Job summary
My job makes lives better by working alongside the established Dementia Care Team, the Dementia Nurse Specialist will provide expert clinical leadership, specialist assessment, intervention and support for people living with dementia and their families/carers.

The post holder will lead on the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based dementia care, promote person-centered practice, support service development, and provide professional leadership to staff across the organisation. The post holder will combine advanced clinical practice with managerial responsibilities to improve patient outcomes, enhance carer experience and support excellence in dementia care.

Main duties of the job
Key responsibilities will include:

• Developing and reviewing individualised care plans that are informed by comprehensive assessment and incorporate pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions.
• Providing specialist clinical leadership and support to nursing teams in the assessment and management of Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia (BPSD), including the care of individuals with young onset dementia.
• Acting as a specialist resource for dementia care by offering expert advice, education, consultancy and support to health and social care professionals.
• Leading and contributing to service development, policy implementation, quality improvement initiatives, and the promotion of evidence-based dementia practice.
• Supporting families, carers and significant others to navigate health and social care services, ensuring they receive appropriate information, guidance and ongoing support throughout the dementia journey.

About us
Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust is the leading provider of mental health, learning disability, neurodevelopmental and drug and alcohol services in Surrey and North East Hampshire. We support people of all ages and are passionate about providing high quality care that is delivered at the right time as close to home as possible to help people recover and stay well.

We are one of the top 10 mental Health, Learning Disability and Community Trust to work for nationwide. Our Trust is an inclusive and supportive employer that offers a wide range of staff networks, flexible working, free parking and excellent health and wellbeing support. We also provide a wide range of opportunities to help staff develop and progress.

Surrey is a beautiful county lying just 30 minutes away from Central London and from the South Coast. Our historic market towns and bustling districts are enveloped in wonderful countryside, and our excellent road and rail networks bring the rest of the country within easy reach. For international travel, both Gatwick and Heathrow airports are nearby.

Please note that we reserve the right to close posts as soon as sufficient applications are received.

Regrettably, due to UK Home Office requirements we cannot offer sponsorship for all our job roles. If you apply for a role that we cannot offer sponsorship for, unfortunately, your application form will be rejected from the process.

We look forward to receiving your application!

Job responsibilities
Please see attached job description and person specification for further information on the job and responsibilities.

Qualifications
Essential

• A clinical qualification to degree level or equivalent - RMN
• Membership of a professional body (NMC)
• Evidence of Post Registration continuing professional development. Mentorship
• Advanced level specialist Dementia nursing skills

Desirable

• Evidence of training in the field of dementia and delirium

Experience
Essential

• Significant post-registration experience
• Experience of working within an Older Adults Mental Health inpatient setting, including the care and treatment of people living with dementia and complex mental health needs
• Previous specialist nursing experience at Band 5 or above
• Significant experience of working with older adults, including those presenting with cognitive impairment, dementia and behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD).
• Experience of functioning effectively within a multidisciplinary team and working collaboratively with partner agencies
• Experience of independently undertaking comprehensive biopsychosocial assessments and developing care plans for service users with complex needs
• Ability to provide specialist advice, guidance and support to colleagues in the assessment and management of complex dementia presentations
• Experience of acting on service user, carer and family feedback to improve service delivery and patient experience, taking personal responsibility for resolving concerns where appropriate
• Demonstrable experience of taking responsibility and accountability for clinical decisions and professional leadership
• Experience of supporting, supervising, mentoring or developing junior staff and students
• Experience of participating in clinical audit, quality improvement initiatives and service development activities

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 (opens in a new window).

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