Acute and Chronic Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust; Dartford; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 63,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Dartford seeks an experienced Acute and Chronic Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist to lead a pain management team. Responsibilities include patient assessment, ensuring adequate pain control, and overseeing clinical protocols. Candidates must hold a nursing degree and have significant pain management experience. A competitive salary of £55,690 to £62,682 per year is offered.

Qualifications

• Substantial clinical experience at a senior level in pain.
• Knowledge and application of HR processes.
• Have worked/ be working as an Acute and Chronic Pain Nurse for a substantial time.

Responsibilities

• Organise and manage the workload of the Acute and Chronic Pain Service.
• Undertake at least twice daily ward rounds to assess and review patients.
• To monitor pain control of patients and ensure appropriate analgesia is prescribed.

Skills

Excellent communication and interpersonal skills

Ability to work autonomously and in a team

Evidence of continual development

Ability to teach in a variety of settings

Education

Qualified to Degree Level

1st Level Registered Nurse

Nurse Prescribing Course

Recognised Pain Course

Masters Degree

Teaching and mentorship course

Job description

Acute and Chronic Pain Clinical Nurse Specialist

We are seeking an experienced and motivated nurse with extensive acute and chronic pain experience to join and lead a committed and well-established specialist pain management team.

You will be expected to independently review, assess and initiate treatments for patients within the hospital who are experiencing unresolved pain once their analgesia has been optimised, this will include all adult patients within the setting. You will escalate any concerns to the relevant medical staff and act accordingly. Your role will include educating and reassuring patients and their visitors alike.

This position will not be supported for visa sponsorship. All applicants are expected to have valid right to work document to work in the UK when applying for this position.

Main duties of the job

You will be working closely with and on behalf the anaesthetic team when required

You will be expected to follow-up patients in an outpatient setting referred by the Chronic Pain Consultant, this will include NICE approved therapies such as group and one to one education sessions, acupuncture and medication cleansing and optimisation autonomously and within the MDT setting.

The post holder must be able to work autonomously demonstrate effective communication, leadership and motivational skills and be able to work in an extended multi-disciplinary team, as well as lead and develop the pain team.

You will be expected to ensure that all local guidelines are accurate and up to date, revising as needed. You will be expected to lead on new projects under the guidance of the anaesthetist.

Flexibility with working hours is necessary in order to meet the role and the service demands.

This is a cross site role and therefore the applicant must be able to travel as the service requires.

About us

We are committed to being an inclusive and diverse employer. We strive to employ people who reflect the communities we serve, and aim to create an inclusive culture where everyone can reach their full potential. Whatever your race, ethnicity, belief, generation, sexual orientation, gender or gender identity, disability or experience, you'll appreciate the opportunities we give you to work in an inclusive atmosphere. We welcome applications from people of diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences to build on the progress we've achieved to make our Trust diverse and the best place to work. We celebrate the diversity of thought, viewpoints and ideas that help us overcome challenges and embrace new possibilities. We have signed the Armed Forces Covenant Pledge and have a commitment to the Armed Forces Community.

We are dedicated to using our Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) approach as our shared organisation model of change to enhance our services and ensure excellence in patient care.

If you are considering applying for a role, please be aware that as an NHS Employee you may have contact with vulnerable service users. We strongly encourage that all our staff are vaccinated against COVID-19 and are vaccinated annually against Flu, in order to protect the health and safety of our staff and patients. Your commitment will help us to put the safety and care of our patients first, as well as helping us to protect you and your colleagues.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

To organise and manage the workload of the Acute and Chronic Pain Service on a daily basis.

To ensure good communication is maintained within all members of the multi-disciplinary team.

To undertake at least twice daily ward rounds to assess and review all the patients under the care of the Pain Team.

To monitor the pain control of patients and ensure that adequate and appropriate analgesia is prescribed and administered both in an inpatient and outpatient setting.

To set standards for the quality of pain control methods employed and to evaluate performance against these standards on a regular basis.

The post-holder will be expected to develop clinical protocols, as appropriate in liaison with the Lead Clinician for Acute and Chronic Pain Management.

To assist in the management of Epidural, Local Analgesia, Opiate Infusions, Nerve blocks and the use of Entonox and any other Analgesic techniques which may become a part of the Pain Services practice.

After reviewing the TCI (to come in) list, to liaise with the Anaesthetists regarding their anticipated methods of post-operative pain relief for elective patients. To discuss all treatment options in depth with sensitivity, knowledge and expertise.

To administer drugs as deemed competent either IV or via epidural catheters.

Undertake chronic pain clinics, to advise patients/carers on methods of pain management i.e. effective use of medication/TENS.

Please see attached job description for further information.

Person Specification

Education and Training

• 1st Level Registered Nurse
• Teaching and mentorship course
• Qualified to Degree Level.
• Recognised Pain Course
• Nurse Prescribing Course
• Masters Degree.
• A.C.T. course

Knowledge and Skills

• Evidence of continual development
• Substantial clinical experience at a senior level in pain.
• Information technology skills.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to teach in a variety of settings.
• Ability to plan and deliver own workload.
• Ability to work autonomously and in a team.
• To be able to deliver Trust and Directorate Strategic Plans as directed.
• Ability to understand and undertake business planning
• Participate in chronic pain clinics/group
• Effective business planning skills - able to plan service developments alongside the Divisional Teams.

Experience

• Evidence based practice.
• Evidence of on-going training and developing
• Knowledge and application of HR processes
• Have worked/ be working as an Acute and Chronic Pain Nurse for a substantial time
• Have an understanding of Risk / Clinical Governance
• Counselling

Personal Attributes

• Ability to manage a diverse group of staff.
• Ability to influence/manage highly complex situations.
• Able to support project management.
• Ability to delegate to relevant colleagues, monitor, and assess their performance.
• Chairing and facilitation skills.
• Preparation of agendas and minutes.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

£55,690 to £62,682 a year per annum inclusive of allowances