Job overview
The Learning Disability Specialist is responsible for the Corporate and Operational Learning Disability strategies, policies and procedures within the Trust and for advising Directorate leads on issues relating to learning disability, including legislative requirements.
They provide specialist clinical support and advice for the delivery of the learning disability strategic plan and is responsible for producing high level reports in line with strategy, as required.
They will present to the executive management team, board and strategic system partners on learning disability service transformation.
They will ensure that SCAS continue to lead nationally around research and evaluation of evidence-based responses to learning disability patient safety and experience. This includes, but is not limited to, working with learning disability and mental health services within SCAS and our key stakeholder partnerships.
They will lead on the design, delivery and review of learning disability education programmes across the Trust workforce and develop relevant clinical audit and evidence-based practice improvements for the delivery of good patient care. They will also act as the SCAS representative at LeDeR meetings and reviews where necessary and appropriate and, work with the R&D lead to contribute to research and development opportunities related to learning disability transformation.
Main duties of the job
• To be the named professional in the implementation and review of the Learning Disability Strategy.
• Provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals at all levels within the Trust and partner agencies.
• Advise and assist in dealing with complaints/enquiries and adverse incidents as appropriate.
• To advise the Trust on sensitive areas related to learning disabilities within serious case reviews and employment investigations.
• To work alongside the Clinical Lead – MH & LD to improve patient experience for those with learning disabilities that have contact with SCAS.
• To advise the Operational, Clinical and Executive Team to ensure that the Trust Board members and senior managers are kept fully informed of all learning disability issues.
• Be responsible for determining the key strategic priorities from the wider learning disability agenda within the Trust (legislation, strategies and guidance) and assist Directors of the Trust to meet them.
• Exercise a high degree of autonomy with high level negotiation skills to make critical decisions and judgements associated with the management of complex learning disability issues.
• To contribute to highly sensitive learning from deaths in learning disability reviews.
• Be responsible for the development of local implementation/action plans to address the outputs from the relevant national learning disability agenda (eg DoH, NICE guidance, CQC).
Working for our organisation
Benefits we offer:
Full training and a range of courses which you can book locally.
Holiday entitlement of 27 days, rising to 29 days after 5 years’ service and 33 days after 10 years’ service, plus an additional 8 days bank holiday (pro rata for part time).
Automatic enrolment into the NHS Pension Scheme.
Access to continual professional development within SCAS and the wider NHS.
Occupational Health support and direct access to our Employee Assistance Programme as well as our own Health and Wellbeing Team.
NHS Discounts in over 200 + stores saving money on holidays, days out, car insurance, restaurants, clothing and much more.
Ability to join our staff networking groups (as a member, ally or just for interest).
Corporate Induction
It’s really important for us to ensure you have the best onboarding experience which allows you to feel a sense of belonging from the start. To help with this, we will book your Corporate Induction as soon as we possibly can (depending on availability).
All new starters need to attend our *Corporate Induction in person, this is held over one and half days from our educational centres based in: Newbury (Berkshire), Bicester (Oxfordshire) or Whiteley (Hampshire). More specific details will be sent to you once your start date has been confirmed.
*Please note – depending on your role additional training may be required following on from your corporate induction.
We understand that some applicants may choose to use AI tools to assist with completing their application. While this is not against our guidelines, it’s important that your application remains an accurate and honest reflection of your own skills, experience, and achievements. Please ensure that any content generated or supported by AI truly represents you and your capabilities, as this will form the basis of our assessment throughout the recruitment process.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
In addition to those duties listed above, the Learning Disability Specialist will:
• Attend contract meetings to advise in specialist matters.
• Act as SME working alongside Education Department regarding the development and delivery of LD material.
• Provide specialist training to operational teams where a need is identified.
• Communicate complex, specialist clinical information in a skilled and professional manner to various partners (internal and external).
• Provide detailed written and statistical reports as required for relevant Committees and Boards in relation to learning disability; including the detailed analysis of complex data and evidence for the Trust Quality Accounts, Learning Development Strategy and CQUINS where required.
• Attend LeDeR meetings and reviews as SCAS representative.
• To present and represent the Trust at local and national conferences.
• Through discussion and negotiation with key stakeholders (internal and external), following due and diligent analysis of multiple and complex datasets and other metrics, agree and plan the implementation, post-implementation review of appropriate additional and/or enhanced provision and access to suitable care pathways for ambulance staff to access in order to best fulfill the corporate aim of developing whole system solutions and seamless pathways of care.
• Be responsible for the specialist clinical advice/guidance for operational staff and, more widely, sharing responsibility with colleagues for the wider clinical and operational performance of SCAS. Ensure best practice, lessons learned and development opportunities and ideas are widely communicated across SCAS.
• To be able to utilise a range of high level IT skills on the delivery of training via multiple remote training platforms (such as MS Teams).
• To manage their own time within contracted hours.
• Where appropriate, complete operational, or patient facing, shifts throughout the year working as an advanced practitioner in order to maintain professional registration and competency to advise on all elements of the role.
• To advise and support the Human Resources Directorate on the development of safe and effective, evidence-based processes/procedures for staff who have learning disability or are caring for someone else with learning disability, supporting the Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
• This job description is not comprehensive but contains the main responsibilities and functions of the post. Other reasonable duties may be required in accordance with organisational and operational need.
Person specification
Qualifications and Training
Essential criteria
Educated to degree level
Post-graduate education
Professional training/mentoring qualification (eg MSPP)
Evidence of continuous personal and professional development
Desirable criteria
Masters level education or equivalent knowledge/experience
RN(LD)
Current, appropriate professional registration (NMC, HCPC) or equivalent
Knowledge and Experience
Essential criteria
Extensive experience of working within the field of learning disabilities.
In depth awareness of the LD agenda at both national and regional levels.
A working knowledge of Clinical Governance, Clinical Supervision, Quality Improvement & Assurance and best practice.
Experience of strategic and policy development.
Experience of collation, analysis and dissemination of highly complex information or data.
Experience of working with complex, sensitive data, analysing, evaluating and presenting evidence following sound research methodology.
Experience of delivering training/teaching in area of LD.
Desirable criteria
Working in an emergency environment.
Knowledge of Ambulance Service, NHS and Social Care development programmes.
Awareness of other emergency services developments for people with LD.
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