UHN Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse Specialist

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust; Kettering; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 46,000; Full time

Job summary

Northampton General Hospital NHS Trust is seeking a Paediatric Epilepsy Nurse to support the delivery of high-quality epilepsy services for children and young people. You will participate in joint clinics, provide specialist assessments and education to families, and liaise with primary, secondary and tertiary care to ensure seamless care.

The role emphasises advocacy, continuity of care, and transition planning to adult services, with a focus on safeguarding and equality.

Qualifications

• NMC Registered Nurse Paediatrics.
• Degree level qualification in nursing.
• Evidence of continued professional development to Masters level or equivalent.
• Evidence of ability to work collaboratively with multi agency professionals and key stakeholders.
• Previous experience of working with children with epilepsy / neurodevelopmental problems.
• Acts on own initiative, able to problem solve utilizing appropriate resources.
• Able to cope with highly emotive situations.
• Desirable: Nurse prescribing or willingness to undertake.
• Understanding of Governance and NICE guidance and their relationship to the epilepsy service.
• Evidence of managing a change/development project.
• Awareness of the APLS algorithm for Paediatric Status Epilepticus.

Responsibilities

• Promote and support the operational and strategic objectives of the service, department, division, and Trust.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality epilepsy services in line with Trust priorities.
• Participate in joint consultant-led and nurse-led epilepsy clinics.
• Provide specialist assessment, advice, education, and support to children and young people with epilepsy and their families.
• Offer telephone and face-to-face advice regarding seizure management, treatment, and ongoing care.
• Liaise effectively with primary, secondary, and tertiary care providers to ensure seamless care.
• Promote best practice in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of paediatric epilepsy.
• Maintain specialist knowledge through attendance at relevant training, educational events, and regional networks.
• Act as a key point of contact for children, young people, families, carers, and other professionals regarding epilepsy-related care.
• Promote equality, diversity, and the rights of the child in all aspects of care delivery.
• Support continuity of care through liaison with schools, community services, and other agencies, including home and school visits where appropriate.
• Advocate for children and young people to ensure access to high-quality epilepsy services.
• Coordinate and support transition planning to adult services.
• Maintain clinical competence and contribute to specialist nursing services as required.
• Communicate complex, sensitive, or distressing information effectively and compassionately to children, young people, and families.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to support children with complex epilepsy.
• Provide education and training to healthcare professionals, schools, families, and carers.
• Contribute to the professional development of self and colleagues.
• Ensure effective and efficient use of equipment and consumables.
• Support initiatives aimed at reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes.
• Practice in accordance with the NMC Code and professional standards.
• Prepare and present quarterly service reports for governance meetings.
• Represent the service at relevant meetings, networks, and working groups, sharing learning and outcomes within the organisation.
• Participate in local and national audits, research, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote and maintain high standards of health, safety, and clinical governance.
• Manage incidents, complaints, and adverse events in accordance with Trust policies.
• Lead the development, review, and implementation of epilepsy-related policies, guidelines, and pathways.
• Ensure practice reflects current evidence, national guidance, and best practice standards.
• Contribute to service improvement and innovation to enhance patient experience and outcomes.
• Support and uphold professional nursing standards in line with the NMC Code.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role, grade, and service requirements.

Skills

NMC Registered Nurse Paediatrics

Masters-level CPD

Collaborative multi-agency work

Education

Degree-level nursing qualification

Job description

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Corporate Responsibilities

• Promote and support the operational and strategic objectives of the service, department, division, and Trust.
• Contribute to the development and delivery of high-quality epilepsy services in line with Trust priorities.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Participate in joint consultant-led and nurse-led epilepsy clinics.
• Provide specialist assessment, advice, education, and support to children and young people with epilepsy and their families.
• Offer telephone and face-to-face advice regarding seizure management, treatment, and ongoing care.
• Liaise effectively with primary, secondary, and tertiary care providers to ensure seamless care.
• Promote best practice in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and management of paediatric epilepsy.
• Maintain specialist knowledge through attendance at relevant training, educational events, and regional networks.

Patient Care Responsibilities

• Act as a key point of contact for children, young people, families, carers, and other professionals regarding epilepsy-related care.
• Promote equality, diversity, and the rights of the child in all aspects of care delivery.
• Support continuity of care through liaison with schools, community services, and other agencies, including home and school visits where appropriate.
• Advocate for children and young people to ensure access to high-quality epilepsy services.
• Coordinate and support transition planning to adult services.
• Maintain clinical competence and contribute to specialist nursing services as required.

Communication and Leadership Responsibilities

• Communicate complex, sensitive, or distressing information effectively and compassionately to children, young people, and families.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and external agencies to support children with complex epilepsy.
• Provide education and training to healthcare professionals, schools, families, and carers.
• Contribute to the professional development of self and colleagues.

Resource and Service Management

• Ensure effective and efficient use of equipment and consumables.
• Support initiatives aimed at reducing avoidable hospital admissions and improving patient outcomes.

Professional Responsibilities

• Practice in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code and professional standards.
• Prepare and present quarterly service reports for governance meetings.
• Represent the service at relevant meetings, networks, and working groups, sharing learning and outcomes within the organisation.

Quality, Audit and Governance

• Participate in local and national audits, research, and quality improvement initiatives.
• Promote and maintain high standards of health, safety, and clinical governance.
• Manage incidents, complaints, and adverse events in accordance with Trust policies.

Policy and Service Development

• Lead the development, review, and implementation of epilepsy-related policies, guidelines, and pathways.
• Ensure practice reflects current evidence, national guidance, and best practice standards.
• Contribute to service improvement and innovation to enhance patient experience and outcomes.

General Responsibilities

• Support and uphold professional nursing standards in line with the NMC Code.
• Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role, grade, and service requirements.

Person specification

Education, Training and Qualifications

Essential criteria

• NMC Registered Nurse Paediatrics
• Degree level qualification in nursing
• Evidence of continued professional development in area of speciality to Masters level or equivalent
• Evidence of ability to work collaboratively with multi agency professionals and key stakeholders.
• Previous experience of working with children with epilepsy /neurodevelopmental problems
• Acts on own initiative, able to problem solve utilising appropriate resources .
• Able to cope with highly emotive situations

Desirable criteria

• Nurse prescribing or willingness to undertake
• Understanding of Governance and NICE guidance and their relationship to the epilepsy service
• Evidence of managing a change/ development project
• Awareness of the APLS algorithm for Paediatric Status Epilepticus

Important Information

We are an equal opportunities employer, which aims to employ a workforce that reflects the diverse communities we serve. We welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons from all backgrounds.

We welcome applications from members of our black and minority ethnic (BME) communities, especially in relation to senior posts within at KGH.

Applicants who have a disability and meet the essential criteria for the job will be interviewed if you indicate you wish to be considered under the Guaranteed Interview Scheme. If you require a reasonable adjustment at any stage of the recruitment process please make the recruitment services team aware as soon as possible.

Appointments will be made on merit.

In submitting an application form, you authorise Kettering General Hospital (KGH) NHS Foundation Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process. Including factual reference, occupational health clearance and statutory and mandatory training record.

If you need to have a Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check, as a requirement of the role, you will be required to repay the cost of obtaining a DBS check (£49.50) and this amount will be reclaimed from your first salary. From 1st February 2019 all new starters to the Trust are required to join the DBS update service as per Trust DBS Re-checking Policy which has an annual cost of £16. New employees who do not join the update service will be required to pay £49.50 for a new DBS check in 3 years time.

Please note that news starters with KGH are subject to a six month probationary period.

Please ensure that the information you provide on your application form is correct, accurate and that nothing has been omitted. Any information that is stated in your application form in relation to qualifications/training courses/work/education experience/references must be able to be evidenced. Failure to do so may result if your offer being withdrawn.

"Safeguarding is everyone's business. KGH considers Safeguarding a priority amongst its citizen's and a key value for all employed to the service."

We want to recruit the best people to deliver our services across the University Hospitals of Northamptonshire and help to unleash everyone's full potential. As an organisation, we value how we communicate and promote our vacancies to all communities. The Hospital Group encourages applications from people who identify from all protected groups, especially those from BAME, Disabled and LGBTQ+ backgrounds as these are underrepresented in our hospitals. We understand that we need to work with colleagues from diverse backgrounds and make sure the environment they work in is inclusive and collaborative. We have active Networks that promote and support colleagues from all backgrounds. This ensures everyone feels supported and has a sense of belonging working for Kettering and Northampton General Hospitals.