About this role
Job summary
Are you an experienced Learning Disability nurse ready to lead and influence care at a strategic level? We are seeking an exceptional Band 7 Clinical Nurse Specialist to champion equitable, person-centred care for people with learning disabilities and autistic people across UCLH.
This is a highly visible and impactful role within a complex acute trust, where you will act as a clinical expert, advocate and change agent. You will work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to reduce health inequalities, improve reasonable adjustments, and ensure compliance with national standards and legislation.
We are looking for a confident practitioner with strong clinical credibility, excellent communication skills and a passion for improving patient experience and outcomes. In return, you will join a forward-thinking organisation committed to innovation, sustainability and continuous improvement, with opportunities to shape service development at scale.
Main duties of the job
You will provide advanced specialist clinical input for patients with learning disabilities and autistic people with complex, high-risk or multi-factorial needs. Using your strong clinical foundation, you will undertake comprehensive assessments, contribute to complex decision-making, and guide multidisciplinary teams in delivering safe, evidence-based care.
The role requires expert knowledge of mental capacity, best interests, safeguarding, risk assessment and reasonable adjustments within acute hospital settings. You will support clinicians managing behavioural distress, diagnostic overshadowing and complex discharge planning, ensuring high standards of clinical governance.
In addition to direct clinical involvement, you will lead education and training initiatives, contribute to audit and quality improvement work, and influence policy and pathway development. You will be expected to demonstrate professional authority, clinical credibility and the ability to challenge practice constructively to improve patient safety and experience.
About us
University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (UCLH) is one of the most complex NHS trusts in the UK, serving a large and diverse population. We provide academically led acute and specialist services, to people from the local area, from throughout the United Kingdom and overseas. Our vision is to deliver top-quality patient care, excellent education, and world-class research.
We provide first-class acute and specialist services across eight sites:
University College Hospital (incorporating the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Wing)
National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery
Royal National ENT and Eastman Dental Hospitals
University College Hospital Grafton Way Building
Royal London Hospital for Integrated Medicine
University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre
The Hospital for Tropical Diseases
University College Hospital at Westmoreland Street
We are dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of many complex illnesses. UCLH specialises in women's health and the treatment of cancer, infection, neurological,gastrointestinaland oral disease. It has world class support services including critical care, imaging, nuclearmedicineandpathology.
Weare committed to sustainability and have pledged to become a carbon net zero health service, embedding sustainable practice throughout UCLH. We have set an ambitious target of net zero for our direct emissions by 2031 and indirect emissions by 2040.
Job description Job responsibilities
For the full Person Specification and more informationregardingthe main responsibilities of this role, please refer to the attached Job Description.
Come and be a part of the best NHS trust in England to work for, according to our staff*
*UCLH top trust to work at in England- In the most recentNHS staff surveyUCLH had the highest percentage of staff who said they would recommend us as a place to work, out of all general acute or acute/community NHS trusts in England for the third year in a row.
UCLH recognises the benefits of flexible working for staff To find out more, visit:Flexible working.
To discover more about what makes UCLHa great placeto work, visit:Why Choose UCLH?
Person Specification
Knowledge & Qualifications Essential
Registered nurse / midwife (NMC) Higher professional or management degree (Masters level or higher) or equivalent PhD (or equivalent), or working towards Specialist and expert knowledge relevant to the portfolio Evidence of on-going personal and professional development Portfolio of career long learning
Experience & knowledge Essential
Proven nursing/midwifery leadership and management experience Experience of leading, implementing and monitoring objectives and priorities Experience of reviewing, contributing to and managing contracts, maintaining legal, professional and governance standards Demonstrable understanding of relevant national strategy/policy and how this relates to the portfolio Demonstrable record of applying professional judgement for the purpose of decision making in complex situations Experience of successfully leading and developing teams Experience of leading and delivering on complex projects Capacity to appraise, analyse and interpret complex facts or situations Ability to think independently and plan strategically, tactically and creatively, and work autonomously prioritising work programmes in the face of competing demands.
Desirable
Experience as a chief, principal or co-investigator. Experience of academic teaching, mentoring or supervising at a postgraduate, pre- and post-doctoral level
Communication Essential
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to adjust communication style to suit the audience. Ability to collaborate to create the conditions for effective communication with colleagues and partner organisations. Excellent influencing and negotiating skills Excellent report writing and formal presentation skills
Personal And People Development Essential
Demonstrate emotional intelligence, self-awareness, self-management (including self-control, transparency and optimism) Relationship management skills (ability to influence, develop others and act as a change catalyst) Skilled in reflection with a strong commitment to professional development - positive professional role model Organisational and time management skills - completer finisher Facilitation and education skills (provides mentorship, supervision and education related to research) Able to demonstrate initiative and work autonomously - self-starter Solution and achievement orientated Flexible and adaptable to change
Health, Safety And Security Essential
Monitors and maintains health, well-being, safety and security of self and others Promotes, monitors and maintains best practice in health, safety and security
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 College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Address University College Hospital
235 Euston Road
London
NW1 2BU
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.uclh.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)