Job summary
Are you a compassionate and motivated nurse looking to develop specialist skills? We are offering an exciting opportunity for aBand 6 Epilepsy Support Nurse to join the Neurology Team at Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
This developmental post is ideal for nurses with a passion for long-term condition management who are eager to expand their skills in a supportive and forward-thinking environment.
Working alongside the Lead Nurse in Neurology and wider multidisciplinary team, you will help deliver high-quality, person-centred care through nurse-led clinics, patient education, and collaborative working to improve outcomes for people living with epilepsy.
Join us and be part of a service that values compassion, professional growth, and innovation in specialist nursing.
Main duties of the job
Participate as an active member of the Neurology Nursing Team, taking accountability for your practice and role-modelling the highest standards of care.
Support in the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care for patients with epilepsy in line with Trust and departmental protocols.
Initiate appropriate emergency treatment when necessary and contribute to the coordination of staff to ensure timely and effective patient care.
Develop and deliver individualised epilepsy care plans, ensuring regular review and collaboration with the multidisciplinary team.
Support patients and carers in understanding epilepsy and its management, promoting self-management and informed decision-making.
Facilitate early recognition of clinical changes, implementing preventive measures to maintain health and reduce the risk of unplanned admissions.
Contribute to nurse-led clinics, patient reviews, and ongoing education of patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Work closely with the Neurology Lead Nurse and wider team to support audit, quality improvement, and service development initiatives.
About us
Bedfordshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides hospital services to a growing population of around 700,000 people living across Bedfordshire and the surrounding areas across two busy hospital sites in Bedford and Luton. Both hospital sites offer key services such as A&E, obstetrics-led maternity, and paediatrics. You will be joining a friendly, high-performing Trust committed to ensuring the health and wellbeing of staff. As one of the largest NHS Trusts in our region, you will have access to a programme of high-quality training and development to help you grow your career. The Trust continues to be committed to delivering the best patient care using the best clinical knowledge and technology.
Our Values
We not only recruit based on qualifications and experience--we recruit individuals who demonstrate the behaviours which underpin our Trust's core values. We achieve this by using values-based recruitment. We are dedicated to making our recruitment practices as inclusive as possible for everyone, we are committed to promoting equality and diversity, and creating a culture that values differences.
Please note that vacancies may close prior to the advertised closing date when a sufficient number of applications have been received. All new staff will be subject to a probationary period covering the first six months in post. Travel between hospital sites may be required. Please review all documents attached to ensure you familiarise yourself with all requirements of the job.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The purpose of this role is to support the provision of Epilepsy Specialist Services within the Trust. The postholder will provide direct expert nursing care and work collaboratively with healthcare professionals across primary, secondary, and tertiary care, voluntary organisations, and other agencies. Education, audit, and research are essential components of this role.
Expert Clinical Care
-
Participate as an active member of the Neurology Nursing Team, being accountable for your own practice and role-modelling the highest standards of care.
-
Support the development and delivery of an accessible, responsive, and user-friendly specialist nursing service for people with epilepsy throughout the course of their illness, from investigation to palliative care.
-
Contribute to the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care for epilepsy patients admitted to either hospital site in accordance with Trust and departmental protocols.
-
Initiate appropriate emergency treatment when required and support the coordination of staff to ensure a prompt and effective response.
-
Work within and monitor the teams adherence to medicines management policy, ensuring safe ordering, storage, and administration of medications.
-
Develop the knowledge of people with epilepsy, their carers, and healthcare professionals regarding epilepsy management and associated symptoms.
-
Develop, deliver, and evaluate care plans for patients, referring to members of the multidisciplinary team as necessary.
-
Advise the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and GP services on appropriate symptom management strategies.
-
Conduct annual reviews and complete epilepsy care plans for people with epilepsy.
-
Facilitate early recognition of problems and initiate preventive measures to maintain good health and reduce the need for emergency interventions and unplanned admissions.
Communication and Team Working
-
Use advanced communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding for all service users.
-
Communicate proactively with staff regarding the clinical condition and treatment plans of patients with epilepsy, ensuring accurate records are maintained.
-
Involve patients, relatives, and carers in treatment and care planning, promoting independence and self-management.
-
Liaise effectively with colleagues and external agencies, including the voluntary sector, to enhance service delivery.
Education, Training, and Service Development
-
Support and help improve existing epilepsy nurse-led clinics, providing patients and carers with information and support about epilepsy and its symptoms.
-
Provide clinical advice and supervision to staff, promoting evidence-based practice and risk reduction.
-
Participate in training and supervision of new staff, pre-registered nurses, and students.
-
Support the review of national policy and guidelines, ensuring local compliance and best practice in epilepsy care.
-
Identify personal and professional development needs and participate in appraisal, education, and training programmes.
-
Support the teaching and education of healthcare professionals within the Trust and across the BLMK region.
-
Establish links with other epilepsy nurse specialists and networks to share best practice.
Research, Audit, and Governance
-
Contribute to and participate in clinical and nursing audits.
-
Support research and quality improvement within the Neurology Department.
-
Assist in the preparation for internal and external audits or inspections.
-
Support the development and review of clinical guidelines and protocols in line with national recommendations.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The purpose of this role is to support the provision of Epilepsy Specialist Services within the Trust. The postholder will provide direct expert nursing care and work collaboratively with healthcare professionals across primary, secondary, and tertiary care, voluntary organisations, and other agencies. Education, audit, and research are essential components of this role.
Expert Clinical Care
-
Participate as an active member of the Neurology Nursing Team, being accountable for your own practice and role-modelling the highest standards of care.
-
Support the development and delivery of an accessible, responsive, and user-friendly specialist nursing service for people with epilepsy throughout the course of their illness, from investigation to palliative care.
-
Contribute to the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of care for epilepsy patients admitted to either hospital site in accordance with Trust and departmental protocols.
-
Initiate appropriate emergency treatment when required and support the coordination of staff to ensure a prompt and effective response.
-
Work within and monitor the teams adherence to medicines management policy, ensuring safe ordering, storage, and administration of medications.
-
Develop the knowledge of people with epilepsy, their carers, and healthcare professionals regarding epilepsy management and associated symptoms.
-
Develop, deliver, and evaluate care plans for patients, referring to members of the multidisciplinary team as necessary.
-
Advise the multidisciplinary team (MDT) and GP services on appropriate symptom management strategies.
-
Conduct annual reviews and complete epilepsy care plans for people with epilepsy.
-
Facilitate early recognition of problems and initiate preventive measures to maintain good health and reduce the need for emergency interventions and unplanned admissions.
Communication and Team Working
-
Use advanced communication skills to overcome barriers to understanding for all service users.
-
Communicate proactively with staff regarding the clinical condition and treatment plans of patients with epilepsy, ensuring accurate records are maintained.
-
Involve patients, relatives, and carers in treatment and care planning, promoting independence and self-management.
-
Liaise effectively with colleagues and external agencies, including the voluntary sector, to enhance service delivery.
Education, Training, and Service Development
-
Support and help improve existing epilepsy nurse-led clinics, providing patients and carers with information and support about epilepsy and its symptoms.
-
Provide clinical advice and supervision to staff, promoting evidence-based practice and risk reduction.
-
Participate in training and supervision of new staff, pre-registered nurses, and students.
-
Support the review of national policy and guidelines, ensuring local compliance and best practice in epilepsy care.
-
Identify personal and professional development needs and participate in appraisal, education, and training programmes.
-
Support the teaching and education of healthcare professionals within the Trust and across the BLMK region.
-
Establish links with other epilepsy nurse specialists and networks to share best practice.
Research, Audit, and Governance
-
Contribute to and participate in clinical and nursing audits.
-
Support research and quality improvement within the Neurology Department.
-
Assist in the preparation for internal and external audits or inspections.
-
Support the development and review of clinical guidelines and protocols in line with national recommendations.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current NMC registration
- Teaching and assessing qualification or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Masters degree or willingness to work towards
- Epilepsy management or other neuroscience course
Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant experience in acute or community nursing
Desirable
- Clinical Audit
- Service evaluation
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines in Epilepsy
- Knowledge of Epilepsy management and treatment
- IT literacy and knowledge of NHS IT systems
Desirable
- Quality improvement methodology
- Research aware
Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Leadership
- Committed to continuous professional development
Desirable
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Current NMC registration
- Teaching and assessing qualification or equivalent
- Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
- Masters degree or willingness to work towards
- Epilepsy management or other neuroscience course
Experience
Essential
- Significant relevant experience in acute or community nursing
Desirable
- Clinical Audit
- Service evaluation
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of NICE guidelines in Epilepsy
- Knowledge of Epilepsy management and treatment
- IT literacy and knowledge of NHS IT systems
Desirable
- Quality improvement methodology
- Research aware
Personal Skills
Essential
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Leadership
- Committed to continuous professional development
Desirable
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.
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.
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).
