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Job summary

Main area
Learning Disabilities
Grade
Band 5
Contract
Permanent: Monday-Friday 09:00-17:00 Community Working
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Monday to Friday)
Job ref
364-B-100
Employer
Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Ely House
Town
Basildon
Salary
£32,073 - £39,043 Per annum + 5% High Cost Allowance
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
18/06/2026 23:59

Employer heading

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust logo

Community Specialist Health Nurse

Band 5

Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.

Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk. 

We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.

You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive. 

The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.

We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years. 

We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.

We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.  

Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.

Job overview

A rare and exciting opportunity has arisen for a Band 5 Community Specialist Health Nurse to join our team covering South Essex with a work base in Basildon, further drop down bases are accessible. 

You will work as part of the community team for adults with a learning disability and will have a variety of health care professionals to work alongside. Our Community Specialist Health Team comprises of occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, behaviour therapist and speech and language therapists to name a few.  

We want to recruit a dedicated workforce to meet the diverse needs of our service users. Successful candidates will need to have a genuine interest in working within a multi-disciplinary team and a passion for improving the lives and health outcomes of people with a learning disability. 

Main duties of the job

The role of the Community Specialist Health Nurse is to provide holistic and effective nursing care to adults with a learning disability requiring the support of Specialist Health Services. 

Essex Learning Disability Partnership provides specialist learning disability services across Essex. The partnership has been formed by Hertfordshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust providing Learning Disability Services in Mid, North East and West Essex and; Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust providing Learning Disability Services in South Essex. 

Working for our organisation

EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of  we Care, Learn and Empower. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;

  • Season Ticket Loans
  • NHS discounts for staff
  • Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
  • Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
  • The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
  • Day One Flexible Employer

Join our Staff bank

What is Staff Bank?

Our EPUT NHS staff bank is an entity managed by the trust that hires clinical and non-clinical healthcare professionals to take on shifts at our trust hospitals and community settings. Here at EPUT we maintain our own bank of specialist staff to ensure that we are able offer safe and effective care at all times.

All our permanent staff are automatically enrolled onto the staff bank however this does not mean you have to work any additional shifts, but the option is there for you if you wish.

If you are joining our Trust in a fixed term role, please indicate on your New Starter Paperwork that you wish to join our staff bank.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

As part of the Specialist Health Team, you will assess and provide support and intervention to people with a learning disability who have identified nursing needs through the implementation of a holistic approach.

You will need to be a driven and passionate individual who will undertake a range of comprehensive and evidence based clinical risk assessments and associated care plans that are relevant to the service users care needs

  • The post holder will provide clinical advice for service users who present with challenging behaviour and mental health disorder that promotes and facilitates the positive health and wellbeing of people with learning disabilities. Including direct work with service users, carers, colleagues and other service providers.
  • The post holder will lead specific groups and sessions with clear objectives when necessary.
  • The post holder will maintain links with inpatient and community staff, GPs, primary and secondary care teams, statutory and voluntary agencies and social services to ensure the health needs of people with learning disabilities are met effectively and as close to home as possible
  • The post holder will carry out clinical procedures when required in accordance with trust policy and their own competency.
  • The post holder will maintain appropriate therapeutic boundaries with service users.
  • The post holder will act as a role model to the MDT, service users, carers and staff.
  • The post holder will actively promote positive experiences for people with learning disabilities when accessing mainstream healthcare services.
  • The post holder will support GP’s with the uptake of Annual Health Checks and promote the use of Health Action Plans.

 

Person specification

Education and qualification

Essential criteria
  • Must hold relevent nursing qualification
  • Study at degree level of equivalent
  • Must be able to communicate effectively and to a high standard
Desirable criteria
  • Community experience is desirable
  • Additional skills in physical healthcare is desirable
  • Must be able to manage multiple and complex tasks

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Must demonstrate awareness of the MCA and MHA and be able to apply these
  • Must be able to evidence of education in a specialist area or the willingness to learn and develop
  • Must demonstrate awareness of STOMP and LeDeR
Desirable criteria
  • Ability to assess complex physical health care needs is required

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience of carrying out complex physical healthcare assessments
  • Experience of being able to collate assessment data and develop care formulations
Desirable criteria
  • Experience of working in the community
  • Experience of supervising or teaching colleagues/peers/junior team members

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyMenopause Friendly EmployerPositive about disabled peopleAge positiveDisability confident leaderImproving working livesArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardMindful employer.  Being positive about mental health.Essex Family Friendly Employers

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
SAMANTHA MARTIN
Job title
Specialist Health Nurse Team Leader
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
07985431449
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