Learning Disability Specialist

The Learning Disability Specialist is responsible for the Corporate and Operational Learning Disability strategies, policies and procedures within the Trust and for advising Directorate leads on issues relating to learning disability, including legislative requirements. They provide specialist clinical support and advice for the delivery of the learning disability strategic plan and are responsible for producing high‑level reports in line with strategy, as required.

They will present to the executive management team, board and strategic system partners on learning disability service transformation and will ensure that SCAS continues to lead nationally around research and evaluation of evidence‑based responses to learning disability patient safety and experience. This includes, but is not limited to, working with learning disability and mental health services within SCAS and our key stakeholder partnerships.

They will lead on the design, delivery and review of learning disability education programmes across the Trust workforce, develop relevant clinical audit and evidence‑based practice improvements for the delivery of good patient care, act as the SCAS representative at LeDeR meetings and reviews where necessary, and work with the R&D lead to contribute to research and development opportunities related to learning disability transformation.

• To be the named professional in the implementation and review of the Learning Disability Strategy.
• Provide specialist consultation, advice and guidance to other professionals at all levels within the Trust and partner agencies.
• Advise and assist in dealing with complaints/enquiries and adverse incidents as appropriate.
• To advise the Trust on sensitive areas related to learning disabilities within serious case reviews and employment investigations.
• To work alongside the Clinical Lead – MH & LD to improve patient experience for those with learning disabilities that have contact with SCAS.
• To advise the Operational, Clinical and Executive Team to ensure that the Trust Board members and senior managers are kept fully informed of all learning disability issues.
• Be responsible for determining the key strategic priorities from the wider learning disability agenda within the Trust (legislation, strategies and guidance) and assist Directors of the Trust to meet them.
• Exercise a high degree of autonomy with high level negotiation skills to make critical decisions and judgements associated with the management of complex learning disability issues.
• To contribute to highly sensitive learning from deaths in learning disability reviews.
• Be responsible for the development of local implementation/action plans to address the outputs from the relevant national learning disability agenda (eg DoH, NICE guidance, CQC).
• Attend contract meetings to advise in specialist matters.
• Act as SME working alongside Education Department regarding the development and delivery of LD material.
• Provide specialist training to operational teams where a need is identified.
• Communicate complex, specialist clinical information in a skilled and professional manner to various partners (internal and external).
• Provide detailed written and statistical reports as required for relevant Committees and Boards in relation to learning disability; including the detailed analysis of complex data and evidence for the Trust Quality Accounts, Learning Development Strategy and CQUINS where required.
• Attend LeDeR meetings and reviews as SCAS representative.
• To present and represent the Trust at local and national conferences.
• Through discussion and negotiation with key stakeholders (internal and external), following due and diligent analysis of multiple and complex datasets and other metrics, agree and plan the implementation, post‑implementation review of appropriate additional and/or enhanced provision and access to suitable care pathways for ambulance staff to access in order to best fulfil the corporate aim of developing whole system solutions and seamless pathways of care.
• Be responsible for the specialist clinical advice/guidance for operational staff and, more widely, sharing responsibility with colleagues…