Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist

Job Title: Parkinsons Disease Nurse Specialist Reporting to: CEO Location: Cork (including travel across the County and surrounding areas). Contract type: 2-year fixed term contract Weekly Hours: 28 hours per week. The role is four days per week (days to be advised), plus occasional weekend and evening work Probation: 6 months Salary: Subject to experience Organisation overview Parkinsons Ireland (PI) is a charity based in Dublin with branches throughout the Republic of Ireland. The aims of PI are included in the PI strategic plan which can be viewed on the Parkinson's Ireland website. We do this through educating the public and raising awareness. We fundraise to help provide essential services, throughout the country. Currently our primary push is to finance the provision of Parkinsons Nurse Specialists, based in the community. Job Purpose The Parkinsons Disease (PD) Nurse is a specialist leader, manager, collaborator practitioner, educator, researcher and administrator. This role seeks to provide social, psychological, and educational support on how to manage Parkinsons for patients, carers and their families. Aligned to the PI Strategy, the job holder will work closely with the other PI Nurses and other PI team members and will have responsibility for proactively assisting with the development of the PI service. The primary focus is to provide education, Parkinsons training and advice on Parkinsons management to persons living with Parkinsons disease in Co. Cork and the surrounding areas, their relatives and care partners, and the wider community to ensure their ability to manage all aspects of their PD with the aim of facilitating self-care where possible. Key responsibilities These fall into two categories, direct and indirect care. Direct Care Manage a defined patient caseload, working unsupervised at times and under the direction of the CEO, using specialist Parkinsons nursing skills to assess the needs of the person and to plan, implement, document and evaluate care. Provide full specialised support for the local service users. Prioritise the needs of newly diagnosed persons with PD and design and implement teaching sessions based on individual patients assessment of needs. Develop a therapeutic relationship with patient and family, and actively involve them in their treatment where appropriate. Assess patient understanding of their diagnosis and its implications, teach the person and their families about the specific therapies relevant to PD. Participate in the provision of psychological care for people with PD and their families. Provide a service that is evidence based and which aims to improve quality of life for patients with PD. B. Indirect Care Act as an expert resource and to provide highly specialised advice about diagnosis and management of PD to other health professionals. Work closely with other members of the PI team, attend team meetings and ensure effective communication between professionals to benefit the overall PI service. Ensure patients have follow up sessions where necessary. Attend local branch events and at times, provide outreach services to PI members in adjoining areas. In conjunction with other members of the service, develop protocols, standards, guidelines and documentation systems to promote best practice. Keep statistics on patients care and to submit reports as requested. Maintain high professional standards, keep fully up to date with Parkinsons Disease research, attend training and development courses as needed, and comply with all protocols and legislation relevant to the nursing profession. Assist with ongoing research projects and the selection of new projects where appropriate. Assist with our clinical initiatives as they arise e.g. awareness campaigns, and the development of information resources on PD. Person Specification Qualification & experience Must be registered in the General Division by An Bord Altranais. Must have nursing experience in neurological services. A qualification in Parkinsons care would be a distinct advantage. Previous experience in developing programmes in a community setting and working in the community and with not-for-profit sector is desirable. Must have excellent verbal and written English language skills. Good all-round IT skills including Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Must hold a current EU / Irish driving license and vehicle. Key Competencies Willing and capable to take on responsibility. Must be able to make decisions. Must be able to communicate well and support service users and staff. Proven time management with the ability to deliver to tight deadlines. Proven initiative, common sense and resilience Must display empathy and compassion for patients and their families. Must have evidence of patience and adaptability in managing chronic conditions. Proven commitment to continuous learning and professional development. Parkinsons Ireland is committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. We embrace diversity and inclusion as essential elements of our workplace culture and strive to create a supportive and respectful environment where all individuals are valued. Please Note:Job descriptions reflect the present service requirements and may be subject to review and amendments to meet the changing needs of the service. Closing date: Friday, the 19th of December 2025 at 5pm. To apply: please submit your CV and a cover letter.