About this role
Job summary
The post holder will provide specialist nursing expertise in the assessment, management and ongoing care of children and young people with epilepsy, holding responsibility and accountability for a defined caseload.
They will undertake comprehensive clinical assessments, develop and implement individualised care plans, and coordinate care across acute, community, primary care and multi-agency services to ensure seamless, high-quality care. Working in partnership with children, young people, families and carers, the post holder will provide holistic support that promotes independence, wellbeing and quality of life.
Acting as a specialist resource within the multidisciplinary team, they will offer expert clinical advice, education and support to professionals across health, education and social care settings. The role requires the ability to communicate complex and sensitive information with empathy and compassion, empowering children, young people and their families to make informed decisions regarding their care.
The post holder will recognise and respond to the cultural needs of children and families, ensuring equitable and person-centred care, and when appropriate will act as a key worker in line with relevant national and local frameworks and guidance.
Main duties of the job
The Epilepsy Specialist Nurse is responsible for providing expert assessment, care coordination and clinical management for children and young people with epilepsy across the community setting. The post holder manages a specialist caseload, undertakes comprehensive assessments, develops and implements individualised care plans.
The role provides specialist advice, education and support to children, young people, families, carers and professionals, promoting effective seizure management, medication adherence, health promotion and self-management. The post holder works closely with acute, community, primary, secondary and tertiary services.
The post holder participates in consultant-led and nurse-led clinics, provides specialist epilepsy advice, supports complex decision-making, communicates sensitive information with compassion, and contributes to safeguarding care as required. The role also includes leadership responsibilities through the supervision and line management of junior staff, mentorship of students and healthcare professionals, and the delivery of training and education programmes.
In addition, the post holder contributes to service development, clinical governance, audit and quality improvement activities, ensuring practice is evidence-based, compliant with professional and Trust standards, and aligned with national guidance and best practice for epilepsy care.
About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential. Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks. If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling. Benefits
27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service. Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay. Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits. £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus. Work that wraps around your needs
Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical and Professional
1.Uses key skills of assessment, interpretation and analysis of findings, utilising clinical expertise and judgement to prevent inappropriate hospital admissions and promote effective hospital discharge planning wherever possible. Provide and co-ordinate support to children and young people with epilepsy, implementing health promotion as appropriate. Teach children and young people, families and carers to competently carry out specific nursing care and procedures as required.
2.Plans, develops, co-ordinates and manages service provision for children and young people with epilepsy.
3. Assesses patients, plans and implements appropriate models of care, provides specialist advice to schools, universal services and voluntary organisations, and maintains contemporaneous and accurate records.
4.Works as a key member of multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams, leading and promoting care to ensure a seamless service across acute and community settings.
5.Is competent in performing advanced clinical nursing skills appropriate to the caseload, including, participating in joint consultant-led and nurse-led clinics to support children and young people with epilepsy. Using clinic-based tools for the assessment, diagnosis and management of children and young people with epilepsy. Providing direct and telephone advice to children, young people, parents and carers regarding seizure control and management. Liaising, where appropriate, with primary, secondary and tertiary care services regarding neurological and neurosurgical management.
6. Liaises with epilepsy management support structures at Southend Hospital and across the region and supports the implementation of NICE guidance to improve the care of children and young people with epilepsy and their families. Supports the development of medication management protocols.Develops training materials and provides education for children, young people, parents, carers, and health, education and social care staff in seizure prevention and management. Leads on the transition of children and young people from paediatric to adult neurology services in partnership with the named consultant.
7. Effectively communicates complex and sensitive information to children, families and carers, including supporting diagnosis, breaking bad news, palliative care and bereavement.
8. Supports palliative care and provides symptom management in end-of-life care, advising and guiding other professionals as required.
9. Adheres to Trust child protection procedures and policies, taking a lead role when working with children and young people in the safeguarding arena. Provides informative and accurate reports, ensuring the lived experience of the child or young person is clearly represented.
10. Provides line management and professional support to Band 6 staff within the team, as required by the Lead Nurse.
11. Leads and participates in clinical audit and the development of procedures and protocols relating to epilepsy management, medications and epilepsy devices, and disseminates research findings as appropriate.
12. Maintains a non-judgemental approach when working within the home environment and in all aspects of practice, regardless of circumstances.
Education and Training
1. Contributes to the development and implementation of training programmes, protocols, procedures and care pathways within Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust and across South East Essex.
2.Provides up-to-date education and expert advice to the multidisciplinary team and works collaboratively with colleagues across services.
3. Attends and participates in induction, mandatory training and other study days as identified.
4. Maintains and develops own professional knowledge and competence in accordance with NMC requirements.
5. Keeps up to date with developments in epilepsy care, treatment and epilepsy surgery.
6. Acts as a mentor, assessor or supervisor for pre-registration and post-registration nursing and medical staff, as appropriate.
7. Supports the development of resource materials relating to the care and management of children and young people with epilepsy.
8. Teaches children and young people, relatives and carers about their condition, treatment options and self-management strategies.
Clinical Governance and Audit
1. Accountable for practising in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
2. Receives clinical and safeguarding supervision in accordance with Trust policies and professional standards.
3. Actively participates in peer review and audit of clinical practice.
4. Promotes and undertakes clinical audit activities, including the Epilepsy12 Audit, and works collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure service delivery meets national standards and best practice tariffs.
5. Ensures clinical practice is informed by robust research evidence and actively promotes and supports innovation and new ways of working to improve patient outcomes.
6. Contributes to the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, procedures and clinical guidelines relevant to epilepsy care.
7.Participates in incident reporting, risk management and the investigation of complaints as required, supporting a culture of continuous quality improvement and patient safety.
8. Maintains accurate, timely and legally compliant clinical records in accordance with Trust policies and professional standards.
9. Attends and completes all mandatory training in accordance with Trust policy and maintains statutory and mandatory training compliance.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Registered Children's Nurse (RNC/RSCN) or First Level Registered Nurse with significant children's services experience. Current NMC Registration. Evidence of recent clinical practice in Paediatric Epilepsy Nursing.
Desirable
Management/Leadership Training Non-medical prescriber qualification Advanced communication training Clinical assessment skills
Knowledge Essential
Several years post qualification with significant experience within the speciality of epilepsy Working knowledge of current polices/documents relating to best practice for children and young people with epilepsy Extensive knowledge and awareness of safeguarding children and child protection procedures, specifically for children and young people with epilepsy.
Desirable
Ability to be creative and innovative to meet demands on the epilepsy service
Skills Essential
Experienced managing a defined caseload and having the ability to work under pressure to manage workload and meet deadlines Experience of delivering training to professionals and families Experienced in writing, implementing and evaluating treatment plans Ability to undertake risk assessments Literate in IT/Computer Skills
Desirable
Experience of audit/research Experience of developing a service Experience as a team lead/manager
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 Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Address The Lighthouse
Eastwood
SS2 6XT
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://eput.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)