Division: Huntington’s Disease Specialist Service

Reporting to: Senior HD Specialist

Are you looking for a role in which you will improve the lives of families in your community? A role that enables you to work differently, build your knowledge and skills and feel valued by clients, colleagues and the organisation you work for?

We are looking for a Health and Social Care professional to join our nationwide network of Huntington’s Disease Specialists to provide care management, specialist assessment and emotional support to individuals and families across Scotland.

Working in partnership with local Health and Social Care teams, you will also provide advice, training and education to professionals and voluntary agencies involved in all aspects of Huntington’s disease care.

The successful candidate will be enthusiastic and motivated to have a positive influence on the quality of life of the individuals and families they support. This role is open to medical and health and social care staff from backgrounds such as nursing, allied Health, social work and medicine. Professional body membership is essential. Previous experience of Huntington’s disease is advantageous but not essential as full training will be provided.

You should be able to work autonomously in this challenging and rewarding position. Good listening, communication and interpersonal skills are vital, as are excellent time keeping and caseload management abilities. Community-based practice knowledge, a driving licence and use of a car complete our list of essential criteria. The successful candidate will be subject to an enhanced disclosure check.

You will find a values-driven organisation, founded by families for families and recognised at national and international levels for expertise in supporting the Huntington’s disease community.

As an HD Specialist, your responsibilities will include:

• Delivery of support to individuals and families affected by Huntington’s disease using a psychosocial approach in line with the National Care Framework for Huntington’s Disease: care.hdscotland.org
• Facilitation of regular peer support opportunities for individuals and their family members. These include carers groups and symptomatic support groups.
• Advising on positive management of Huntington’s disease to individuals, families and relevant health and social care professionals and agencies.
• Liaision with other professionals to help individuals to obtain the services to which they are entitled e.g. advocacy, respite, welfare rights, community and health services.
• Training at a local level and participation in regular national training events.
• Raising awareness of the needs and challenges facing individuals with Huntington’s disease, their families and care providers through the provision of education and information. (double full stop)
• Support individuals who are participating in current drug trials or new treatments.

Skills & Experience:

• Role holders must be a full member of a professional body relevant to qualification and able to work within the scope of registration guidelines.
• Registered Nurse or other relevant health/social work qualification.
• Significant experience working in the community as a nurse or allied health professional.
• Ability to assess, develop and implement programmes of care with an inter/multidisciplinary approach.
• Understanding and applying the principles of data protection and confidentiality across all areas of work.
• Including Microsoft Office, PowerPoint and other relevant software programmes.
• A clean driving licence and access to a vehicle daily.

In line with our commitment to safeguarding, this role is subject to a PVG for working with children and adults. Scottish Huntington’s Association is committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service that is free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. We therefore aim to ensure that no applicant, volunteer, or member of staff is unfairly treated on the grounds of offending background.

You will need to be available to work from our registered national office, situated at Business First, Burnbrae Road, Paisley PA1 2FB. For the rest of your working week, you will have the option to work from home. Additionally, occasional travel to various locations in Scotland will be necessary for departmental and organisation-wide meetings.

In addition to a competitive salary, we offer benefits including a generous leave allowance totalling 37 days. Upon 4 completed years of service, you will receive an extra day for each completed year up to a maximum of 5 days, and the the opportunity to opt into our competitive pension scheme.

About Scottish Huntington’s Association

This is an exciting time for the charity, now in the second year of Standing Tall: A Strategy For Growth 2023 - 2028 to transform the care and support of Huntington’s families, expand specialist services and deepen involvement in research and clinical trials.

People impacted by Huntington’s disease need specialist services to cope with a severe and complex disease, its impact on families, and a lack of awareness amongst health and social care providers and the wider public.

Scottish Huntington’s Association is the only charity in the country exclusively dedicated to providing expert and personalised support for those impacted by Huntington’s disease.

Our personalised support reduces unnecessary hospital admissions, supports carers and other family members; lowers household poverty; and alleviates wellbeing risks to children and young people living in Huntington’s families.

We are commissioned by NHS Boards and Health and Social Care Partnerships throughout the country to share our expertise with front-line staff and build support for improved services and higher standards of care for every family impacted by this devastating disease. Scottish Huntington’s Association plays a full and active role in attracting the global research community to Scotland to work in partnership with us to improve the lives of families impacted by Huntington’s disease.

If you wish to apply to join a values-driven organisation, founded by families for families and recognised at national and international levels for its expertise and support delivered through a nationwide network of Huntington’s Disease Specialists, Specialist Youth Advisors, and Financial Wellbeing Officers, please follow the application notes below.