Clinical Nurse Specialist in Complex Needs

For more information, contact Richard Bunn (Head of Complex Needs) richard.bunn1@nhs.net 01924 542102

About The Role

The Clinical Nurse Specialist in Complex Needs plays a vital role in improving the safety, quality, and personalisation of care for patients with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, delirium, mental health needs, and those requiring enhanced observations. Working as an expert clinical resource, the postholder provides specialist assessment, care planning, and intervention to ensure that individuals with complex cognitive or behavioural needs receive compassionate, equitable, and appropriate care across all clinical areas. The role focuses on early identification of risk, proactive care adjustments, and evidencebased interventions that reduce harm, support reasonable adjustments, and promote a positive patient experience.

In this fulltime permanent Band 6 position, the nurse will support multidisciplinary teams through specialist advice, training, and coaching to build staff confidence and capability in caring for patients with complex needs. They will contribute to safety and quality improvement initiatives, lead on care planning for highrisk individuals, and collaborate closely with families and carers. By championing personcentred care, inclusive communication, and environmental adjustments, the Complex Needs Specialist Nurse helps ensure that those with learning disabilities, autism, dementia, delirium, or mental health conditions receive the highest standard of safe and effective care throughout their hospital journey.

Main duties

Provide specialist clinical assessment and support for patients with Learning Disabilities, Autism, Dementia, Delirium, Mental Health needs and those requiring Enhanced Care across all MYTT services.

Support staff in developing, implementing and reviewing enhanced observation plans, personalised safety plans and alternatives to restrictive practice.

Deliver expert advice on behaviour support strategies, sensory needs, trauma informed approaches, distress reduction and positive behaviour support.

Provide specialist guidance on the Mental Health Act and best interest decision making.

Lead the implementation and monitoring of reasonable adjustments, ensuring accessibility and equity for patients with complex needs.

Advise on communication strategies including accessible information, communi

cation aids, non verbal communication and individual communication profiles. Conduct specialist assessments relating to cognition, communication, sensory needs, functioning, risk and trauma history.

Support timely identification of patients with LD, autism, dementia or mental health needs through system flagging and early assessment.

Work collaboratively with MDTs, mental health liaison, LD/autism community teams, dementia services, safeguarding teams and external agencies to coordinate care.

Contribute to complex discharge planning, ensuring coordinated multidisciplinary involvement and safe, person centred discharge pathways.

Support quality improvement initiatives related to complex needs.

Deliver training and coaching in Complex Needs.

Provide real time in situ coaching for staff managing complex or high risk patients.

Participate in audits relating to Complex Needs.

Ensure equitable access to diagnostic investigation, treatment and specialist input for patients with complex needs.

Act as a clinical link for LeDeR learning, LD & Autism Improvement Standards, Enhanced Care improvements and dementia quality initiatives.

Provide support and advocacy for families and carers, ensuring meaningful involvement in care decisions.

Support implementation of behavioural, cognitive and sensory care plans, ensuring consistency across clinical teams.

Contribute expert clinical advice to incident reviews and patient safety meetings where complex needs are relevant.

Provide specialist prescribing practice as an Independent Non Medical Prescriber (where applicable) within scope of competence and Trust medicines policy.

Complete annual NMP declarations and comply with the MYTT non medical prescribing governance framework.

Key Responsibilities

• Will have continuous delegated responsibility for a caseload of patients and will provide an effective and patient focused service which is considerate on needs of users and providers.

Support the management function of the department by provision of reports and information as required.

Provide mentorship and preceptorship as required to junior staff in the team or students on placement.

Ensure you work within an agreed divisional work plan.

Be part of MY team

We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients’ homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.

We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.

If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.

Application Guidance

We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It’s important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.

Our Benefits

• Access to the NHS pension plan
• Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service

Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services

Extensive benefits and support, including:

Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme

Cycle to work scheme

Home electronics scheme

Car lease salary sacrifice scheme

Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport

Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies

Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality

Career progression, training and support

Skilled worker sponsorship

You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our .