Job summary
An exciting
opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated nurse to lead the
development and delivery of a community-based Parkinsons Disease Nurse
Specialist service for the Blackburn with Darwen population working in
collaboration with the existing Parkinsons Community Nurse Team.
Funded
through Parkinsons UK pump-priming, this role focuses on improving outcomes
for people living with Parkinsons disease and atypical Parkinsonism, reducing
avoidable hospital admissions, improving continuity of care, and supporting
patients to remain independent in their own homes.
The post holder will
work autonomously across primary, community, and secondary care, in line with
NICE guidance and Parkinson's UK Excellence Network standards, with a strong
emphasis on service evaluation, audit, and sustainability planning.
Guaranteed 2-year
role with an expectation of continued funding based on the outcomes of the job.
Main duties of the job
- Provide highly
specialist assessment, care planning, education, reviews, follow-ups and
case management for people with Parkinsons disease and Parkinsonism
- Deliver nurse-led
Parkinsons clinics in community and primary care settings
- Support medication
optimisation in collaboration with neurology, geriatrics, GPs, and
pharmacy teams
- Act as a specialist
clinical resource for patients, carers, and professionals
- Lead service
development in line with the approved business case
- Develop referral
pathways and a single point of access model
- Contribute to audit,
service evaluation, outcomes reporting, and quality improvement
- Support education and
training for health and social care professionals
About us
East
Lancashire Alliance (ELA) is a GP Federation delivering innovative, integrated
healthcare services across East Lancashire. Working in partnership with primary
care, community services, secondary care, commissioners, and the voluntary
sector, ELA is committed to improving outcomes, reducing inequalities, and
delivering person-centred care closer to home.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role aims to reduce avoidable hospital admissions, improve
continuity of care, and support individuals to remain independent in their own
homes for as long as possible.
The post
holder will work autonomously across primary, community, and secondary care, in
line with NICE guidance and Parkinsons UK Excellence Network standards. A key
element of the role is service evaluation, audit, and reporting to demonstrate
impact and support long-term sustainability.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide highly
specialist assessment, care planning, education, reviews, follow-ups and
ongoing case management for people with Parkinsons disease and
Parkinsonism
- Deliver nurse-led
Parkinsons clinics in community and primary care settings
- Support medication
optimisation in collaboration with neurology, geriatrics, GPs, and
pharmacy teams
- Act as a specialist
clinical resource for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals
- Promote
self-management, independence, and personalised care
- Maintain accurate
clinical records and contribute to audit and outcomes reporting
Service Development and Leadership
- Lead the establishment
and ongoing development of the Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist
service in line with the approved business case
- Contribute to
Parkinsons UK steering group meetings and reporting requirements
- Develop and maintain
clear referral pathways, including a single point of access model
- Work collaboratively
with voluntary sector partners, including Parkinsons UK
- Support education and
training for health and social care professionals
Quality, Audit and Governance
- Participate in service
evaluation, audit, and quality improvement initiatives
- Work in accordance with
NICE guidance, the NMC Code, and local policies
- Attend Parkinsons UK
Nurse Induction and ongoing professional development programmes
- Ensure compliance with
safeguarding, information governance, and health and safety requirements
Job description
Job responsibilities
The role aims to reduce avoidable hospital admissions, improve
continuity of care, and support individuals to remain independent in their own
homes for as long as possible.
The post
holder will work autonomously across primary, community, and secondary care, in
line with NICE guidance and Parkinsons UK Excellence Network standards. A key
element of the role is service evaluation, audit, and reporting to demonstrate
impact and support long-term sustainability.
Clinical Responsibilities
- Provide highly
specialist assessment, care planning, education, reviews, follow-ups and
ongoing case management for people with Parkinsons disease and
Parkinsonism
- Deliver nurse-led
Parkinsons clinics in community and primary care settings
- Support medication
optimisation in collaboration with neurology, geriatrics, GPs, and
pharmacy teams
- Act as a specialist
clinical resource for patients, carers, and healthcare professionals
- Promote
self-management, independence, and personalised care
- Maintain accurate
clinical records and contribute to audit and outcomes reporting
Service Development and Leadership
- Lead the establishment
and ongoing development of the Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist
service in line with the approved business case
- Contribute to
Parkinsons UK steering group meetings and reporting requirements
- Develop and maintain
clear referral pathways, including a single point of access model
- Work collaboratively
with voluntary sector partners, including Parkinsons UK
- Support education and
training for health and social care professionals
Quality, Audit and Governance
- Participate in service
evaluation, audit, and quality improvement initiatives
- Work in accordance with
NICE guidance, the NMC Code, and local policies
- Attend Parkinsons UK
Nurse Induction and ongoing professional development programmes
- Ensure compliance with
safeguarding, information governance, and health and safety requirements
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration nursing experience
- Experience caring for patients with Parkinsons disease, frailty, neurological conditions, or long-term conditions
- Experience of community or integrated care working
- Knowledge of NICE guidance relevant to Parkinsons disease
- Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working
- Advanced clinical assessment and decision-making skills
- Ability to work autonomously and manage a complex caseload
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to educate and support patients, carers, and professionals
- IT skills, including electronic patient records and data reporting
- Commitment to person-centred care and service improvement
- Highly organised, flexible, and able to prioritise workload
- Car driver with access to a vehicle
- Willingness to travel across Blackburn with Darwen
- Occupational health clearance and enhanced DBS check
Desirable
- Previous experience in a Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist role
- Experience of service development, audit, or quality improvement projects
- Experience of running nurse-led clinics
- Skills and Abilities
- Leadership or service development experience
- Experience contributing to business cases or sustainability planning
- Presentation and report-writing skills
- Personal Attributes
- Experience of working with voluntary or third-sector organisations
- Commitment to ongoing research, audit, and innovation in Parkinsons care
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
- Independent Nurse Prescriber, or willingness to undertake the qualification
Desirable
- Specialist qualification in neurology or long-term conditions
- Teaching or mentorship qualification
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Significant post-registration nursing experience
- Experience caring for patients with Parkinsons disease, frailty, neurological conditions, or long-term conditions
- Experience of community or integrated care working
- Knowledge of NICE guidance relevant to Parkinsons disease
- Experience of multidisciplinary and multi-agency working
- Advanced clinical assessment and decision-making skills
- Ability to work autonomously and manage a complex caseload
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Ability to educate and support patients, carers, and professionals
- IT skills, including electronic patient records and data reporting
- Commitment to person-centred care and service improvement
- Highly organised, flexible, and able to prioritise workload
- Car driver with access to a vehicle
- Willingness to travel across Blackburn with Darwen
- Occupational health clearance and enhanced DBS check
Desirable
- Previous experience in a Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist role
- Experience of service development, audit, or quality improvement projects
- Experience of running nurse-led clinics
- Skills and Abilities
- Leadership or service development experience
- Experience contributing to business cases or sustainability planning
- Presentation and report-writing skills
- Personal Attributes
- Experience of working with voluntary or third-sector organisations
- Commitment to ongoing research, audit, and innovation in Parkinsons care
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (Adult) with current NMC registration
- Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience
- Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development
- Independent Nurse Prescriber, or willingness to undertake the qualification
Desirable
- Specialist qualification in neurology or long-term conditions
- Teaching or mentorship qualification
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
