Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a motivated and enthusiastic individual to join East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust as the Learning Disability and Autism Nursing Lead.

The post holder will act as an expert clinical resource, providing accessible, accurate, and relevant information, advice, and support to patients with a learning disability or autism, their families and carers, Trust staff, and partner organisations. They will provide specialist leadership to ensure that people with a learning disability or autism receive safe, equitable, and person-centred care and that appropriate reasonable adjustments are identified and implemented to meet individual needs.

The successful candidate will identify, develop, and lead initiatives that enhance the experience and outcomes of patients with a learning disability or autism across all Trust services. The post holder will monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of care provided to this patient group, using data, audit findings, patient feedback, incident reviews, and national benchmarking standards to drive continuous improvement.

At the heart of everything we do are our core values: Include, Respect, and Improve. We encourage you to embrace these values throughout the recruitment process and in your role with us.

Main duties of the job
The Learning Disability and Autism Lead Nurse will work both independently and as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team, providing expert clinical leadership, advice, and support to improve the care and experience of people with a learning disability or autism accessing Trust services. The post holder will coordinate information with patients, carers, clinical teams, and partner agencies to support effective patient journeys across outpatient, inpatient, and discharge pathways. They will promote awareness of the specific health needs of people with a learning disability or autism, supporting staff to deliver person-centred care and implement reasonable adjustments in accordance with national standards and statutory requirements. Acting as a highly visible specialist nurse resource across the organisation and lead on the Trust's strategy for the management in Adults with a Learning disability or autism.

About us
At East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust, we are proud of the range of general and specialist services we provide and our 6,000 or so dedicated staff ensure our patients get the best care. Our ability to be flexible and innovative in the way in which we work and deliver our services to our catchment has never been more important than it is now.

We run the following hospitals:

• The Lister Hospital, Stevenage
• New Queen Elizabeth II (New QEII), Welwyn Garden City
• Hertford County, Hertford
• Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), Northwood

We have ambitious plans to become an outstanding, patient-led Trust where dedicated staff provide high-quality, compassionate care to our patients. We continue to undergo significant transformation and our staff and patients are at the heart of delivering this ambitious agenda.

We are committed to a positive work life balance for our employees. This means that any employee is entitled to seek to work flexible working patterns and we are committed to listen and consider all requests. Such requests, of course, have to be made and considered formally, and will need to be balanced against service needs, but our starting point will always be to find ways to support making them happen.

Details
Date posted: 20 October 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 7
Salary: £49,387 to £56,515 a year Per annum
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Full-time
Reference number: 361-COR-8336822
Closing date: 03 November 2026

Qualifications / Training

• Essential: Registered nurse on part 2 of the NMC register (adult nurse, RN2); Registered nurse on part 2 of the NMC register (Learning disabilities nurse, RN6); Evidence of post registration continual professional development in relation to learning disabilities, policy and practice; Evidence of professional continuous development and portfolio of learning; Hold an MSc or have evidence of study at MSc level or have a willingness to undertake further study.
• Desirable: Teaching and assessing in clinical practice qualification

Previous Experience

• Essential: Evidence of leading service change; Experience of leading within a team; Understanding evidence-based practice and its application at a service user facing level; Have sound knowledge of the national learning disabilities strategy and LeDeR program; Have experience and knowledge of working alongside statutory and voluntary organisations

Skills

• Essential: Good communication and listening skills; Leadership skills; Ability to respond positively to change; Able to communicate with all levels of staff within the Trust and a variety of agencies; Able to work autonomously; Able to support staff in decision making processes in complex circumstances

Knowledge

• Essential: Expert theoretical and practical knowledge of supporting individuals with an LD or autism accessing NHS services and sound knowledge of local and National policies and guidance; Understand the audit process and improvement methodology; Understanding and awareness of equality and diversity and health care inequalities which may affect services users in their day to day lives.

Other Requirements

• Essential: Experience and evidence of engagement around equality, diversity and inclusion issues in relation to policy, service development and service delivery in respect of both services to users and the management of staff; Role model our Trust values every day; Exemplary personal standards of conduct and behaviour; To have a positive, patient centered caring approach; To maintain positive professional relationships with Trust colleagues and wider members of the Hertfordshire safeguarding MDT; Have an ability to empower others; Be an effective time manager; Have line management skills; Have an ability to enthuse and motivate others to achieve goals; Have an ability to remain calm and focused when under pressure in order to maximise positive outcomes

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: East and North Hertfordshire Teaching NHS Trust
Address: Lister Hospital, Corey's Mill Lane, Stevenage, SG1 4AB, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.enherts-tr.nhs.uk/

For questions about the job, contact:
Named Nurse Adult Safeguarding, Enda Gallagher, enda.gallagher@nhs.net, 01438294994

Apply through our website.