Job summary
Are you passionate about reducing health inequalities and improving outcomes for people with learning disabilities?

We are seeking a full time experienced and motivated Learning Disability Liaison Nurse to provide specialist support across acute care, Continuing Healthcare (CHC), and services supporting individuals with complex needs who are at risk of crisis, hospital admission, or placement breakdown.

• 1 Fixed Term / Secondment post until 20/10/2027

You will work closely with multidisciplinary teams, patients, families, and carers to promote reasonable adjustments, coordinate complex care, support discharge planning, and help prevent avoidable admissions. As a practitioner, you will champion best practice, contribute to service development, and ensure people with learning disabilities receive safe, accessible, and person-centred care.

Main duties of the job
The post holder is a qualified Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD), or equivalent registered nurse, working as a specialist Community Learning Disability Nurse within the Specialist Health Community Learning Disability Team (SHCLDT) in Devon. As part of the Specialist Health Community Learning Disability Team, the post holder will be expected to work across and support all of the nursing functions Continuing Health Care, Intensive Assessment and Treatment and Primary Care Liaison.

The post holder provides specialist nursing assessment, care planning and intervention to adults with a learning disability who have complex health needs, including co-occurring physical and mental health conditions, autism, and distressed and distressing behaviour.

Working autonomously within professional and organisational boundaries, the post holder holds a defined caseload and acts as lead practitioner for adults with learning disabilities across the community pathway. The role is underpinned by a person-centred, trauma-informed and least-restrictive approach, with a commitment to advancing health equity and reducing the health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities.

The post holder collaborates with the person with a learning disability, their family, carers, and a wide range of health, social care and voluntary sector partners across Devon, working within the Devon Integrated Care System (ICS) to deliver joined-up, high-quality care.

Job responsibilities

• Hold full clinical and professional responsibility for the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of care for a defined caseload of adults with learning disabilities.
• Ensure that care plans are person centred, outcome focused, developed in genuine partnership with the individual and their supporters, and reviewed regularly.
• Support mainstream health annual health checks and health action plan reviews.
• Implement and review Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) strategies, supporting providers and families to understand and embed evidence-based approaches for people with distressed and distressing behaviours.
• Support safe transitions from inpatient to community settings in line with NHS England Building the Right Support principles, contributing to the reduction of avoidable inpatient admissions.
• Support safe transitions from childrens to adult services.
• Manage safeguarding concerns in accordance with Devon Partnership NHS Trust safeguarding adults policy and Devon Safeguarding Adults Partnership (DSAP) procedures, making Section 42 referrals to Devon County Council as required.
• Monitor medication in accordance with NMC Standards, DPT medicines management policy and the post holder's individual scope of practice.
• Contribute to the Learning from the Lives and Deaths of People with Learning Disabilities (LeDeR) review process, identifying and implementing learning in response to deaths.
• To assist Primary care to identify training needs in relation to learning disabilities and assist with the development of teaching materials / training packages.
• To co-ordinate and assist in the delivery of training to meet identified needs of the local learning disability population.
• To comply with Trust policies and procedures and the NMC Code.
• Demonstrate a depth of knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of the MCA, MHA and DOLS and other legislation applicable to the practice area and how they are implemented in practice always ensuring adherence to legislation.
• Ensure that high standards of nursing care are maintained and take appropriate action when standards are not being maintained.

Essential qualifications

• Registered Learning Disability Nurse (RNLD) on the NMC register; or Registered Mental Health Nurse (RMN) / Registered General Nurse (RGN) with demonstrable post-registration experience in working with adults with learning disabilities.
• Evidence of ongoing continuing professional development relevant to learning disabilities, maintained in accordance with NMC revalidation requirements.

Desirable qualifications

• Postgraduate certificate, diploma or MSc in a relevant subject (e.g. learning disabilities, autism, positive behaviour support, mental health).
• British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD) accredited Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) practitioner qualification.

Essential knowledge and skills

• Demonstrate an ability to travel independently across Devon for community visits to meet the requirements of the role.

Essential experience

• Have an interest / experience in working with people with a learning disability, complex needs and co-morbidities.

Desirable experience

• Experience of supervising or supporting support workers or students.
• Experience of contributing to quality improvement, clinical audit or service development work.

Details
Closing date: 15 November 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change, Band 5
Salary: £32,073 to £39,043 a year
Contract: Fixed term, 11 months
Working pattern: Full-time, Flexible working, Compressed hours
Reference number: C9369-26-0843
Location: Estuary House, Collett Way, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 4PH

Apply through our website.

Devon Partnership NHS Trust is a Disability Confident Leader and an inclusive employer. Applications are encouraged from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics as governed by the Equality Act 2010. Part time and flexible working applications will be considered and supported, where possible.