Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and dynamic nurse or allied health care professional to join the University Hospitals Dorset's (UHD) Parkinson's Service as a Parkinson's Specialist Practitioner in a Band 6-7 training post*



We are looking for an enthusiastic, dedicated registered nurse or allied health care professional. The successful candidate will have excellent communication skills and relevant experience to deliver high quality, specialist care to people with Parkinson's and will be part of the on-going development of this forward-thinking service. The service is transforming in response to the needs of our community and our team are always developing to be able to deliver safe, effective and patient-centred care.



We are committed to continuous professional development and offer on-going training within the Parkinson's service. *Band 7 in the training post would be gained after successful completion of the Non-medical prescribing qualification and full achievement of Band 6 competencies (with emergence into Band 7 competencies) in the local Parkinson's competency framework.



Car driver essential (or the ability to travel to meet the needs of the role - not all locations are accessible by public transport) .

Interview date:

23nd January 2026



The nurse or allied health care professional will be responsible for the assessment and management of people with Parkinson's using an enhanced level of professional accountability, autonomy, and judgement, underpinned by theory and experience; this will include the need for complex history taking, physical examination, prescribing and ongoing patient assessment.



To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.



Our values define who we are as #TeamUHD. They underpin everything we do now and in the future. They define how we treat our patients, visitors, and each other, our valued team mates and colleagues.



UHD are investing in services across the Trust, with many being transformed and developed following merger and the New Hospital Programme.



In some cases this means that a services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or long term. Recruiting Managers interviewing for this role will be happy to answer any specific questions that you have at interview.



Please note if the role or service is relocated as part of a planned move, employees will not be eligible for excess mileage reimbursement. Travel from the postholder's home to the new work base will be considered a normal commute. Any other changes not related to this relocation will be managed according to the relevant Trust or National terms and conditions.



If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.



UHD has active networks including Women's, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.



AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process



As a Parkinson's Specialist Practitioner you will provide a weekday service to people with Parkinson's. You will work closely with Neurologists, Older People's Services Consultants, Pharmacists, General Practitioners, Therapists, Social Services and voluntary groups to enhance the care and improve the quality of life to people with Parkinson's.



You will be supported in your development to manage this patient group including patients with Multiple System Atrophy and Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. You will be required to have experience of working independently in a band 6 clinical role.



The role of the Parkinson's Specialist Practitioner is multifaceted, you will work autonomously incorporating key functions; practice policy and standard development, education, research and professional development. The ultimate aim is to provide a co-ordinated, accessible, well-governed service for patients with Parkinson's that provides compassionate holistic, high-quality evidence-based care. You will have the ability to work autonomously and make key decisions to influence patient care. Training and education for patients and their families is a key element to the role, and you will play an active part in encouraging patients to manage their long-term condition. Practitioner-led clinics are a crucial part of the role and you will manage your own clinics and undertake domiciliary visits, with the support and guidance from senior members of the Parkinson's Service team as well as the Consultant team.



The post is currently based at Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch sites with clinics also held at Wimborne and Swanage hospital.



To understand the role in more detail please read the full job description and person specification documents which are attached to this advert.