IST Clinical Nurse Specialist

The Intensive Support Team (IST) complete nursing assessments and treatment for people with learning disabilities who have behaviours which challenge and mental health needs. IST seeks to provide an alternative, where appropriate, for service users to hospital admission. The key function of the IST nurse is to gatekeep the specialist beds in Dove ward, Kingfisher Court.

The IST nursing team are a function of the Specialist Learning Disability Service (SLDS) in HPFT. SLDS is a multidisciplinary specialist health team for people who have specialist health needs related to learning disabilities.

We have a band 6 secondment for 12 months for an enthusiastic and forward thinking registered learning disability nurse or registered mental health nurse to join the team . The team is based within the East & North Hertfordshire locality with existing links to other local health and social care services for people with learning disabilities. The post hours are 37.5 hours a week with a flexible shift pattern over 7 days.

Applicants need to be motivated to increase their knowledge and skills in their nursing practice to meet the health needs of people who have specialist health needs related to learning disabilities. Applicants need to have excellent communication skills and leadership skills and be keen to continue to develop their skills in our supportive environment.

Main duties of the job

As the job covers a vast area in the Community applicants will required to be able to travel in their own vehicle to meet with service users and families/carers in their own homes, work place or day centres as appropriate.

Main duties will be to develop care plans according to identified health needs. The successful candidate will be responsible for their own caseload.

Will be a member of the wider Multidisciplinary team within the Specialist Learning Disability Service so will need to act as role model and provide nursing advice and expertise to other members of the team.

Good communication with our partner agencies is imperative to ensure that service users quality of life is maintained or enhanced by our involvement.

Duties include attendance and referrals / professionals meetings . To be able to identify and take part in service developments where appropriate.

Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust are one of just five mental health trusts to achieve an overall rating of 'Outstanding' from theCare Quality Commission.

Our family of over 4,000 members of staff provide health and social care for people with mental ill health, physical ill health and learning disabilities across Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Essex and Norfolk, delivering these services within the community and several inpatient settings. Everything is underpinned by choice, independence and equality, with our Trust values embedded throughout