East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust

Trainee Clinical Specialist in Motor Neuron Disease Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 09 February 2026

Job summary

Do you remember the ice bucket challenge?

Have you a special interest in Motor Neurone Disease ( MND )

This is an exciting opportunity to join the MND team in East Kent.

We are looking for a dynamic, enthusiastic, motivated individual who has a special interest in MND and would like to continue to develop the service with the existing team.

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a trainee Band 6 Clinical Specialist Nurseworking towards Band 7 to join our established Motor Neuron Diseaseteam in East Kent, the Neurology clinical leadership team on the wards, clinicsand community, to deliver excellent patient care and be part of a dynamic,flexible, supportive and forward-thinking Neurology workforce

This role includes the ongoing development of a seamless specialist service ensuring that patients receive the highest standard of clinical care and have access to the full resources of themulti-disciplinary team from diagnosis to end of life.

Main duties of the job

The post-holder will be a key worker/co-ordinator working collaboratively across teams and specialities trust wide additionally, with community colleagues and those external to the NHS. The post-holder will act as an autonomous nurse specialist to continue to develop and deliver the MND service with the existing team. This will include telephone, face to face and inpatient assessments and reviews across East Kent at various venues.

The post holder will work at an enhanced level of practice utilising highly developed post graduate experience, knowledge and skills in Neurology specialty. They will manage discrete aspects of a patient's care in collaboration with the multidisciplinary team, within their current level of practice and patient group, aligned to the four pillars of practice and aligned to Trust policy, 'Enhanced, Advanced and Consultant Level Practice- Nurses, Midwives and Allied Health Professionals (AHPs).'

The postholder will contribute to improve the quality of care to patients.

The post will be characterised by the four pillars of practice:

o Clinical Practice

o Leadership

o Facilitating Learning

o Evidence, Research and Development

The trainee clinical Nurse specialist will provide specialist advice using clinical reasoning and accountable decision-making as a practitioner with enhanced practice skills and knowledge which promotes evidence- based clinical practice after completing formal six month competencies and MNDA training program

About us

We are one of the largest hospital trusts in England, with five hospitals 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.

We offer a full package of benefits, including a car lease scheme; on-site childcare; generous annual leave in line with NHS terms and conditions; high street and public transport discounts; a 24/7 staff support service - and the little things that make life easier, like on-site Amazon lockers and fresh fruit and veg stalls.

Please be aware 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 hold 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 eligible Band 5 roles and above.

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

Depending on experience Trainee Band 6 moving to Band 7

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-1556KCH

Job locations

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Ethelbert Road

Canterbury

CT1 3NG


Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Please scroll down to access the full Job Description and Person Specification located in 'supporting documents'.

Person Specification

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility within the needs of the service
  • Commitment to equity and diversity
  • Role models Trust values
  • Demonstration of self motivation, adaptability and positivity
  • Car driver/full driving licence

Governance

Essential

  • Demonstrate an understanding and involvement in clinical governance and service development
  • Understanding and use of NICE guidelines and national policies in practice
  • Demonstrate use of quality improvement tools
  • Experience of quality improvement projects and writing reports to support

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing and evaluating quality service improvements

Knowledge skills and experience

Essential

  • Significant post graduate healthcare experience to a band 7 level
  • Demonstrable experience in Neurology and specifically MND experience
  • Experience of working with patients to resolve concerns and conflict
  • Evidence of effective networking in healthcare
  • Evidence of supervision and delivering training

Desirable

  • Experience of presentation skills (staff and public)
  • Experience of assessing patients

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current NMC registrations
  • Formal teaching and mentoring qualification
  • Evidence of Continual professional development with in Neurology and MND
  • Degree relevant to professional registration and area of clinical practice.

Desirable

  • Masters level qualifications
  • NHS leadership leadership skills

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Ability to work within a team with shared visions
  • Evidence of writing objectives and shared visions
  • Demonstration of self awareness and critical reflection
  • Demonstration of problem solving skills and analytical skills individually and within team,
Person Specification

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility within the needs of the service
  • Commitment to equity and diversity
  • Role models Trust values
  • Demonstration of self motivation, adaptability and positivity
  • Car driver/full driving licence

Governance

Essential

  • Demonstrate an understanding and involvement in clinical governance and service development
  • Understanding and use of NICE guidelines and national policies in practice
  • Demonstrate use of quality improvement tools
  • Experience of quality improvement projects and writing reports to support

Desirable

  • Experience of implementing and evaluating quality service improvements

Knowledge skills and experience

Essential

  • Significant post graduate healthcare experience to a band 7 level
  • Demonstrable experience in Neurology and specifically MND experience
  • Experience of working with patients to resolve concerns and conflict
  • Evidence of effective networking in healthcare
  • Evidence of supervision and delivering training

Desirable

  • Experience of presentation skills (staff and public)
  • Experience of assessing patients

Qualifications

Essential

  • Current NMC registrations
  • Formal teaching and mentoring qualification
  • Evidence of Continual professional development with in Neurology and MND
  • Degree relevant to professional registration and area of clinical practice.

Desirable

  • Masters level qualifications
  • NHS leadership leadership skills

Personal attributes

Essential

  • Ability to work within a team with shared visions
  • Evidence of writing objectives and shared visions
  • Demonstration of self awareness and critical reflection
  • Demonstration of problem solving skills and analytical skills individually and within team,

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

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Ethelbert Road

Canterbury

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

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Ethelbert Road

Canterbury

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:

Clinical Lead for Neuroscience

Nikki Guck

nicola.guck@nhs.net

01227868690

Details

Date posted

03 February 2026

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

Depending on experience Trainee Band 6 moving to Band 7

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Flexible working

Reference number

344-1556KCH

Job locations

Kent and Canterbury Hospital

Ethelbert Road

Canterbury

CT1 3NG


Supporting documents

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