Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Learning Disability & Autism

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Part time

Job summary

The University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a part-time Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist focusing on Learning Disability & Autism. This role requires experienced and compassionate candidates to provide high-quality care to children with learning disabilities. The successful candidate will lead clinical services and collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to improve healthcare access for affected children.

Qualifications

• Active NMC registration and experience in Learning Disability.
• Masters level qualification or equivalent experience.
• Evidence of ongoing professional development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Learning Disability & Autism Nursing Liaison service.
• Develop equitable access to hospital care for children.
• Provide expert advice and support to staff and families.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Empathy

Organizational Skills

Flexibility

Education

Active 1st level learning Disability registration with NMC

Masters level study or equivalent experience

Teaching/Mentoring qualification

Job description

Go back University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Learning Disability & Autism

The closing date is 25 June 2025

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Learning Disability & Autism Clinical Nurse Specialist to join the team at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. This role is a part-time position (0.8 FTE, 30 hours per week) offering flexibility, with no set day off, Monday to Friday. The successful candidate will be based in the hospital and work directly with inpatients attending for scheduled and unscheduled care.

You will play a vital role in leading the planning, provision, and improvement of the Learning Disability & Autism provision within the hospital. This includes ensuring high-quality clinical practice, providing reasonable adjustments, and supporting children with learning disabilities and/or autism in accessing healthcare services. You will be working closely with children, families, and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure that children receive the best care possible.

We are looking for someone who is empathetic, insightful, and passionate about improving services for children with learning disabilities and autism. Previous paediatric experience, particularly with children who have learning disabilities or autism, is essential.

If you are passionate about improving care for children with learning disabilities and/or autism & want to make a real difference in a hospital setting, we encourage you to apply for this rewarding opportunity.

Main duties of the job

• Lead & coordinate the Learning Disability & Autism Nursing Liaison service, ensuring high-quality care for inpatients, including clear record-keeping & effective case load management systems.
• Develop the service in collaboration with healthcare professionals, patients, carers, & community teams, ensuring equitable access to acute hospital care for children with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Provide expert advice and support to hospital staff, carers, and families, facilitating reasonable adjustments to hospital procedures to meet the needs of children with learning disabilities and/or autism.
• Support safe discharge planning & help prevent delayed discharge or avoidable readmissions, ensuring children receive the care they need in a timely and safe manner.
• Act as a role model for junior staff and students, providing guidance, mentorship, and clinical supervision.
• Lead & participate in projects aimed at improving care pathways & outcomes for children with learning disabilities and autism, including service evaluation & development.
• Work closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure a holistic approach to care that meets both clinical & emotional needs.
• Provide insightful, empathetic communication with families, particularly in complex or sensitive situations, ensuring families feel supported & informed throughout the process.

About us

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW) is one of the largest acute Trusts in the country, bringing together a combined workforce of over 13,000 staff and over 100 different clinical services across 10 different sites, serving a core population of more than 500,000 people across South West England. UHBW has been rated by the CQC as 'Good' overall and our staff are proud to deliver excellent care to the people of Bristol, Weston and beyond. As a forward- thinking multi-award winning Trust and a digital exemplar committed to improving patient care, our world-leading research and innovations are having a positive local and global impact. Our hospitals are spread across Bristol and Weston, join us and you can enjoy the very best of both worlds; city living within a stone's throw of the countryside or beside the seaside, both with easy access to all that the South West has to offer. UHBW is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. As an equal opportunities employer actively working towards a diverse workforce we aim to recruit and retain a workforce which represents the rich diversity of the local population at all levels and are committed to designing our services around the needs of individual patients and those around them. Anonymous information will be used from your application in order to ensure we're meeting our pledge.

Job responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and main responsibilities, please refer to the job description document attached to this vacancy.

Person Specification

Training & Qualifications

• Active 1st level learning Disability registration with NMC
• Masters level study or equivalent experience
• Teaching/Mentoring qualification or equivalent experience
• Evidence of ongoing professional development through maintenance of professional portfolio and registration revalidation

Knowledge & Experience

• Thorough and up to date knowledge of nursing theory and best practice particularly within speciality area
• Significant relevant clinical experience in specialist area
• Evidence of recent teaching experience
• Experience of undertaking research or audit projects
• Experience within Paediatric Learning Disability and Autism
• Experience and knowledge of advanced practice/protocols

Skills & Abilities

• Highly effective communication skills - verbally and written to staff, patients and relatives including in situations of conflict or distress
• Able to gain credibility and influence colleagues including influencing clinical changes where appropriate
• Expert in specific area of practice and takes accountability for own actions
• Strong organisational skills - prioritising complex situations
• The ability to lead and influence change
• Demonstrates ability to implement and utilise audit data to improve quality
• Able to advise on and implement improvements to the quality and efficiency of care for patients
• Ability to act as facilitator, mentor, and supervisor to colleagues
• Flexibility, adaptability to meet needs of a changing service
• Ability to cope with sensitive and sometimes distressing emotional issues, and to support others
• Commitment to the development and provision of high-quality nursing care

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 Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)