Learning Disability Health Screening Practitioner / Community Nurse with certificate of sponsorship to the UK
Visa Note
This position offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, applicants must verify their specific visa eligibility requirements directly with the employer before applying. The employer welcomes applications from international candidates but cannot guarantee visa approval.
Job Overview
Livewell Southwest is seeking an experienced Band 6 Health Screening and Community Nurse to join our Community Learning Disability Team on a 12-month fixed-term contract for maternity cover. This is a unique opportunity with a blended focus: three days per week delivering health screening services and two days per week providing community nursing care.
The successful candidate will play a vital role in improving health outcomes for people with learning disabilities by supporting engagement with five national screening programs while also delivering holistic nursing care as part of a multidisciplinary team.
This role is ideal for nurses who are passionate about reducing health inequalities and want to make a significant difference in the lives of vulnerable populations while developing their professional skills in both health screening and community nursing.
Key Responsibilities
Health Screening Role (3 days per week)
In this component of your role, you will focus on improving uptake of the five national screening programmes for individuals with learning disabilities. You will work closely with GP surgeries, hospitals, screening teams, and third-sector organisations to reduce health inequalities.
Your responsibilities will include reviewing GP Learning Disability registers, identifying cohorts for proactive contact, and using innovative approaches to raise awareness of screening programmes. You will advocate for reasonable adjustments and create pathways to ensure equitable access to screening services.
You will also deliver specialist educational support and resources to mainstream services, promoting inclusion and better health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
Community Nursing Role (2 days per week)
As part of the multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will assess, plan, and manage risks for individuals’ care needs, including physical and mental health and behaviours that challenge services. This senior clinical role includes case management and care coordination.
You will deliver holistic care covering both physical and mental health through case management, person-centred planning, and coordination of support. You will liaise with agencies and providers to ensure adjustments and continuity of care for individuals with complex needs.
Person Specification
Essential Qualifications and Experience
You must have a degree level qualification in a relevant area supplemented by specialist training, and professional registration. Evidence of maintaining a portfolio and knowledge of current legislation, policies and best practice for people with learning disabilities is required.
Essential experience includes working with people facing health inequalities such as those with learning disabilities, mental health issues, substance misuse, or homelessness. You must have experience developing and delivering training, effective report writing skills, and experience relevant to community working.
Essential skills include the ability to work independently and autonomously while prioritizing your workload, effective communication skills with clients and carers, and comprehensive IT skills.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
While not essential, having post-graduate qualifications in a relevant area, experience specifically working with people with learning disabilities, and experience within screening services would be advantageous.
Additional desirable experience includes developing accessible resources and running small group workshops with service users or focus groups. Knowledge of breast, cervical, bowel cancer screening and AAA screening would also be beneficial.
Benefits and Support
Livewell Southwest values employee development and offers protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications including the Care Certificate and Nurse Training Scholarships.
As an employer, we are committed to providing a supportive working environment with comprehensive induction and preceptorship programs to ensure a smooth transition into our organisation.
We offer competitive salaries ranging from £38,682 to £46,580 per year (pro-rata) depending on experience and qualifications, along with flexible working arrangements including full-time, part-time, job share, and flexible working options.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please visit the NHS Jobs website and submit your application before the closing date of 12 February 2026. For international applicants requiring sponsorship, we recommend the following steps:
- Verify your eligibility for a Skilled Worker visa through the UK Visas and Immigration website
- Prepare documentation including proof of professional registration and qualifications
- Include a cover letter explaining how your experience aligns with the requirements
- Contact Holly Carpenter (Group Manager) at holly.carpenter5@nhs.net or 01752434033 for any sponsorship-specific questions
Please note that while we offer sponsorship, each application is assessed individually, and eligibility cannot be guaranteed before formal application.
About Livewell Southwest
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Our teams work in various settings including community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience, we are guided by our values of kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. We focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability while empowering staff and those we serve.
We believe in involving the people we care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive. Centering our work on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
Diversity and Inclusion
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities.
We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued and respected. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, please contact the Recruiting Manager listed in the job advert.
As a Disability Confident Leader and Mindful Employer, we have demonstrated our commitment to supporting employees with disabilities and promoting positive mental health in the workplace.
Working with Learning Disabilities
This role requires a deep understanding of the health inequalities faced by people with learning disabilities. You will need strong knowledge of the Mental Capacity Act, consent processes, and best interests decision-making frameworks.
Your work will involve supporting the validation of learning disability registers held by practices across the region and ensuring close collaboration with those managing annual health checks. You will be expected to undertake community engagement activities to raise awareness of health screening and screening pathways.
Professional Development
We are committed to supporting your professional development throughout your employment with us. You will have opportunities to participate in regular supervision, clinical supervision sessions, and performance management development processes.
The role includes acting as a mentor to students and colleagues, participating in induction programs, and delivering teaching sessions on topics related to screening and learning disabilities. You will also have opportunities to develop and deliver specialist training for primary healthcare and community staff.
Additional Information
Please note that this post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and a submission for Disclosure will be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK have been required to present criminal record certificates from each country where they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
For more information about working with us and the support we offer, please visit our careers page at https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/careers or our rewards and benefits page.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact Holly Carpenter (Group Manager) at holly.carpenter5@nhs.net or phone 01752434033. For general inquiries about the organisation, visit our website at https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/.
The Westbourne Unit is located at Beacon Park Road, Plymouth, PL2 2PQ. We encourage all applicants, particularly international candidates, to familiarise themselves with the location and consider any relocation requirements.
Application Deadline
The closing date for applications is 12 February 2026. Please note that we may close the advert early if high application numbers are received, so we encourage you to apply as soon as possible.
All applications must be submitted via the NHS Jobs website. Late applications will not be considered under any circumstances. Ensure all required documentation is included with your application to avoid delays in processing.