurse to support children and young people with mental health needs at the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital. The role involves conducting assessments, guiding clinical teams, and advocating for patients' needs. Applicants must be Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurses with relevant experience. A dynamic working environment in a collaborative team awaits, offering a competitive salary of £38,682 to £46,580 per annum.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Professional development opportunities

Qualifications

• Experience of applying Positive Behaviour Support.
• Demonstrates knowledge of governance issues in acute setting for Children/Young People.

Responsibilities

• Undertake person-centred assessments for Children and Young People.
• Support hospital ward staff in their care and management of children and young people.

Skills

Registered Nurse – Learning Disability or Mental Health

Experience of working in a health area/with individuals with mental health needs

Ability to supervise and support staff

Education

Evidence of relevant study and continuing professional development

Job description

Go back Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Health/Learning Disability and Autism Specialist Nurse

The closing date is 31 December 2025

This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced Registered Mental Health or Learning Disability Nurse with a specific interest in Children and Young People to work within the Focused Support Team in Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital (RMCH) and the Managed Clinical Services which include Starlight Ward at Wythenshawe, the Children’s Resource Centre at Trafford and the Children’s Ward at North Manchester.

The Focused Support Team support delivery of high quality care to children and young people with learning disability, autism and mental health within the acute hospital setting.

The successful applicant will become a key advisor across the hospital and build relationships within clinical settings providing guidance, leadership and expertise to ensure both the physical and individual needs are met.

The post holder will work closely with multi-disciplinary professionals providing a link for the paediatric nursing teams to the relevant CAMHS and Learning Disability Teams.

The post holder will also work alongside the RMCH and Managed Clinical Services (MCS) Education Team to develop and deliver on an Education Strategy in RMCH/MCS to teach, empower and support clinical teams to achieve high standards of care in hospital for Children and Young People with Mental Health, Learning Disabilities and or Neurodiverse needs.

Main duties of the job

Undertake person-centred assessments to ensure care is appropriately assessed, planned, implemented, and evaluated for Children and Young People.

Enable clinical and administrative teams to implement and ensure appropriate risk management and reasonable adjustments are in place. As a specialist advisor lead and model positive behaviour plans to support and meet any Learning Disability, Neurodiverse and or Mental Health needs of children and young people when attending hospital. Work in collaboration with the multi-disciplinary team and external agencies to agree and achieve high standards of care.

Support the Team Manager by taking an active role to lead and guide team members and assist with management tasks such as rostering and coordinating the team.

Support hospital ward staff in their care and management of children and young people. Advocate for children and young people with Mental Health, Learning Disability and or Neurodiverse needs and their families.

Attend MDT care planning meetings and work in partnership with departments and agencies to ensure care delivered is aligned to NHS Standards and legal frameworks.

Build and deliver education and training for staff to enable and empower their professional development. Mentor and supervise junior staff and students providing support and advice.

About us

Join Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and become part of a 30,000 plus strong team, delivering exceptional care to over 1 million people every year. As the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester, the largest health academic campus in Europe, we are forward-thinking, committed to clinical excellence and driven to deliver innovation and continuous improvement.

Whether you’re beginning your career or taking the next step, MFT offers a stimulating and supportive environment where your contribution truly matters. Our Hive Electronic Patient Record system enables safer, smarter, and more efficient ways of working – empowering you to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients.

You’ll be part of a collaborative, multi-disciplinary community, working alongside professionals from a wide range of clinical backgrounds. Together, we push boundaries, share knowledge, and deliver care that transforms lives.

At MFT, you’ll find a workplace where everyone is respected, supported, and encouraged to thrive. We offer clear clinical pathways for professional development, helping you grow your skills and achieve your ambitions.

Your journey at MFT is more than a job – it’s an opportunity to make a lasting impact. We’ll support you as you shape the future of healthcare, one patient at a time.

Job responsibilities

To find out more about the key responsibilities and the specific skills and experience you’ll need, take a look at the Job Description & Person Specification attachments under the Supporting Documents heading. So that you’re even more equipped to make an informed decision to apply to us, you’ll need to take time to read the Candidate Essentials Guide that sits with the Job Description and Person Specification. This document provides you with details about the Trust, our benefits and outlines how we care for you as you care for others. Most importantly, it also contains critical information you’ll need to be aware of before you submit an application form.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application – especially personal statements and responses to role‑specific questions – is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Thank you for helping us uphold the values that make our Trust a place where people belong, grow, and thrive. We look forward to receiving your application.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse – Learning Disability or Mental Health
• Evidence of relevant study and continuing professional development
• Experience of supporting learners in practice
• Positive Behavioural Support Training

Knowledge

• Demonstrates knowledge of key issues for mental health, learning disability and autism in the acute setting
• Demonstrates knowledge of governance issues in acute setting for Children/Young People in acute setting
• Demonstrates awareness of the impact of this role in the acute setting
• Demonstrates knowledge of Restrictive Interventions

Experience

• Experience of working in a health area/with individuals with mental health needs, a learning disability, autism or both
• Experience of applying Positive Behaviour Support
• Experience of working on own and as part of a team
• Ability to supervise and support staff
• Experience of working with children and young people
• Experience of working in the acute setting
• National and local links with Learning relevant networks

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.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum (pro rata)