Job summary
Acute Learning Disabilities and Neurodivergent Liaison Nurse
Department Safeguarding
Band 6 £38,682 - £46,580 per annum
Hours: 37.5 per week, all MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you an experienced and compassionate Registered Nurse eager to make a meaningful impact in the lives of adults with learning disabilities in an acute healthcare setting.
Milton Keynes University Hospital are seeking a dynamic nurse to join our team as Acute Learning Disabilities and Neurodivergent Liaison Nurse . In this role, you will play a vital role in improving care and reducing inequalities in adults with learning disabilities in our hospital.
The successful applicant will provide expert advice to acute staff, advocate for patients with learning disabilities and ensure reasonable adjustments are identified and implemented under the Equality Act 2010. This is a great opportunity for a motivated nurse to further develop their specialist skills, contribute to wider cultural change in an acute setting as well as influencing patient outcomes.
For further information/informal visits please contact Patricia Flynn, Head of Clinical Quality, Patricia.Flynn@mkuh.nhs.uk
Previous applicants need not apply
Interview w/c 16 January 2026
Main duties of the job
Learning disability and neurodivergent nurses within acute hospitals help address the holistic needs of people with learning disabilities who need to be treated for physical health problems or symptoms.
Such services improve quality of care, dignity, quality of life and health outcomes for people with learning disabilities, as well as improving the understanding and skills of other professionals in the acute setting. This is a vital service for some of the most vulnerable people in society.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Service Management
The postholder will.
Provide a specialist nursing assessment and treatment for people with a learning disability or is neurodivergent, in a variety of settings, to promote independence using a person-centred approach
Provide nursing specialist support to a defined caseload of service users. This defined caseload will include service users with a range of ability levels, challenges and needs, some of whom will have multiple health and/social care needs
Education training
To participate in the sharing of knowledge with colleagues.
To participate in in-service training programmes as required.
Professional responsibilities
To ensure that he/she received written and oral reports on the patients condition and treatment within a given duty span.
To ensure that patients and their relatives needs are met in a courteous, helpful and compassionate way.
Core duties
The primary roles include supporting and improve the quality of care for those with learning disabilities and neurodivergence within a general acute hospital environment, for individuals over the age over 18.
Main outcomes:
Reduced anxiety for people with LD and neurodivergence in the acute hospital setting
Improved healthcare experience for people with LD and neurodivergence.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Service Management
The postholder will.
Provide a specialist nursing assessment and treatment for people with a learning disability or is neurodivergent, in a variety of settings, to promote independence using a person-centred approach
Provide nursing specialist support to a defined caseload of service users. This defined caseload will include service users with a range of ability levels, challenges and needs, some of whom will have multiple health and/social care needs
Education training
To participate in the sharing of knowledge with colleagues.
To participate in in-service training programmes as required.
Professional responsibilities
To ensure that he/she received written and oral reports on the patients condition and treatment within a given duty span.
To ensure that patients and their relatives needs are met in a courteous, helpful and compassionate way.
Core duties
The primary roles include supporting and improve the quality of care for those with learning disabilities and neurodivergence within a general acute hospital environment, for individuals over the age over 18.
Main outcomes:
Reduced anxiety for people with LD and neurodivergence in the acute hospital setting
Improved healthcare experience for people with LD and neurodivergence.
Please refer to the attached Job Description for further details.
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Registered nurse Adult / Child / Mental Health / Learning Disability
- First degree or equivalent
- Evidence of professional development with a willingness to progress to masters degree
Desirable
- Teaching Qualification
- Management or Leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience as a Band 5 or Band 6 nurse with experience and interest in the field of learning disabilities
- Experience of multi-professional collaboration, partnership working with other statutory and voluntary agencies
- Knowledge and understanding of learning disabilities and experience of using creative and sophisticated interventions with people in distress
Desirable
- Specialist Education and training in Learning Disability service provision
- Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers
Skills
Essential
- Ability to plan, prioritise and document activity
- Computer literate
- Ability to develop strong working relationships and to motivate staff and others
- Able to produce clear and concise documentation and adhere to Trust policies
- Self-motivated and able to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to cope with tight deadlines and prioritise workload
- Assist others in the team achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care
- Ability to demonstrate presentation skills
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of own professional development
- Evidence of management and leadership of staff teams
- Experience of managing and developing colleagues
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to use a wide range of communication methods / tools to support a person's understanding and promote effective communication
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications and knowledge
Essential
- Registered nurse Adult / Child / Mental Health / Learning Disability
- First degree or equivalent
- Evidence of professional development with a willingness to progress to masters degree
Desirable
- Teaching Qualification
- Management or Leadership qualification
Experience
Essential
- Previous experience as a Band 5 or Band 6 nurse with experience and interest in the field of learning disabilities
- Experience of multi-professional collaboration, partnership working with other statutory and voluntary agencies
- Knowledge and understanding of learning disabilities and experience of using creative and sophisticated interventions with people in distress
Desirable
- Specialist Education and training in Learning Disability service provision
- Knowledge and understanding of key NHS issues including national and local policy drivers
Skills
Essential
- Ability to plan, prioritise and document activity
- Computer literate
- Ability to develop strong working relationships and to motivate staff and others
- Able to produce clear and concise documentation and adhere to Trust policies
- Self-motivated and able to work independently and as part of a team
- Ability to cope with tight deadlines and prioritise workload
- Assist others in the team achieve their objectives and deliver safe, effective care
- Ability to demonstrate presentation skills
Personal and people development
Essential
- Evidence of own professional development
- Evidence of management and leadership of staff teams
- Experience of managing and developing colleagues
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
- Ability to use a wide range of communication methods / tools to support a person's understanding and promote effective communication
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
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.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
