Roald Dahl Paediatric CNS Epilepsy; Surgical

This paediatric clinical nurse specialist post sits in the surgical epilepsy service at King's College Hospital, within a multi-disciplinary neurology and neurosurgical nursing team. The post holder supports children and young people with epilepsy and their families, including care before and after surgery, and gives advice and education to patients and other clinicians. The role combines clinical practice with education, research, audit and service development, aimed at building an autonomous nursing service.

The start date will be on or after 1 April 2027.

• Provide care, support, advice and education for children and young people with epilepsy, with information for patients and parents, within agreed protocols
• Support the epilepsy surgical service, including pre- and post-operative care for children undergoing surgery
• Establish a pre-assessment clinic for children, young people and families before planned surgery
• Develop an autonomous nursing service and advanced clinical care for children with epilepsy, including supporting the VNS service
• Lead and innovate nursing practice, including newly diagnosed education sessions for children and parents
• Take responsibility for the safety and quality of data collection on newly diagnosed epilepsy patients
• Develop healthcare professionals' ability to manage epilepsy through formal and informal education and review of their care
• Act as an expert resource giving clinical advice to patients, families and colleagues in acute, community and primary care
• Support safe, early discharge through education, supervision and telephone or face-to-face follow-up
• Support the mental health needs of children with epilepsy and refer them to the integrated mental health resource where needed
• Promote and facilitate research, evidence-based practice and clinical audit within the Trust
• Support primary care colleagues through one-to-one or group training in managing children with epilepsy

• Degree or Masters, or extensive clinical experience pertinent to epilepsy, to act as a clinical expert
• Recognised teaching or mentoring qualification

• NMC registration, Part 1 (Child)

• Relevant experience or professional qualification in caring for children and young people with epilepsy

• Strong leadership skills
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to explain complex information to patients, parents and carers with differing levels of understanding

• Audit programme experience
• Proven experience of service development
• Advanced clinical assessment skills, or willingness to develop them
• Basic counselling skills