Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Epilepsy Specialist Nurse

The closing date is 17 July 2025

Job summary

Would you like to come and work within an innovative and evolving Neurology clinical nurse specialist team within the Calderdale and Huddersfield Trust?

This is a newly created post to support our existing Specialist nurses in our Epilepsy service.

You will be supported by another two Epilepsy specialist nurse, and a wider team of Nurses and AHPs in our Neurology team such as MS, Parkinsons and MND. You will also have support from our medical teams.

The post holder will have interactions with external support agencies such as the Epilepsy Society.

The post holder will facilitate clinical effectiveness, best practice and service development, contributing to the continuity of care of adults in the community and secondary care.

Main duties of the job

To manage a caseload of patients and ensure full holistic care alongsidemedical colleagues.

To be initial point of contact for our Epilepsy patients ensuring safe aneffective care is established and reviewed as needed.

Ideally you will have a neurology background, however inter transferable skills will be considered if your enthusiasm for learning is one of your strengths.

About us

We employ more than 6,500 staff who deliver compassionate care from our two main hospitals, Calderdale Royal Hospital and Huddersfield Royal Infirmary as well as in community sites, health centres and in patients' homes. We also are incredibly proud to have almost 150 volunteers here at CHFT.

We provide a range of services including urgent and emergency care; medical; surgical; maternity; gynaecology; critical care; children's and young people's services; end of life care and outpatient and diagnostic imaging services.

We provide community health services, including sexual health services in Calderdale from Calderdale Royal and local health centres. These include Todmorden Health Centre and Broad Street Plaza.

We continue to modernise and invest in our health services to build on our strong reputation. Foundation trusts are public leaders in improving quality in health services. They are part of the NHS - yet decisions about what they do and how they do it are driven by independent boards. Boards listen to their Council of Governors and respond to the needs of their members - patients, staff and the local community.

Foundation trusts provide what the health service wants, yet are also free to invest quickly in the changes to the local community needs, in striving to be the best, and in putting their patients first.

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2437

Job locations

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW


Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Demonstrate advanced empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with patients and carers through the patient pathway.
  • Maximise the involvement of patients, or when appropriate their carers, families, or advocates, in all relevant decisions about their diagnosis, care and treatment from the point of diagnosis through to discharge.
  • Be responsible for the development of individualised care plans, regularly reviewing and evaluating them with the patients and Heath Care Team.
  • Demonstrate specialist knowledge throughout your chosen area of expertise, and skills through clinical practice. Care delivery should be evidence based and reflect national standards and guidelines.
  • Partake in the Non-medical Prescribing Qualification (V300) after successful probationary period.
  • Develop enhanced and extended skills by attendance at study days and conferences and work towards a post graduate qualification.
  • In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, ensure that information provided to health professionals and patients are representative of research-based recommendations and are within the National Standards Frameworks where appropriate.
  • Contribute to and participate in the Trusts Education Strategy.
  • Attend mandatory lectures according to Trust policies training.
  • Establish and maintain a regional network of contacts.
  • Actively demonstrates commitment to clinical supervision.
  • Be involved in the development of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines necessary to support the development of the service.
  • Directly influence decisions regarding service delivery through the participation in meetings.
  • Be involved in the development and monitoring of quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of clinical trials relevant to the specialist area.
  • Contribute to appropriate research studies related to the treatment and care of patients.
  • To manage a caseload of patients with a diagnosis, providing highly expert knowledge and advice, utilising a range of interventions, and managing the ongoing care of the patient; whilst balancing the scope and range of clinical intervention with other roles and responsibilities of the post.
  • To minimise the effect of diagnosis on patients lives by providing crisis intervention, stabilising conditions, and preventing unnecessary Emergency Department attendances and hospital admissions by empowering the patient to self-manage and decrease length of ward stay.
  • Using specialist knowledge and skills to assess, implement, evaluate, and develop an ongoing plan of care in collaboration with patients, their families and carers and involved members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team in line with NICE guidelines.
  • Provide sensitive information on diagnosis, treatment, concordance, whilst also offering emotional support at diagnosis, bereavement and other times of need.
  • To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and support other staff to do likewise.
  • To provide patients and carers with verbal and written education on their disorder and will also provide support and counselling

Job description

Job responsibilities

  • Demonstrate advanced empathetic interpersonal and communication skills in dealing with patients and carers through the patient pathway.
  • Maximise the involvement of patients, or when appropriate their carers, families, or advocates, in all relevant decisions about their diagnosis, care and treatment from the point of diagnosis through to discharge.
  • Be responsible for the development of individualised care plans, regularly reviewing and evaluating them with the patients and Heath Care Team.
  • Demonstrate specialist knowledge throughout your chosen area of expertise, and skills through clinical practice. Care delivery should be evidence based and reflect national standards and guidelines.
  • Partake in the Non-medical Prescribing Qualification (V300) after successful probationary period.
  • Develop enhanced and extended skills by attendance at study days and conferences and work towards a post graduate qualification.
  • In conjunction with the multidisciplinary team, ensure that information provided to health professionals and patients are representative of research-based recommendations and are within the National Standards Frameworks where appropriate.
  • Contribute to and participate in the Trusts Education Strategy.
  • Attend mandatory lectures according to Trust policies training.
  • Establish and maintain a regional network of contacts.
  • Actively demonstrates commitment to clinical supervision.
  • Be involved in the development of policies, protocols and clinical guidelines necessary to support the development of the service.
  • Directly influence decisions regarding service delivery through the participation in meetings.
  • Be involved in the development and monitoring of quality initiatives in line with local and national requirements or guidelines.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of clinical trials relevant to the specialist area.
  • Contribute to appropriate research studies related to the treatment and care of patients.
  • To manage a caseload of patients with a diagnosis, providing highly expert knowledge and advice, utilising a range of interventions, and managing the ongoing care of the patient; whilst balancing the scope and range of clinical intervention with other roles and responsibilities of the post.
  • To minimise the effect of diagnosis on patients lives by providing crisis intervention, stabilising conditions, and preventing unnecessary Emergency Department attendances and hospital admissions by empowering the patient to self-manage and decrease length of ward stay.
  • Using specialist knowledge and skills to assess, implement, evaluate, and develop an ongoing plan of care in collaboration with patients, their families and carers and involved members of the Multi-Disciplinary Team in line with NICE guidelines.
  • Provide sensitive information on diagnosis, treatment, concordance, whilst also offering emotional support at diagnosis, bereavement and other times of need.
  • To assess capacity, gain valid informed consent and have the ability to work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment, and support other staff to do likewise.
  • To provide patients and carers with verbal and written education on their disorder and will also provide support and counselling

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential

  • First Level Nurse

Desirable

  • Independent non-medical prescriber or willing to work towards
  • Degree in specialty (where available) or willing to work towards
  • Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice, or equivalent mentorship course
  • CBT or counselling qualification

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience.
  • Proven experience in relevant field.
  • Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality patient care.
  • Evidence of CPD.
  • Proficient use of IT systems
  • Knowledge of commonly used medication and treatments
  • Clinical skills to detect treatment side effects and act appropriately
  • Demonstrate understanding of CNS role
  • Evidence of implementing research based practice

Desirable

  • Experience of working with patients with mental health issues and learning disabilities.
  • Presentation Skills
  • Knowledge/understanding of clinical audit and governance
  • Knowledge and ability to develop specialism related educational programmes

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential

  • Excellent Interpersonal Skills
  • Ability to work well within a team and autonomously
  • Management of clinical caseloads
  • Excellent time management/prioritising workload/delivering on deadlines
  • Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries
  • Face to Face contact with patients
  • Confident in providing bad news sensitively to patients/families
  • Able to seek support for patients/families when given bad news
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS / TRAINING

Essential

  • First Level Nurse

Desirable

  • Independent non-medical prescriber or willing to work towards
  • Degree in specialty (where available) or willing to work towards
  • Teaching and Assessing in Clinical Practice, or equivalent mentorship course
  • CBT or counselling qualification

KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE

Essential

  • Significant post registration experience.
  • Proven experience in relevant field.
  • Able to demonstrate commitment to high quality patient care.
  • Evidence of CPD.
  • Proficient use of IT systems
  • Knowledge of commonly used medication and treatments
  • Clinical skills to detect treatment side effects and act appropriately
  • Demonstrate understanding of CNS role
  • Evidence of implementing research based practice

Desirable

  • Experience of working with patients with mental health issues and learning disabilities.
  • Presentation Skills
  • Knowledge/understanding of clinical audit and governance
  • Knowledge and ability to develop specialism related educational programmes

COMMUNICATION AND RELATIONSHIPS (INCLUDING MANAGEMENT RESPONSIBILITIES)

Essential

  • Excellent Interpersonal Skills
  • Ability to work well within a team and autonomously
  • Management of clinical caseloads
  • Excellent time management/prioritising workload/delivering on deadlines
  • Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries
  • Face to Face contact with patients
  • Confident in providing bad news sensitively to patients/families
  • Able to seek support for patients/families when given bad news

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

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW


Employer's website

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


Employer details

Employer name

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW


Employer's website

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


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Matron

Sarah Williams

sarah.williams2@cht.nhs.uk

Details

Date posted

10 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 6

Salary

£38,682 to £46,580 a year per annum, pro rata

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

372-MED2437

Job locations

Calderdale Royal Hospital

Salterhebble

Halifax

HX3 0PW


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)