Job summary
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to offer a fantastic opportunity to work with us.

Job Title: Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Nurse Specialist
Contract Type: Fixed Term
Fixed Term Contract End Date: May 2027
Purpose for Fixed Term: Maternity / Shared Parental / adoption Leave

Main duties of the job
This is an exciting opportunity to join our team as a Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Nurse Specialist on a 9-month fixed-term contract to provide maternity leave cover within Southampton Children's Hospital.

This specialist role offers the opportunity to make a significant difference to the lives of children and young people with complex epilepsy and their families by providing expert clinical care, advice, education and support across a regional tertiary service.

Working within a highly skilled multidisciplinary neuroscience team, you will play a key role in coordinating care, supporting clinical decision-making, and ensuring patients receive high-quality, personalised care throughout their epilepsy journey.

As part of our commitment to delivering outstanding specialist care, the post holder will work closely with paediatric neurologists, allied health professionals, community services, and regional epilepsy teams to improve patient outcomes, enhance family experience and support seamless care across organisational boundaries.

The successful candidate will work alongside the wider Neurosciences and Children's Specialist Nursing Teams, contributing to service development, education, quality improvement initiatives and the ongoing delivery of a responsive and patient-centred epilepsy service.

About us
As one of the largest acute teaching Trusts in England, we offer learning and development opportunities to help you achieve the career you aspire to. UHS is rated 'Good' by the CQC and in the latest national NHS Staff Survey, we were in the top 10 acute trusts for staff engagement and for staff recommending the hospital as a place to work or receive care.

We support flexible working and will consider requests taking into account the needs of the service. UHS employees are able to access a range of NHS discounts, are entitled to a minimum of 35 days paid holiday (pro rata), and we offer a generous pension scheme.

Southampton is an attractive place to live and work situated on the south coast, with an international airport and direct trains to London. The New Forest National Park and beaches of the Jurassic coast are also right on our doorstep. The city offers living costs 30% lower than London and 17 schools rated outstanding by Ofsted.

We believe that using technology wisely shows strong time management and commitment to innovation. However, personalising your recruitment application to highlight your unique skills and experiences is crucial. Relying too heavily on generic, AI-generated content instead of drawing from your own strengths and accomplishments may lead to your application being rejected if multiple candidates present identical or similar information.

Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will be responsible for:

• Acting as the lead specialist nurse for children and young people with complex epilepsy, providing advanced clinical expertise, personalised care and psychosocial support throughout their care pathway.
• Managing a defined caseload and acting as the identified key worker, coordinating treatment, care planning and ongoing support for patients and their families from referral through to discharge.
• Providing specialist advice, education and support to patients, carers and healthcare professionals, promoting self-management, shared decision-making and positive health outcomes.
• Working autonomously and collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to deliver seamless, patient-centred care across organisational and professional boundaries.
• Leading nurse-led initiatives, contributing to service development, clinical governance, audit and quality improvement activities to enhance patient experience and outcomes.
• Supporting the development of clinical guidelines, policies and standards of care, ensuring practice reflects current evidence, national guidance and local priorities.
• Developing and delivering education and training for healthcare professionals, patients and families, and supporting the learning and development of colleagues within the wider workforce.
• Contributing to research, service evaluation and data collection activities, helping to shape future developments within the tertiary epilepsy service.
• Prescribing medication independently where appropriately qualified and working within Trust policy, professional standards and scope of practice.

For an overview of the position, please refer to the attached Job Description and Person Specification document. This includes a detailed breakdown of the key responsibilities, role expectations, and the qualifications we are looking for.

Person Specification
Qualifications, knowledge and experience
Essential

• Registered nurse on relevant part of the NMC register
• Level 7 Post Grad Cert (Min 60 Credits), Master's Degree within relevant speciality or equivalent knowledge to be assessed through evidence of relevant speciality training, experience or portfolio
• Specialist training / Qualification in area of practice
• Provide evidence of leading learning in practice
• Evidence of experience and completion of all band 6 competencies within relevant speciality
• Specialist clinical skills and experience within specialist area
• Evidence of change Management, leadership and innovation
• Clinical experience at Band 6 or equivalent within relevant speciality
• Provide evidence of supporting colleagues to promote learning in practice providing an excellent learning environment for all
• Provide evidence of supporting / managing and supervision of a range of learnings in practice

Desirable

• Counselling / advanced communication skills qualification / training
• Act in the role of Practice Assessor or supporting the progression of learners / supporting challenges as needed
• Experience of nurse-led care / clinics in own practice
• Team leadership role
• Registered as an independent prescriber
• Leadership Qualification / training

Trust Values and Behaviours
Essential

• Patients First
• Always Improving
• Working Together

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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.

Employer details
Employer name: University Hospital Southampton NHS Trust
Address: CHI Specialist Nursing, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, United Kingdom
Employer's website: https://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx

Employer contact details
For questions about the job, contact: Matron Jenna Burchmore, jenna.burchmore@uhs.nhs.uk, 07747265953

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