Job summary
PALMS is recruiting! We want to welcome a Senior Community Nurse (RNLD/RNMH) to be part of our vibrant multidisciplinary team which includes Clinical Psychologists, Positive Behaviour Analysts, Systemic Therapists, Learning Disability Nurses, Psychiatrists, Mental Health Practitioners and Outreach Workers.If you are a motivated, forward thinking clinician and leader who can work flexibly and is committed to supporting CYP and their families across Hertfordshire and the full PALMS' team please read on!
The PALMS team is well regarded, friendly, cohesive and proactive with excellent outcomes. We value feedback and empower all team members to contribute to the continuous development of the service and their own professional development and welcome innovation and change.
Main duties of the job
The ideal candidate will be:
o Dedicated to supporting CYP with an intellectual disability and/or who are autistic and their families.
o Passionate about and have a desire to contribute to change in a vibrant NHS team
o Collaborative in their approach to work with families, networks, and other services
o Able to work both in a team environment and autonomously
o Able to maintain a high degree of professionalism when working in settings where there is a highly emotive atmosphere.
o Flexible in their approach and have resilience under pressure
o Have professional registration for their speciality
About us
PALMS works across Hertfordshire providing a specialist multi-disciplinary approach. PALMS is one of the Children and Young People's Mental Health Services (CYPMHS) which offers individually tailored support for children and young people (CYP), aged 0-18 who have an intellectual disability and/or who are autistic, helping families to manage behaviours of concern, toileting, feeding and sleeping concerns which have not benefitted from community interventions and/or to support mental health needs which cannot be met with reasonable adjustment by other CYPMH services.
Interventions include intervention workshops, intervention groups, individual therapy, parent as therapist sessions, and a family clinic. PALMS aims to keep children and young people with their families thereby improving outcomes for all family members. PALMS predominantly applies narrative, systemic, positive behaviour, and bio-psycho social models adhering to the STOMP / STAMP and Transforming Care Agendas.
You can apply to Access to Work to get money for communication support at a job interview - please use this link for more information: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-communication-support-at-a-job-interview-if-you-have-a-disability-or-health-condition-access-to-work
You need to apply before the interview takes place.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PALMS principally deliver a flexible service according to service needs and personal circumstances, in a planned way. For example, for a full-time worker this equates to flexibly working 37.5 across the working week. PALMS are open to flexible working and therefore part time / job share would be considered, working a minimum of 0.6 WTE.
We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.
We can offer you: Regular clinical and professional supervision including opportunities to meet as a team including peer reflection Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development. This includes specific support with regards to fulfilling the PALMS role. Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision and line management to other members of the PALMS team as appropriate. Opportunities to connect with local and national networks Involvement in providing training.
A full valid driving licence and access to a car insured to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Applicants to be aware that PALMS work within the ULEZ zone and any charges due to non-compliant vehicles cannot be reimbursed by the Trust.
Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
Closing date: Midnight 15th March 2026
Interview date: 25th March 2026
Job description
Job responsibilities
PALMS principally deliver a flexible service according to service needs and personal circumstances, in a planned way. For example, for a full-time worker this equates to flexibly working 37.5 across the working week. PALMS are open to flexible working and therefore part time / job share would be considered, working a minimum of 0.6 WTE.
We are committed to supporting flexible working options for staff and welcome discussions on flexible working patterns to support our staff to maintain a healthy work life balance.
We can offer you: Regular clinical and professional supervision including opportunities to meet as a team including peer reflection Regular appraisal, personal development planning and opportunities for continuing professional development. This includes specific support with regards to fulfilling the PALMS role. Opportunities to work closely with a multi-disciplinary team and learn from other evidence based frameworks and approaches. Opportunities to provide clinical supervision and line management to other members of the PALMS team as appropriate. Opportunities to connect with local and national networks Involvement in providing training.
A full valid driving licence and access to a car insured to use for business purposes is essential (unless you have a disability as defined by the Equality Act 2010). Applicants to be aware that PALMS work within the ULEZ zone and any charges due to non-compliant vehicles cannot be reimbursed by the Trust.
Interviews will be run either in person at one of our bases or using Microsoft Teams, full details and instructions will be provided to successful candidates.
Closing date: Midnight 15th March 2026
Interview date: 25th March 2026
Person Specification
Other Specifications
Essential
- Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
- Willingness to travel to alternate locations to provide services
Training and qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (RCN/RNLD/RNMH) with experience in Children's, Learning Disabilities and/or Mental Health Nursing
- Further training in relevant areas of Autism, Intellectual disability and/or mental health.
Desirable
- Specialist Practice Community Qualification
- Nurse Prescriber Qualification
- A qualification and/or training in clinical supervision/Leadership
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or Intellectual disability setting assessing, containing, and managing complex cases in a multidisciplinary setting
- Experience of working with people who have an Intellectual disability and/or who are autistic.
- Able to identify, assess and offer evidence-based interventions for mental health and/or behaviours of concern
- Experience of developing and delivering training and/or groups
- Experience of dealing with Safeguarding Incidents
- Experience of providing clinical supervision and Line Management
- Ability to lead professionally and managerial
- Up to date knowledge of policies and procedures and clinical issues relating to specific client group
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community.
- Experience of working in a family centered approach
- An awareness and appreciation of Positive Behavioural Support.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of current developments specific to the PALMS remit and Nursing
- Knowledge of different ways of working with CYP with an ID and/ or ASD
- An understanding of the impact of intellectual disability, Autism and mental health difficulties and behaviours of concern on family life
- An ability to make autonomous clinical judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a range of audiences.
- An ability and commitment to work as a member of a team and effectively communicate with the team.
- Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets.
Personal Abilities
Essential
- An interest in, and commitment to, working with children who have an intellectual disability and/or an autistic spectrum disorder and/or mental health difficulties.
- Values that match positive behaviour practices
- Positive interpersonal skills
- Ability to work with children & young people whose behaviour is personally challenging.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
- An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers, and staff.
- Good organisational skills and an ability to manage own workload
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently
- Ability and willingness to work flexibly including evenings and weekends.
- Capable of using initiative and maintaining professional boundaries.
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
- Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Ability to recognise the emotional consequences of working with children with distressing and life changing disorders and seek support if needed.
- Ability to recognise signs of stress and to seek appropriate support.
- Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'.
- Ability to think clearly and express self.
Person Specification
Other Specifications
Essential
- Willingness to uphold the Trust's values
- Willingness to travel to alternate locations to provide services
Training and qualifications
Essential
- Registered Nurse (RCN/RNLD/RNMH) with experience in Children's, Learning Disabilities and/or Mental Health Nursing
- Further training in relevant areas of Autism, Intellectual disability and/or mental health.
Desirable
- Specialist Practice Community Qualification
- Nurse Prescriber Qualification
- A qualification and/or training in clinical supervision/Leadership
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working clinically in a mental health and/or Intellectual disability setting assessing, containing, and managing complex cases in a multidisciplinary setting
- Experience of working with people who have an Intellectual disability and/or who are autistic.
- Able to identify, assess and offer evidence-based interventions for mental health and/or behaviours of concern
- Experience of developing and delivering training and/or groups
- Experience of dealing with Safeguarding Incidents
- Experience of providing clinical supervision and Line Management
- Ability to lead professionally and managerial
- Up to date knowledge of policies and procedures and clinical issues relating to specific client group
Desirable
- Experience of working in the community.
- Experience of working in a family centered approach
- An awareness and appreciation of Positive Behavioural Support.
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Knowledge of current developments specific to the PALMS remit and Nursing
- Knowledge of different ways of working with CYP with an ID and/ or ASD
- An understanding of the impact of intellectual disability, Autism and mental health difficulties and behaviours of concern on family life
- An ability to make autonomous clinical judgements involving highly complex facts and situations
- High level of communication skills (written and verbal) including an ability to communicate effectively complex, highly technical and/or clinically sensitive information to a range of audiences.
- An ability and commitment to work as a member of a team and effectively communicate with the team.
- Practical computing skills including the use of databases and spreadsheets.
Personal Abilities
Essential
- An interest in, and commitment to, working with children who have an intellectual disability and/or an autistic spectrum disorder and/or mental health difficulties.
- Values that match positive behaviour practices
- Positive interpersonal skills
- Ability to work with children & young people whose behaviour is personally challenging.
- Ability to establish and maintain professional relationships
- An ability to work effectively in a range of direct care settings with families, carers, and staff.
- Good organisational skills and an ability to manage own workload
- Ability to work independently, reliably, and consistently
- Ability and willingness to work flexibly including evenings and weekends.
- Capable of using initiative and maintaining professional boundaries.
- Ability to concentrate for prolonged periods
- Ability to use supervision appropriately and effectively
- Ability to recognise the emotional consequences of working with children with distressing and life changing disorders and seek support if needed.
- Ability to recognise signs of stress and to seek appropriate support.
- Ability to work as part of a 'virtual team'.
- Ability to think clearly and express self.
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).
.png){kind=logo}
