Nursing Associate - Learning Disabilities Health Advocate

An exciting opportunity has arisen for 3 experienced Band 4 Nursing Associates to join the DTV Adult Learning Disabilities Physical Health Team. The team provides specialist advice and support to both people with a learning disability and health services to reduce the health inequalities and premature mortality that people with a learning disability face.

Following additional investments to the team, these roles will provide focused interventions across the Tees Valley to support the PCNs in addressing the needs of people with a learning disability to overcome health barriers and challenges to achieve better health outcomes and quality of life.

This role may be eligible for sponsorship under the UK Visas & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker route. However, sponsorship can only be provided where applicants meet the specific requirements, therefore, we recommend that you assess your eligibility before applying for this position.

Main duties of the job

• The Nursing Associate will support the Physical Health Team and wider learning disability community teams, Local Authority Colleagues and in liaison/partnership with primary and secondary care services, using a Person-Centred Approach to enable and support adults with learning disabilities and their families and carers to promote the health needs of people with a learning disability and enable access to wider services.
• Supporting with a wide range of health promotion projects.
• Liaison with health and social care services.
• Supporting with reasonable adjustments to enable access to the right care and support.
• Training and education for services and carers.
• One to one support for patients who have changes in physical health and/or need support to navigate health services.
• Advice, support and signposting health and social care colleagues.
• Advocate and promote the needs of people with learning disabilities across health services.

About us

We are the Mental Health & Learning Disability NHS Trust for County Durham and Darlington, Teesside, North Yorkshire, York and Selby. From education and prevention, to crisis and specialist care -- our talented and compassionate teams work in partnership with our patients, communities and partners to help the people of our region feel safe, understood, believed in and cared for. We nurture the recovery journey of anyone in need of our help. In Our Trust, everyone has a say in how they are supported and treated because we listen to every person in our care until they feel understood. Our patients, their families and carers work together with us towards better mental health. We're committed to new thinking that improves the wellbeing of our region. We connect with our communities and partners to get mental health care right, in areas that really need it.

Job responsibilities

Please refer to the attached job description and person specification for further detailed information to ensure that you meet the role criteria before applying. This post requires you to be a Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC Register.

Person Specification

• Qualifications: Registered Nursing Associate on the NMC Register, GCSE Grade A-C in Maths & English or Skills level 2 Maths & English or equivalent.
• Experience: Up to date understanding of the scope of and role of the Nursing Associate in context of the nursing and multidisciplinary team and the organisation, and how the role may contribute to service development. Understands and acts in line with NMC professional standards for practice contained within The Code. Knowledge of when to seek advice and escalate to the appropriate professional for expert help and advice. Understand requirements for NMC professional Revalidation. Understanding of the importance of following procedures and treatment plans.
• Skills: Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities. Ability to organise and prioritise own delegated workload. Ability to communicate effectively (written, verbal and non-verbal communication) with patients/relatives and carers and all members of the multi-disciplinary team. Ability to develop effective and appropriate relationships with people, their families, carers and colleagues. Ability to support, supervise and act as a role model to nursing associate students, other learners and health care support workers as required within the clinical setting.

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.