Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Nurse Specialist - Learning Disabilities and Autism

The closing date is 11 September 2025

Job summary

We are looking for a dedicated, enthusiastic and dynamic learning disability nurse to work within the Learning Disability and Autism Team at GOSH as a Clinical Nurse Specialist. The primary purpose of the role is to ensure that patients with learning disabilities and/or Autism who use Trust services receive both equitable and the highest possible standard of care.

Our team is committed to ensuring that children and young people with learning disabilities and/or Autism, and their families receive equal access to safe, high quality care and treatment that is person centred to meet their particular needs, across all of our services. Furthermore, that they are equally valued and included as active partners in their care, recognising their individual expertise. Our vision is built around a culture of evidence-based healthcare, inclusivity and continued learning and improvement.

Main duties of the job

As a senior nurse leader, the Learning Disabilities and Autism CNS is a key member of the Nursing and Patient Experience team with a responsibility to contribute to wider service delivery.The primary purpose of the role is to ensure that patients with learning disabilities and/or Autism who use Trust services receive equitable care.

This will include:

  • Providing expert support and advice to the multidisciplinary team
  • Assessing and supporting the implementation of person centred reasonable adjustments for patients with a learning disability and/or Autism.
  • Supporting trust adherence to the Mental Capacity Act(2005)
  • Liaising with families, patients and other health and social care organisations

About us

GOSH is committed to recruiting the best person for the job, based solely on their ability and individual merit as measured against the criteria for the role; through a process that is fair, open, consistent and free from bias and discrimination.

We are committed to being a diverse and inclusive employer and foster a culture where all staff are valued, respected and acknowledged. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, disability status or length of time spent unemployed.

We particularly welcome applications from BAME communities, people with disabilities and/or long-term health conditions and LGBT+ community members.

We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants and employees are treated fairly and consistently. We are proud to be accredited as a Disability Confident Employer, a member of Business Disability Forum and a Stonewall Diversity Champion.

We have active and Executive supported BAME, LGBT+ and Allies, Disability and Long-Term Health Conditions and Women's staff networks. Staff networks are employee-led groups formed around interests, issues and a common bond or background. Staff network members create a positive and inclusive work environment at Great Ormond Street Hospital by actively contributing to the Trust's mission, values and efforts specific to inclusion. All of our staff networks are open to any employee.

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

271-NPE-7338141

Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The full job description provides an overview of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role, and the person specification outlines the qualifications, skills, experience, and knowledge required. For both documents please view the attachment/s below.

Person Specification

Our Always Values

Essential

  • GOSH Values
  • Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
  • Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
  • Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with the NMC as a Learning Disability or Children's Registered Nurse
  • Evidence of on-going, dynamic continuing professional development within the specialty, linked to demonstrable clinical competencies
  • Student Practice Assessor
  • Possession of a relevant honour's degree

Desirable

  • Relevant Postgraduate education

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent relevant clinical skills, specialist skills and abilities for the post
  • Excellent managerial, leadership and organisational skills
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with children and young people with a learning disability, their families and with colleagues.
  • Ability to work as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team
  • Able to problem solve and initiate, manage and sustain change
  • Influencing and negotiating skills
  • Teaching and training skills
  • Understanding of the management of Sensory Processing disorders
  • Appraisal skills
  • Ability to triage and manage a varied and complex workflow
  • Demonstrates Compassion In Practice
  • Able to work across professional team and organizational boundaries
  • Able to work with patients with learning disabilities/Autism to support a fully inclusive approach to participation in patient involvement and experience events
  • Good I.T. skills
  • Ability to manage and de-escalate conflict situations

Desirable

  • Strong documentation skills
  • Interviewing skills
  • Ability to critically appraise literature and apply findings to practice
  • Experience working clinically within a ward setting

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Sufficient experience at band 6 level or equivalent, including within relevant clinical environment
  • Expert knowledge relevant to the speciality/field or practice
  • Strong knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and its application within a Paediatric Hospital Setting
  • Experience of change management and problem solving
  • Experience of working with children and young people to develop information designed to meet their needs
  • Experience of engaging young people with a learning disability in developing services to support their needs
  • Experience of handling clinical incidents and complaints
  • Understanding of professional and current issues in children's nursing, learning disability nursing and healthcare.
  • Understanding of audit and research methodologies
  • Understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues
  • Knowledge of child protection procedures
  • Knowledge of nurse revalidation requirements

Desirable

  • Experience of audit, benchmarking and/or research
  • Experience of practice development, innovation.
  • Experience of working as a CNS
Person Specification

Our Always Values

Essential

  • GOSH Values
  • Knowledge and understanding of diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
  • Understanding of Diversity and Inclusion challenges in the workplace.
  • Demonstrable contribution to advancing Equality, Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace

Education & Qualifications

Essential

  • Current registration with the NMC as a Learning Disability or Children's Registered Nurse
  • Evidence of on-going, dynamic continuing professional development within the specialty, linked to demonstrable clinical competencies
  • Student Practice Assessor
  • Possession of a relevant honour's degree

Desirable

  • Relevant Postgraduate education

Skills & Abilities

Essential

  • Excellent relevant clinical skills, specialist skills and abilities for the post
  • Excellent managerial, leadership and organisational skills
  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively with children and young people with a learning disability, their families and with colleagues.
  • Ability to work as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team
  • Able to problem solve and initiate, manage and sustain change
  • Influencing and negotiating skills
  • Teaching and training skills
  • Understanding of the management of Sensory Processing disorders
  • Appraisal skills
  • Ability to triage and manage a varied and complex workflow
  • Demonstrates Compassion In Practice
  • Able to work across professional team and organizational boundaries
  • Able to work with patients with learning disabilities/Autism to support a fully inclusive approach to participation in patient involvement and experience events
  • Good I.T. skills
  • Ability to manage and de-escalate conflict situations

Desirable

  • Strong documentation skills
  • Interviewing skills
  • Ability to critically appraise literature and apply findings to practice
  • Experience working clinically within a ward setting

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

  • Sufficient experience at band 6 level or equivalent, including within relevant clinical environment
  • Expert knowledge relevant to the speciality/field or practice
  • Strong knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act (2005) and its application within a Paediatric Hospital Setting
  • Experience of change management and problem solving
  • Experience of working with children and young people to develop information designed to meet their needs
  • Experience of engaging young people with a learning disability in developing services to support their needs
  • Experience of handling clinical incidents and complaints
  • Understanding of professional and current issues in children's nursing, learning disability nursing and healthcare.
  • Understanding of audit and research methodologies
  • Understanding of resource management, health and safety, clinical risk and quality issues
  • Knowledge of child protection procedures
  • Knowledge of nurse revalidation requirements

Desirable

  • Experience of audit, benchmarking and/or research
  • Experience of practice development, innovation.
  • Experience of working as a CNS

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

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Matron - Learning Disabilities and Autism

Alexander Walker

alexander.walker@gosh.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

28 August 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year per annum inclusive

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

271-NPE-7338141

Job locations

Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust

Great Ormond Street

London

WC1N 3JH


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

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