East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Learning Disability & Autism Specialist Practitioner

The closing date is 30 September 2025

Job summary

To take a lead role for Learning Disability and Autism within the Trust. The post holder will empower patients to be heard and support informed consent, by using the Learning disability register and communication tools. To provide a specialist advisory service relevant to The Care Act 2014, to all staff disciplines within the Trust.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will act as a learning disability and Autism specialist and professional lead, who will demonstrate expertise, specialist knowledge, education and provide support to health care professionals and patients and liaise with agencies associated with the Trust. Act as a resource to empower patients, carers and staff to access appropriate services and support a reduced length of stay.

The post holder will be responsible for contributing to the on-going development of clinical practice, research and standards of care, including development of policies, protocols and guidelines, in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues in relation to direct support to people with complex needs. To ensure the safety and well-being of services users, and always working in a manner that promotes dignity and human rights through the adoption of person centred care principles.

Promote personalised and safe care as part of a prevention strategy. Use learning to improve care. Empower patients to be heard and support informed consent, supporting the implementation of the Autism Act 2009, Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019, Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards 2007 and Equality Act 2010 along with implementing learning from local and national agenda's including LeDeR, safeguarding adult reviews etc. across the Trust with Lead Nurses, Senior Matrons and Matrons.

About us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with fivehospitals and community clinics serving a local population of around 800,000 people. Our vision is 'great healthcare from great people'. Everything we do is guided by our values: 'People feel cared for, safe, respected and confident that we are making a difference'. We have a new way of working at East Kent Hospitals, called 'We care'. It's about empowering frontline staff to lead improvements day-to-day. We're looking for compassionate people to be part of our improvement journey for the patients, families and carers we care for every day.

Please note that if you require a Certificate of Sponsorship to work in the UK you must declare this on your application form, even if you currently have a certificate of sponsorship or a work permit for another role and are already working in the country. Please note we are only able to sponsor candidates on a Skilled Worker Visa applying for roles Band 5 and above.

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata if applicable

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-0596COR

Job locations

Trust Wide

Trust Wide

CT1 3NG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.

If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in Documents to download.

If you have further queries please dont hesitate to contact the line manager using the contact details below.

Person Specification

Qualification & Training

Essential

  • Registered nurse, social worker or allied health professional with current registration.
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Demonstrates patient focused approach

Desirable

  • Recent clinical experience in an acute Trust
  • Teaching qualification/experience
  • Willingness to undertake further training
  • Experience of Multiagency working within a community, primary care or commissioning setting

Clinical Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 5 years post registration experience within Learning Disability or Autism with 2 years in a leadership role.
  • Expert knowledge relevant to speciality.
  • Strong knowledge of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 and its application within an Acute setting.
  • Experience of managing clinical incidents
  • Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and autism and of developing information designed to meet their needs

Desirable

  • Experience of audit, benchmarking and/or research
  • Knowledge of Adult Safeguarding procedures

Personal / Professional Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style as required.
  • Strong documentation skills
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively with service users, their families, carers and with multi agency partners

Governance

Essential

  • NMC/HCPC Code of Conduct
Person Specification

Qualification & Training

Essential

  • Registered nurse, social worker or allied health professional with current registration.
  • Evidence of continuous professional development
  • Demonstrates patient focused approach

Desirable

  • Recent clinical experience in an acute Trust
  • Teaching qualification/experience
  • Willingness to undertake further training
  • Experience of Multiagency working within a community, primary care or commissioning setting

Clinical Skills & Experience

Essential

  • Minimum 5 years post registration experience within Learning Disability or Autism with 2 years in a leadership role.
  • Expert knowledge relevant to speciality.
  • Strong knowledge of the Mental Capacity (Amendment) Act 2019 and its application within an Acute setting.
  • Experience of managing clinical incidents
  • Experience of working with people with learning disabilities and autism and of developing information designed to meet their needs

Desirable

  • Experience of audit, benchmarking and/or research
  • Knowledge of Adult Safeguarding procedures

Personal / Professional Attributes

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills with the ability to adapt communication style as required.
  • Strong documentation skills
  • Ability to remain calm under pressure
  • Ability to work flexibly and collaboratively with service users, their families, carers and with multi agency partners

Governance

Essential

  • NMC/HCPC Code of Conduct

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

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Wide

Trust Wide

CT1 3NG


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Trust Wide

Trust Wide

CT1 3NG


Employer's website

https://www.ekhuft.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Associate Director for Mental Health

Mark Anderson

mark.anderson7@nhs.net

Details

Date posted

16 September 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata if applicable

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-0596COR

Job locations

Trust Wide

Trust Wide

CT1 3NG


Supporting documents

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