Learning Disabilities screening nurse

Job summary

Up to hours per week.

Supporting Health Equity for People with Learning Disabilities

This role focuses on enhancing the health outcomes of people with learning disabilities by improving their engagement with the five national screening programs. You will collaborate with primary care providers, secondary care, community staff, families, advocates, and the third sector, working across settings to reach this under-served group.

Key Responsibilities:

Facilitate engagement with screening programs for individuals with learning disabilities. Provide specialist educational support to increase screening uptake in this community. Advocate for necessary adjustments, using enhanced communication and creating pathways that make screening more accessible. Work as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to develop training and resources that promote inclusion in mainstream health services.

Why This Matters:

By addressing barriers and promoting inclusion, your work will directly contribute to improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities, ensuring they receive the critical screenings they need for better long-term health. Join us in making healthcare more inclusive and equitable for all.

This role will be focused in Plymouth for the first year and then will roll out across Devon. The post holder will be expected to be able to create and report back to ICB on progress around enhancing the screening programmes for people with a learning disability.

Main duties of the job

A key part of the postinvolves improving the uptake of the five national screening programmes forindividuals with learning disabilities and supporting individuals to accessscreening checks that will promote early identification and management of disease.This will include timely access to early intervention and treatment. The postrequires close working with GP Surgeries, hospitals, the National screeningprogrammes teams and third sector/advocacy organisations

Working with the external partners you will establish baselineevidence to plan a trajectory of improvement. You will review GP LD registers,standardise inclusion criteria, and identify cohorts of individuals fortargeted contact and proactive intervention.

Working closely with theLD population using an innovative and proactive approach toraise awareness of the 5 National Screening Programs and the vital role thatthey can play in reducing health inequalities.

Acting in a liaison role asrequired and as part of the MDT ensuring that health screening checks arecompleted for all eligible individuals with a learning disability where able.

This role may not be eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline if a high number of applications are submitted. Therefore, we recommend you submit your application at the earliest opportunity.

All LW staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7 day service.

About us

Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning socialenterprise delivering integrated health and social care services acrossPlymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts ofDevon and Cornwall. Our teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sportscentres, and health hubs.

As an organisation with a strong social conscience we are guided by our values,kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, andcollaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability, whileempowering staff and those we serve.

We involve the people we care for, along with their families and carers, inshaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the righttime and place. Centering our work on individual needs helps people leadhealthy, independent lives.

We prioritise employees' development, offering protected CPD time, trainingpathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications like the CareCertificate and Nurse Training Scholarships. Our induction and preceptorshipprograms ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.

Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from allsections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mentalhealth, neuro-diverse conditions and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during theapplication process, contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Assess, plan, implement and evaluate treatment safely and effectively, in partnership with medical team and nurses, service user and carers, using evidence-based practice.

To ensure comprehensive risk assessment of patients and risk management plans are in place and clearly documented in accordance with the Trusts Policy.

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect self, colleagues, and patients.

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

Act as a specialist advisor/professional leader in healthcare issues related to the care of the patient with learning disability which can often be complex and urgent.

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.

As part of the team provide regular updates, feedback, and reports to senior management on progress and share any identified barriers that may need to be addressed in order to meet plans and targets Undertake risk assessments and escalate in line with Trust Policies and guidelines.

Report any observed changes in a patients condition or behaviour, or any other cause for concern, to an appropriate clinician as a key health and wellbeing responsibility.

Refer to colleagues or other agencies as appropriate, this will include any identified concerns around risks, health inequalities and safeguarding.

Responsibility for People Management

Provide line management and caseload supervision to other members of team where appropriate

Maintain professional registration.

To participate in regular supervision and performance management development and appraisal processes

To participate in regular clinical supervision sessions in order to received professional support and time to reflect upon practice

Act as a mentor to students and colleagues, participating in induction programmes, guiding practice, and assessing competence to develop staff. Provide teaching sessions within the team and across the Devon ISC as appropriate on relevant topic relating to screening and learning disabilities.

Deliver specialist training for Primary health care and community staff in new skills related to health screening uptake in patients with a learning disability.

To participate in regular clinical supervision sessions to receive professional support and time to reflect upon practice.

Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and training as necessary to update skills and knowledge and maintaining a record of own personal development.

Provide advice and highly specialist support to all healthcare professionals who are providing care to individuals with a learning disability, ensuring reasonable adjustments are made to facilitate access to both primary, secondary and community care.

Working with local learning disability groups to understand language barriers and undertake collaborative works to identify and overcome any identified barriers that may be contributing to health inequalities and uptake of health screening.

Working collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, this will include proactive engagement with the 5 identified National screening programmes. You will be able to communicate effectively with both clinical and non-clinical colleagues to ensure the smooth running of the service.

You will be able to communicate effectively with patients and carers and utilise alternative methods of communication whenever this is needed.

Consistently demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure service users have enough information, in the right format, at the right place and time, to make informed decisions.

When required, you will need to be able to communicate difficult, unpleasant, or sensitive information in a way that is supportive and understanding.

Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues, including engaging and networking with stakeholders.

Hold good knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act and the concept and guidance around best interests.

Support the validation of learning disability registers held by practices across Devon and access the lists held by local authorities to authenticate the number of health checks completed for people with a learning disability across Devon. Ensure close working relationship with those managing annual health checks, the primary care commissioning and contracting team.

Support the delivery of personalised health screening awareness.

Undertake community engagement to raise the profile of health screening and screening pathways.

Organise and/or run initiatives, including contacting patients, to improve uptake of screening, vaccinations or other services and support the achievement of targets ( under the Quality and Outcomes Framework).

Advocacy for health screening across the learning disability population including high levels of preparedness to undertake visits in an individuals own home or residential setting.

Person Specification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

Knowledge of current, legislation, policies and best practice for people with learning disabilities and implications for nursing. Good understanding of current research identifying health inequalities for people with an LD Ability to work independently and autonomously, prioritising own workload. Effective communication skills with clients and carers, colleagues, other statutory, private and voluntary agencies using a wide range of communication methods including written, verbal and electronic formats. Comprehensive IT skills Drive across county of Devon

Desirable

Specialist knowledge of policy and practice for breast, cervical and bowel cancer screening as well as Abdominal Aortic and Aneurysm (AAA) screening

Qualifications

Essential

Degree level qualification in relevant area supplemented by significant specialist training. Evidence of maintaining a portfolio

Desirable

Post-graduate qualification in a relevant area.

Experience

Essential

Experience of working with people with LD Experience in developing and delivering training. Effective report writing skills, you will need to write clear, factual and accurate reports to provide specialist information. Experience relevant to community working, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team and with other agencies.

Desirable

Experience of working with people with LD Experience of working within screening services Experience of developing accessible resources Experience running small group workshops with service users or focus groups.

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