Leeds Teaching Hospitals

CNS/ CTM for Learning Disabilities & Autism (XR07)

The closing date is 18 November 2025

Job summary

The Learning Disabilities and Autism Team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals continues to develop, to meet the needs of our patients. As Part of this, an exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced, compassionate and innovative registered Learning Disability Nurse to join our team at Leeds Teaching Hospitals as a Clinical Nurse Specialist/ Clinical Team Manager for Learning Disabilities and Autism.

The service works collaboratively over the organisation supporting both inpatients and outpatients with a goal of reducing health inequality and promoting accessible service delivery.

We are looking for an experienced Registered Learning Disability Nurse to join our team and take a lead in supporting the clinical aspects of the service. Inclusive of direct patient support, line management responsibility, support to our training programme and service improvement initiatives.

Please do get in touch to discuss this role further. Potential applicants can contact the Lead Professional for Learning Disabilities and Autism, Rachel Davies, on 0113 2066836

Expected Shortlisting Date

19/11/2025

Planned Interview Date

01/12/2025

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work closely with the Lead processional and all other professional groups throughout Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust , partner agencies across traditional inter-agency and professional boundaries to provide robust clinical leadership, expert specialist advice and support to a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary professionals dealing with patients with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism.

They will require excellent communication skills to develops close working relationships.

About us

The Learning Disabilities and Autism Team supports patients of all ages to access care and treatment. The team is proud to supports the Trust's strategic ambition to reduce health inequality for patients with Learning Disabilities and Autistic patients . The team is forward thinking and keen to develop current practice at a specialist level and within the wider workforce, working to improve the experience of this patient group

Leeds Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk' members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any questions.

Details

Date posted

30 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-CFN-0123

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Job description

Job responsibilities

As an experienced Registered Learning Disability Nurse, the post holder will:

Work with all professional groups throughout Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), all stakeholders and partner agencies across traditional inter-agency and professional boundaries to provide robust clinical leadership, expert specialist advice and support to a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary professionals dealing with patients with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism

Provide expert guidance and advice to professionals who are working with complex patients with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism.

Collaborate with the Lead Professional for Learning Disabilities and Autism to develop and implement a strategic approach to support these patient populations and implement current legislation and local strategy into practice within the Trust

Work with the Lead Professional to develop and review Leeds Teaching Hospitals Learning Disability and Autism Strategy. The post holder will contribute to internal LTHT and national audit programmes, taking a leadership role for aspects of the audit. They will be able to gather Trust wide data to support internal and external assurance reports.

Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of Learning Disability and Autism training as well as having a strategic overview of the Trusts mandatory training plan.

The post holder will review current LTHT documentation to ensure compliance with law, national guidance and CQC requirements.

Deputise for the Lead Professional for Learning Disabilities and Autism in their absence e.g. through attendance at meetings.

3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Chief Nurse

4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Education and Training

Work closely with the joint training lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism.

Work closely with the Trusts organisational learning team to facilitate the delivery of the specified targets to achieve the requirements set in the Trusts mandatory training policy.

Support the, development, provision and evaluation of a dedicated programme for the direct education of LTHT staff of all grades to ensure specific programmes of training are available within the Trust to enable mandatory requirements to be fulfilled to meet CQC and legal requirements.

Contribute to external educational events or conferences as appropriate.

Provide training, developing and tailoring packages on relevant issues to specific staff groups, as required.

.

.

Support the maintenance of detailed and accurate records regarding LTHT staff education and mandatory training and provide reports for senior managers when requested.

Participate in all mandatory training as appropriate.

Participate in the personal appraisal system within LTHT.

Use organisational and administrative skills to ensure projects and tasks are promptly and effectively carried out.

To collaborate with the LTHT workforce team to establish ways for LTHT to provide training to student RNLDs.

Leadership

Provide direct line management for junior colleagues in the Learning Disability and Autism Team.

Provide expert support to the clinical teams and work with Matrons, Head of Departments, Clinical Directors, Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses and Band 7 Clinical Educators to develop new roles and ways of working to ensure Reasonable Adjustments for people with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism are embedded into everyday practice across the Trust.

Motivate staff in the delivery of quality patient care encompassing reasonable adjustments, in line with the Equality Act.

Actively contribute to departmental and service improvements to achieve cross directorate strategy, adherence to the law and embed in current practice.

Participate in the personal appraisal system within LTHT.

Use organisational and administrative skills to ensure projects and tasks are promptly and effectively carried out.

Provide service cover within the Learning Disability and Autism Team to ensure consistent and appropriate service delivery in colleagues absence.

Deputise for Lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism as appropriate in their absence.

Provide an independent view on matters in the Trust that may require Whistle blowing and advise staff accordingly

Provide support and advice to the Get Me Better Champions, a group of volunteers with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism. Work with Organisational Learning and the Get Me Better Champions in their placements.

Clinical Case Management, Consultancy and Audit

Actively support professionals in the management of complex cases in the acute setting.

Support junior colleagues with complex case management and escalation of concerns.

Actively support professionals in the circumstances of court appearances and multi agency case conferences. Set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care in this specialist field across the whole Trust.

Clarify and measure the satisfaction of patients and public involvement with the provision of reasonable adjustments within LTHT by use of audits and involvement of the Patient Experience Team.

Audit current LD and Autism service provision on patients, relatives and staff.

Co-ordinate and compile the analysis of information from a variety of sources and make recommendations for the clinical area to the appropriate level of management for information and action.

Develop effective networks for sharing information expertise, and good practice, both within and outside the Trust.

Actively participate in the implementation of Trust wide Learning Disability and Autism Strategy

Develop and review guidelines and policy and work based learning packages for use by all staff at all levels.

Provide high quality care and act as a role model and resource for expert advice, support and guidance.

Ensure and promote the maintenance of a safe and secure working environment.

Ensure that clinical governance processes at department or Ward level encompass measures to ensure the quality of fundamental aspects of care.

Maintain accurate records using the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trusts documentation and other recognised documentation

To be trained and carry out LeDeR mortality reviews as required.

Provide a clinical lead and role model to other nursing staff by delivering high quality care as an expert practitioner

Support post incident analysis and relevant service improvement.

Responsibilities for patient and client care

Assesses, develops and implement specialist nursing care programmes and evaluate care and treatments using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills

Plan specialist nursing service provision organising and managing own workload.

Provides specialised advice contributing to the diagnosis and care of patients.

Job description

Job responsibilities

As an experienced Registered Learning Disability Nurse, the post holder will:

Work with all professional groups throughout Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), all stakeholders and partner agencies across traditional inter-agency and professional boundaries to provide robust clinical leadership, expert specialist advice and support to a comprehensive range of multi-disciplinary professionals dealing with patients with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism

Provide expert guidance and advice to professionals who are working with complex patients with a Learning Disability and/ or Autism.

Collaborate with the Lead Professional for Learning Disabilities and Autism to develop and implement a strategic approach to support these patient populations and implement current legislation and local strategy into practice within the Trust

Work with the Lead Professional to develop and review Leeds Teaching Hospitals Learning Disability and Autism Strategy. The post holder will contribute to internal LTHT and national audit programmes, taking a leadership role for aspects of the audit. They will be able to gather Trust wide data to support internal and external assurance reports.

Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of programmes of Learning Disability and Autism training as well as having a strategic overview of the Trusts mandatory training plan.

The post holder will review current LTHT documentation to ensure compliance with law, national guidance and CQC requirements.

Deputise for the Lead Professional for Learning Disabilities and Autism in their absence e.g. through attendance at meetings.

3. ORGANISATIONAL CHART

Chief Nurse

4. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Education and Training

Work closely with the joint training lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism.

Work closely with the Trusts organisational learning team to facilitate the delivery of the specified targets to achieve the requirements set in the Trusts mandatory training policy.

Support the, development, provision and evaluation of a dedicated programme for the direct education of LTHT staff of all grades to ensure specific programmes of training are available within the Trust to enable mandatory requirements to be fulfilled to meet CQC and legal requirements.

Contribute to external educational events or conferences as appropriate.

Provide training, developing and tailoring packages on relevant issues to specific staff groups, as required.

.

.

Support the maintenance of detailed and accurate records regarding LTHT staff education and mandatory training and provide reports for senior managers when requested.

Participate in all mandatory training as appropriate.

Participate in the personal appraisal system within LTHT.

Use organisational and administrative skills to ensure projects and tasks are promptly and effectively carried out.

To collaborate with the LTHT workforce team to establish ways for LTHT to provide training to student RNLDs.

Leadership

Provide direct line management for junior colleagues in the Learning Disability and Autism Team.

Provide expert support to the clinical teams and work with Matrons, Head of Departments, Clinical Directors, Senior Sisters/Charge Nurses and Band 7 Clinical Educators to develop new roles and ways of working to ensure Reasonable Adjustments for people with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism are embedded into everyday practice across the Trust.

Motivate staff in the delivery of quality patient care encompassing reasonable adjustments, in line with the Equality Act.

Actively contribute to departmental and service improvements to achieve cross directorate strategy, adherence to the law and embed in current practice.

Participate in the personal appraisal system within LTHT.

Use organisational and administrative skills to ensure projects and tasks are promptly and effectively carried out.

Provide service cover within the Learning Disability and Autism Team to ensure consistent and appropriate service delivery in colleagues absence.

Deputise for Lead for Learning Disabilities and Autism as appropriate in their absence.

Provide an independent view on matters in the Trust that may require Whistle blowing and advise staff accordingly

Provide support and advice to the Get Me Better Champions, a group of volunteers with Learning Disabilities and/ or Autism. Work with Organisational Learning and the Get Me Better Champions in their placements.

Clinical Case Management, Consultancy and Audit

Actively support professionals in the management of complex cases in the acute setting.

Support junior colleagues with complex case management and escalation of concerns.

Actively support professionals in the circumstances of court appearances and multi agency case conferences. Set, monitor and seek to continuously improve standards and the quality of patient care in this specialist field across the whole Trust.

Clarify and measure the satisfaction of patients and public involvement with the provision of reasonable adjustments within LTHT by use of audits and involvement of the Patient Experience Team.

Audit current LD and Autism service provision on patients, relatives and staff.

Co-ordinate and compile the analysis of information from a variety of sources and make recommendations for the clinical area to the appropriate level of management for information and action.

Develop effective networks for sharing information expertise, and good practice, both within and outside the Trust.

Actively participate in the implementation of Trust wide Learning Disability and Autism Strategy

Develop and review guidelines and policy and work based learning packages for use by all staff at all levels.

Provide high quality care and act as a role model and resource for expert advice, support and guidance.

Ensure and promote the maintenance of a safe and secure working environment.

Ensure that clinical governance processes at department or Ward level encompass measures to ensure the quality of fundamental aspects of care.

Maintain accurate records using the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trusts documentation and other recognised documentation

To be trained and carry out LeDeR mortality reviews as required.

Provide a clinical lead and role model to other nursing staff by delivering high quality care as an expert practitioner

Support post incident analysis and relevant service improvement.

Responsibilities for patient and client care

Assesses, develops and implement specialist nursing care programmes and evaluate care and treatments using advanced clinical knowledge and clinical skills

Plan specialist nursing service provision organising and managing own workload.

Provides specialised advice contributing to the diagnosis and care of patients.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of developing and contribution to audit processes and developing and implementing action plans.
  • Significant experience of working in partnership with other external agencies to develop, implement and evaluate policies and strategies, including managing change and service development.
  • Significant experience working within MCA, MHA frameworks and supporting decision making in a patients best interests.
  • Experience as Educator/Trainer or similar role
  • Participate in own and others appraisals
  • Experience of standard setting in organisations.
  • Experience of managing investigations, including root cause analysis.
  • Experience working with people with Learning Disabilities and autism in a variety of settings, including people in crisis.
  • Experience working with both adults and children (desirable).
  • In depth knowledge and understanding of current issues in health and social care and the relevance to the acute setting.
  • In depth knowledge of current legislation and evidence base to inform clinical decision making
  • Extensive understanding of the local and national safeguarding at risk adults agenda and how to implement and embed into local practise.
  • In depth understanding of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) role & responsibilities regarding safeguarding adult matters and ability to produce evidence to support this.
  • Extensive knowledge of clinical and quality governance and risk management

Desirable

  • Experience in investigating and responding to complaints.
  • Experience of caring for people with a learning disability and or autism within the acute setting

Skills & behaviours

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills.
  • Highly motivated.
  • Ability to work alone, in a team and under pressure.
  • Ability to delegate and prioritise
  • Flexible and adaptive to changing circumstances
  • Honesty and integrity.
  • Highly developed, effective teaching and assessment skills
  • Highly developed, effective organisational & time management skills.
  • Ability to manage conflict effectively.
  • Uses initiative to resolve issues within own control

Desirable

  • Excellent Teaching skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal skills
  • Competent IT skills.
  • Using methods to embed theory into practise in an acute setting
  • Ability to organise and prioritise own workload effectively
  • Audit and information gathering skills
  • Understanding of skills and knowledge required to develop team members.

Qualifications

Essential

  • NMC Registered RNLD
  • Post registration qualification in speciality field or relevant experience
  • Post registration study at Masters level in specialist field or equivalent experience.
  • Masters Degree or postgraduate study
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Clinical Supervision Training
  • LeDeR Reviewer Training
  • Makaton training
  • Total Communication Training
  • Non-medical prescriber training
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of developing and contribution to audit processes and developing and implementing action plans.
  • Significant experience of working in partnership with other external agencies to develop, implement and evaluate policies and strategies, including managing change and service development.
  • Significant experience working within MCA, MHA frameworks and supporting decision making in a patients best interests.
  • Experience as Educator/Trainer or similar role
  • Participate in own and others appraisals
  • Experience of standard setting in organisations.
  • Experience of managing investigations, including root cause analysis.
  • Experience working with people with Learning Disabilities and autism in a variety of settings, including people in crisis.
  • Experience working with both adults and children (desirable).
  • In depth knowledge and understanding of current issues in health and social care and the relevance to the acute setting.
  • In depth knowledge of current legislation and evidence base to inform clinical decision making
  • Extensive understanding of the local and national safeguarding at risk adults agenda and how to implement and embed into local practise.
  • In depth understanding of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) role & responsibilities regarding safeguarding adult matters and ability to produce evidence to support this.
  • Extensive knowledge of clinical and quality governance and risk management

Desirable

  • Experience in investigating and responding to complaints.
  • Experience of caring for people with a learning disability and or autism within the acute setting

Skills & behaviours

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Highly developed negotiation and influencing skills.
  • Highly motivated.
  • Ability to work alone, in a team and under pressure.
  • Ability to delegate and prioritise
  • Flexible and adaptive to changing circumstances
  • Honesty and integrity.
  • Highly developed, effective teaching and assessment skills
  • Highly developed, effective organisational & time management skills.
  • Ability to manage conflict effectively.
  • Uses initiative to resolve issues within own control

Desirable

  • Excellent Teaching skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal skills
  • Competent IT skills.
  • Using methods to embed theory into practise in an acute setting
  • Ability to organise and prioritise own workload effectively
  • Audit and information gathering skills
  • Understanding of skills and knowledge required to develop team members.

Qualifications

Essential

  • NMC Registered RNLD
  • Post registration qualification in speciality field or relevant experience
  • Post registration study at Masters level in specialist field or equivalent experience.
  • Masters Degree or postgraduate study
  • Evidence of continued professional development

Desirable

  • Clinical Supervision Training
  • LeDeR Reviewer Training
  • Makaton training
  • Total Communication Training
  • Non-medical prescriber training

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

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Learning Disabilities and autism

Rachel Davies

rachel.davies3@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

30 October 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

C9298-CFN-0123

Job locations

St. James's University Hospital

Beckett Street

Leeds

LS9 7TF


Supporting documents

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