Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Mental Capacity Assessor, Learning Disability Liaison

The closing date is 26 June 2025

Job summary

Are you a passionate clinician who is ready to innovate and implement new pathways in the acute setting?

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust is seeking a clinician work within our Learning Disability Liaison Service at Musgrove Park Hospital and Yeovil District Hospital. This exciting opportunity is a relatively new post, so you will be in a position to assess and develop the role. You will have the opportunity to work to reduce health inequalities, improve patient outcomes and enhance the experience of patients with learning disabilities across Somerset.

Main duties of the job

As Mental Capacity Assessor in the Learning Disability Liaison Service, you will complete capacity assessments with patients with learning disabilities who have been referred into the acute setting on a two week wait cancer pathway. This may involve visiting the patient in their own home to assess their capacity for decision making around their investigation options, feeding this information back into the wider MDT and being involved in ongoing Best Interest processes if appropriate, from point or referral to point of investigation.

This role is perfect for someone who would enjoy the diversity of both working in the acute setting and visiting patients at home. It is a flexible role which has huge scope for development and creativity.

About us

At Somerset NHS Foundation Trust, we're committed to supporting our employees with a range of benefits designed to enhance your professional and personal life. We offer:

Flexible working options to help you balance work and life

NHS pension scheme for long-term financial security

Generous annual leave allowance to recharge and relax

A strong focus on career development to help you grow and achieve your potential

Additionally, you'll gain access to our Blue Light Card, unlocking exclusive discounts on shopping, dining, and leisure activities, as well as NHS-specific perks to support you both inside and outside of work.

We are proud to foster a diverse, skilled, and inclusive workforce, and we encourage applications from all backgrounds.

Why Somerset? Somerset offers the perfect blend of idyllic countryside, outstanding areas of natural beauty, and breath-taking coastlines, with vibrant cities like Bristol, Bath, and Exeter just a short drive away - and only two hours to London.

The region is home to excellent educational facilities, and with affordable housing compared to other parts of the country, it's a great place to build both your career and your future.

Somerset truly has it all - the peaceful countryside and cosmopolitan city life, with something for everyone to enjoy.

Details

Date posted

12 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2649

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Job description

Job responsibilities

For the main duties and responsibilities for this role please read the attached job description and person specification. When completing your application please ensure your supporting statement reflects the criteria set out in these documents by showing how your experience and skills apply to this post.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with relevant professional body (RNLD, RMN, RN, physio, OT, SALT, social work etc.)

Experience

Essential

  • -Extensive experience of working directly with people with learning disabilities, highly complex health needs and the impact of health inequality
  • - Knowledge and expertise in the application of The Mental Capacity Act
  • - Knowledge and experience of working with people who present which unpredictable behaviour that challenges / distressed behaviours

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • - Full, clean driving license and ability to travel across the county
  • - Be skilled in undertaking and managing highly sensitive and/or contentious conversations with patients, families, carers and staff. Whilst understanding the potential impact these conversations may have on the individual and their important others.
Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with relevant professional body (RNLD, RMN, RN, physio, OT, SALT, social work etc.)

Experience

Essential

  • -Extensive experience of working directly with people with learning disabilities, highly complex health needs and the impact of health inequality
  • - Knowledge and expertise in the application of The Mental Capacity Act
  • - Knowledge and experience of working with people who present which unpredictable behaviour that challenges / distressed behaviours

Additional Criteria

Essential

  • - Full, clean driving license and ability to travel across the county
  • - Be skilled in undertaking and managing highly sensitive and/or contentious conversations with patients, families, carers and staff. Whilst understanding the potential impact these conversations may have on the individual and their important others.

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

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Somerset NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Hiring Manager

Louise Atkinson

Louise.Atkinson@SomersetFT.nhs.uk

07340037833

Details

Date posted

12 June 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£37,338 to £44,962 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

184-OL-PU-2649

Job locations

Musgrove Park Hospital

Musgrove Road

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 5DA


Yeovil District Hospital

Higher Kingston

Yeovil

Somerset

BA21 4AT


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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