South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Learning Disability Specialist

The closing date is 04 February 2026

Job summary

The Learning Disability Specialist is responsible for the Corporate and Operational Learning Disability strategies, policies and procedures within the Trust and for advising Directorate leads on issues relating to learning disability, including legislative requirements.

They provide specialist clinical support and advice for the delivery of the learning disability strategic plan and is responsible for producing high level reports in line with strategy, as required.

They will present to the executive management team, board and strategic system partners on learning disability service transformation.

They will ensure that SCAS continue to lead nationally around research and evaluation of evidence-based responses to learning disability patient safety and experience. This includes, but is not limited to, working with learning disability and mental health services within SCAS and our key stakeholder partnerships.

They will lead on the design, delivery and review of learning disability education programmes across the Trust workforce and develop relevant clinical audit and evidence-based practice improvements for the delivery of good patient care. They will also act as the SCAS representative at LeDeR meetings and reviews where necessary and appropriate and, work with the R&D lead to contribute to research and development opportunities related to learning disability transformation.

Main duties of the job

o To be the named professional in the implementation and review of the LearningDisability Strategy.

o Provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals at alllevels within the Trust and partner agencies.

o Advise and assist in dealing with complaints/enquiries and adverse incidents asappropriate.

o To advise the Trust on sensitive areas related to learning disabilities withinserious case reviews and employment investigations.

o To work alongside the Clinical Lead - MH & LD to improve patient experiencefor those with learning disabilities that have contact with SCAS.

o To advise the Operational, Clinical and Executive Team to ensure that the TrustBoard members and senior managers are kept fully informed of all learningdisability issues.

o Be responsible for determining the key strategic priorities from the wider learningdisability agenda within the Trust (legislation, strategies and guidance) andassist Directors of the Trust to meet them.

o Exercise a high degree of autonomy with high level negotiation skills to makecritical decisions and judgements associated with the management of complexlearning disability issues.

o To contribute to highly sensitive learning from deaths in learning disabilityreviews.

o Be responsible for the development of local implementation/action plans toaddress the outputs from the relevant national learning disability agenda (egDoH, NICE guidance, CQC).

About us

Benefits we offer:

  • Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
  • Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years' service and 33 days after 10 years' service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
  • Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
  • Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
  • Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
  • NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
  • Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).

Corporate Induction

It's really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).

All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire), Bicester (Oxfordshire) or Whiteley (Hampshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.

*Please note - depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Pro rata per annum

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

195-26-309-KEH

Job locations

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Unit 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road

Bicester

OX26 6HR


Job description

Job responsibilities

In addition to those duties listed above, the Learning Disability Specialist will:

Attend contract meetings to advise in specialist matters.

Act as SME working alongside Education Department regarding the development and delivery of LD material.

Provide specialist training to operational teams where a need is identified.

Communicate complex, specialist clinical information in a skilled and professionalmanner to various partners (internal and external).

Provide detailed written and statistical reports as required for relevant Committeesand Boards in relation to learning disability; including the detailed analysis ofcomplex data and evidence for the Trust Quality Accounts, Learning DevelopmentStrategy and CQUINS where required.

Attend LeDeR meetings and reviews as SCAS representative.

To present and represent the Trust at local and national conferences.

Through discussion and negotiation with key stakeholders (internal and external), following due and diligent analysis of multiple and complex datasets and other metrics, agree and plan the implementation, post-implementation review of appropriate additional and/or enhanced provision and access to suitable care pathways for ambulance staff to access in order to best fulfill the corporate aim of developing whole system solutions and seamless pathways of care.

Be responsible for the specialist clinical advice/guidance for operational staffand, more widely, sharing responsibility with colleagues for the wider clinical andoperational performance of SCAS. Ensure best practice, lessons learned anddevelopment opportunities and ideas are widely communicated across SCAS.

To be able to utilise a range of high level IT skills on the delivery of training viamultiple remote training platforms (such as MS Teams).

To manage their own time within contracted hours.

Where appropriate, complete operational, or patient facing, shifts throughout theyear working as an advanced practitioner in order to maintain professionalregistration and competency to advise on all elements of the role.

To advise and support the Human Resources Directorate on the development ofsafe and effective, evidence-based processes/procedures for staff who havelearning disability or are caring for someone else with learning disability,supporting the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

This job description is not comprehensive but contains the main responsibilitiesand functions of the post. Other reasonable duties may be required inaccordance with organisational and operational need.

Job description

Job responsibilities

In addition to those duties listed above, the Learning Disability Specialist will:

Attend contract meetings to advise in specialist matters.

Act as SME working alongside Education Department regarding the development and delivery of LD material.

Provide specialist training to operational teams where a need is identified.

Communicate complex, specialist clinical information in a skilled and professionalmanner to various partners (internal and external).

Provide detailed written and statistical reports as required for relevant Committeesand Boards in relation to learning disability; including the detailed analysis ofcomplex data and evidence for the Trust Quality Accounts, Learning DevelopmentStrategy and CQUINS where required.

Attend LeDeR meetings and reviews as SCAS representative.

To present and represent the Trust at local and national conferences.

Through discussion and negotiation with key stakeholders (internal and external), following due and diligent analysis of multiple and complex datasets and other metrics, agree and plan the implementation, post-implementation review of appropriate additional and/or enhanced provision and access to suitable care pathways for ambulance staff to access in order to best fulfill the corporate aim of developing whole system solutions and seamless pathways of care.

Be responsible for the specialist clinical advice/guidance for operational staffand, more widely, sharing responsibility with colleagues for the wider clinical andoperational performance of SCAS. Ensure best practice, lessons learned anddevelopment opportunities and ideas are widely communicated across SCAS.

To be able to utilise a range of high level IT skills on the delivery of training viamultiple remote training platforms (such as MS Teams).

To manage their own time within contracted hours.

Where appropriate, complete operational, or patient facing, shifts throughout theyear working as an advanced practitioner in order to maintain professionalregistration and competency to advise on all elements of the role.

To advise and support the Human Resources Directorate on the development ofsafe and effective, evidence-based processes/procedures for staff who havelearning disability or are caring for someone else with learning disability,supporting the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

This job description is not comprehensive but contains the main responsibilitiesand functions of the post. Other reasonable duties may be required inaccordance with organisational and operational need.

Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Educated to degree level
  • Post-graduate education
  • Professional training/mentoring qualification (eg MSPP)
  • Evidence of continuous personal and professional development

Desirable

  • Masters level education or equivalent knowledge/experience
  • RN(LD)
  • Current, appropriate professional registration (NMC, HCPC) or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of working within the field of learning disabilities.
  • In depth awareness of the LD agenda at both national and regional levels.
  • A working knowledge of Clinical Governance, Clinical Supervision, Quality Improvement & Assurance and best practice.
  • Experience of strategic and policy development.
  • Experience of collation, analysis and dissemination of highly complex information or data.
  • Experience of working with complex, sensitive data, analysing, evaluating and presenting evidence following sound research methodology.
  • Experience of delivering training/teaching in area of LD.

Desirable

  • Working in an emergency environment.
  • Knowledge of Ambulance Service, NHS and Social Care development programmes.
  • Awareness of other emergency services developments for people with LD.
Person Specification

Qualifications and Training

Essential

  • Educated to degree level
  • Post-graduate education
  • Professional training/mentoring qualification (eg MSPP)
  • Evidence of continuous personal and professional development

Desirable

  • Masters level education or equivalent knowledge/experience
  • RN(LD)
  • Current, appropriate professional registration (NMC, HCPC) or equivalent

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Extensive experience of working within the field of learning disabilities.
  • In depth awareness of the LD agenda at both national and regional levels.
  • A working knowledge of Clinical Governance, Clinical Supervision, Quality Improvement & Assurance and best practice.
  • Experience of strategic and policy development.
  • Experience of collation, analysis and dissemination of highly complex information or data.
  • Experience of working with complex, sensitive data, analysing, evaluating and presenting evidence following sound research methodology.
  • Experience of delivering training/teaching in area of LD.

Desirable

  • Working in an emergency environment.
  • Knowledge of Ambulance Service, NHS and Social Care development programmes.
  • Awareness of other emergency services developments for people with LD.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Unit 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road

Bicester

OX26 6HR


Employer's website

https://scasjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Address

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Unit 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road

Bicester

OX26 6HR


Employer's website

https://scasjobs.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Clinical Lead- Mental Health & Learning Disability

Steve Jephcote

steven.jephcote@scas.nhs.uk

07966558152

Details

Date posted

27 January 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year Pro rata per annum

Contract

Secondment

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

195-26-309-KEH

Job locations

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust

Unit 7-8 Talisman Business Centre, Talisman Road

Bicester

OX26 6HR


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)