Job overview

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

Job Title: Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Nurse

Contract Type: Fixed Term

Purpose for Fixed Term: Secondment 

This is an exciting opportunity to join our team in the specialist tertiary epilepsy team and make a difference to children and young people with complex epilepsy

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated children's nurse to join our Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Service on a 9-month fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover. This is a unique opportunity to develop specialist expertise within a regional tertiary neuroscience service supporting children and young people with complex epilepsy from across Hampshire, Dorset, the Isle of Wight, Sussex and the Channel Islands. 

As a Band 6 Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Nurse Specialist, you will work alongside Consultant Paediatric Neurologists, Epilepsy Nurse Specialists and the wider multidisciplinary team, providing expert clinical care, education, advice and support to children, young people and their families.

Main Duties of the Job

Working for our organisation

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.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

In this role, your key responsibilities will include Providing specialist nursing care, advice and support for children and young people with complex epilepsy, ensuring high-quality, family-centred care across inpatient and outpatient settings.

Act as a key point of contact for patients, families and healthcare professionals, delivering telephone, virtual and face-to-face support to facilitate safe and effective epilepsy management.

Coordinate care across tertiary, secondary, community and educational settings, working closely with the multidisciplinary team to ensure seamless patient pathways.

Contribute to nurse-led clinics, transition services, service development, audit and quality improvement initiatives to enhance outcomes for children and young people with epilepsy.

What experience/skills are needed?

Registered Children's Nurse (RN Child) with significant post-registration experience caring for children and young people with complex or long-term health conditions.

Excellent communication, organisational and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with families and multidisciplinary teams.

Ability to work autonomously, prioritise a varied workload and coordinate care across multiple services and agencies.

Experience in paediatric neurology, epilepsy or specialist nursing services is desirable, together with a commitment to ongoing professional development.

Additional Information

This is a 9-month fixed-term Band 6 position to provide maternity leave cover within the Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Service.

The role will primarily be Monday to Friday; however, flexibility may be required to meet service needs.

The post holder will be expected to travel across the region as required to support clinical activity, meetings and service development.

Appointment will be subject to an enhanced DBS check and all relevant pre-employment clearances.

You will:

Support children and young people with complex and refractory epilepsy across inpatient and outpatient settings.
Provide specialist advice and support via telephone, virtual consultations and face-to-face appointments.
Participate in specialist epilepsy and neurology clinics.
Deliver education relating to epilepsy safety, medication management, SUDEP awareness and self-management.
Liaise with regional epilepsy nurse specialists and healthcare teams to ensure seamless patient care.
Contribute to service development, audit, quality improvement and patient education initiatives.
Support families navigating complex epilepsy pathways and treatment options.

About You

We are looking for a compassionate and enthusiastic Children's Nurse who has:

Essential
Registered Children's Nurse (RN Child).
Significant post-registration paediatric experience.
Experience caring for children and young people with complex or long-term conditions.
Excellent communication and organisational skills.
Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Commitment to delivering high-quality family-centred care.

Desirable
Experience in paediatric neurology or epilepsy services.
Experience of care coordination or case management.
Teaching and education experience.
Involvement in quality improvement, audit or service development.
Non-medical prescribing qualification or willingness to undertake further specialist training.
What We Offer

This fixed-term opportunity provides excellent exposure to a highly specialist service and would suit a nurse wishing to develop their career in paediatric neuroscience and epilepsy care.

This is a 9-month fixed-term post to provide maternity leave cover within the Paediatric Tertiary Epilepsy Service. Applicants interested in developing specialist knowledge and experience in paediatric epilepsy are encouraged to apply.