Paediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist Learning Disability & Autism

NHS; Bristol; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 53,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading hospital in Bristol is seeking a compassionate Learning Disability & Autism Clinical Nurse Specialist on a part-time basis. This vital role will involve directing high-quality care for children while working collaboratively with families and healthcare teams to enhance services and support for children with learning disabilities and autism.

Qualifications

• Active 1st level learning Disability registration with NMC.
• Masters level study or equivalent experience required.
• Teaching/Mentoring qualification or equivalent experience.

Responsibilities

• Lead & coordinate the Learning Disability & Autism Nursing Liaison service.
• Develop service in collaboration with healthcare professionals.
• Provide expert advice and support to hospital staff and families.

Skills

Effective communication

Clinical supervision

Organisational skills

Teaching

Education

Registered Nurse (1st level with NMC)

Masters level study or equivalent

Teaching/Mentoring qualification

Tools

IT skills

Job description

Job summary

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.

Details Date posted

04 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£46,148 to £52,809 a year pa pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

387-WC0454-HN-A

Job locations

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ

Job description Job responsibilities

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

Job description 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 Essential

• 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 Essential

• 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
• Excellent IT skills
• Experience within Paediatric Learning Disability and Autism

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge of advanced practice/protocols

Skills & Abilities Essential

• 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

Person Specification Training & Qualifications Essential

• 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 Essential

• 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
• Excellent IT skills
• Experience within Paediatric Learning Disability and Autism

Desirable

• Experience and knowledge of advanced practice/protocols

Skills & Abilities Essential

• 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW)

Address

Bristol Royal Hospital for Children

Upper Maudlin Street

Bristol

BS2 8BJ

Employer's website

https://www.uhbw.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)