Senior Specialist Learning Disability & Autism Nurse | Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

This is an exciting role to improve patient experience and improve service standards for all patients with learning disability/autism. The successful applicant will work as part of the safeguarding team, providing specialist support to wards and departments.

As a senior leader within the team, the post holder will ensure that the standards are maintained at a high quality level, using service audit and evaluation to drive continuous service improvement. The post holder will also directly manage other junior staff, as well as providing support to other senior safeguarding team members to effectively support business continuity across the Trust footprint.

The post holder will be supported to develop within the role to support service improvement initiatives directly to patients with learning disability/autism or staff providing direct care to patients. An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Trust for an experienced learning disability nurse to support the development of excellence in care for patients with learning disability and autism.

The post requires a commitment to excellence in care standards and the ability to promote change in care to ensure that colleagues use the best practice models provided. The post will be instrumental in providing assurance that the services within the Trust for patients with learning disabilities and autism operate to an excellent standard at all points of the care pathway.

The post will be fully supported within a corporate adult safeguarding team, with professional supervision being provided by a specialist learning disability nurse.

Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) is the largest provider of specialist services, and our Oxford Road Campus in Manchester is the largest health academic campus in Europe.

You will play a pivotal part in supporting our operational excellence and strategic ambitions. You’ll work collaboratively with clinical and non-clinical teams, driving improvements that enhance patient experience, staff wellbeing, and service efficiency across the Trust.

MFT offers a dynamic, inclusive environment where your leadership, ideas, and expertise are valued. You’ll have access to professional development, digital tools, and opportunities to contribute to transformational projects that shape the future of healthcare delivery.

We are committed to supporting your growth and wellbeing, recognising the vital role you play in our organisation’s success. Join us and help shape the future of our Trust—make a real difference to our teams, our services, and our communities, and fundamentally, our patients.

IMPORTANT CANDIDATE INFORMATION

We welcome applications from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences. To help us manage applications fairly and give each one the time it deserves, our adverts may close early if we receive a high level of interest. Early applications are therefore encouraged.

Diversity Matters

MFT is committed to promoting equality of opportunity, celebrating and valuing diversity and eliminating any form of unlawful discrimination across our workforce, ensuring our people are truly representative of the communities we serve. All individuals regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation are encouraged to apply for this post. As an inclusive employer, we are here to support you. If you have any special requirements to help you with your application, please contact the manager named below.

Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in your application

Here at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, we’re proud to be ALL HERE FOR YOU, for our patients, our communities, and each other. As part of our commitment to fairness, transparency, and personal integrity, we ask all applicants to ensure that their job applications reflect their own experiences, skills, and motivations. While AI tools can support spelling, grammar, or formatting, we expect that the content of your application, especially personal statements and responses to role-specific questions, is written by you. This helps us get to know the real you and ensures that our recruitment process remains equitable and meaningful for everyone.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check

As part of our commitment to safeguarding patients and staff, many roles at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. This is a standard process across the NHS and helps us ensure a safe environment for everyone.

What is a DBS Check?

A DBS check is a background check that reveals any criminal convictions, cautions, reprimands, or warnings. The level of check required depends on the role:

• Standard DBS: Checks for spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands, and final warnings.
• Enhanced DBS: Includes the above, plus any additional information held by local police that’s considered relevant to the role.
• Enhanced with Barred Lists: Includes all of the above, plus checks against the children’s and/or adults’ barred lists.

Who Needs a DBS Check

Most roles involving direct patient contact, working with children or vulnerable adults, or access to sensitive information will require a DBS check. The job advert and recruitment team will let you know if this applies to your role.

The Costs for a DBS

At Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT), roles that require a DBS check are subject to a cost recovery policy. This means that the cost of submitting and processing a DBS application, if you are successful and join us, will be deducted from your salary within the first three months of employment. If, however, you withdraw from a conditional offer after the DBS process has begun, you will still be liable for the cost incurred.

For more information about the cost of the various types of DBS, please visit: DBS Fees Information.

DBS Update Service

Candidates are also expected to register with the DBS Update Service which must be completed within 30 days of the certificate being issued. This helps streamline future employment checks and supports safer recruitment practices.