Clinical Nurse Specialist

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 47,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional healthcare provider in the UK seeks a Clinical Nurse Specialist to join their Acute Pain team. This role requires a registered nurse with significant experience in pain management, providing specialist advice and support in an inpatient setting. The successful candidate will work closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure the highest standard of patient care. A passion for quality improvement and education is essential. Salary is £38,682 to £46,580 per annum pro rata.

Qualifications

• Must be a first level registered nurse.
• Significant post-registration experience with an interest in acute pain management.
• Registered Nurse (adult or Child) on part 1 of the NMC register.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist advice and support to manage acute pain.
• Manage a caseload of patients and ensure safety of pain management techniques.
• Review treatment plans and suggest changes based on patient condition.

Skills

Effective decision making skills

Excellent communication skills

Ability to prioritize workload

Ability to work under pressure

Leadership skills

Education

Registered first level nurse

Current NMC UK registration

Teaching/mentoring qualification

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Clinical Nurse Specialist

The closing date is 27 November 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and experienced registered nurse to join our Acute Pain team. The candidate must be a first level registered nurse, will have significant post-registration experience with an interest in acute pain management. You will be an integral part of our small, well-established and supportive multidisciplinary team. Working in a fast-paced inpatient setting, you will practice independently, provide specialist advice, education and support to staff, patients, their families and carers.

The individual must be enthusiastic, committed and demonstrate a passion for delivering the highest standard of patient care through quality improvement and education. The successful candidate should be able to develop and facilitate education packages linked with acute pain management. Work in a supervisory way to support junior staff and demonstrate good communication and leadership skills.

Main duties of the job

To provide patients and their relatives/carers, nursing and medical staff with specialist advice and support to manage acute pain and complex symptoms in an acute hospital setting.

To ensure safety and efficacy of pain management techniques by regular patient contact and direct clinical care.

To regularly review the effectiveness of treatment plans and suggest changes as a result of new information or changes in a patient's condition. By working cohesively with all members of the multidisciplinary team and promoting effective liaisons, you will ensure the very best services to patients are provided at all times.

The role is crucial in raising awareness and promoting a wider understanding of pain and pain management strategies, requiring you to be actively involved in staff and patient education.

About us

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Job responsibilities

To independently manage a caseload of patients, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating individual care needs in a manner that maintains and promotes quality and patient safety.

To provide patients and their relatives/carers, nursing and medical staff with specialist advice and support to manage acute pain and complex symptoms in an acute hospital setting.

To ensure safety and efficacy of pain management techniques by regular patient contact and direct clinical care.

To regularly review the effectiveness of treatment plans and suggest changes as a result of new information or changes in a patient's condition.

Give written and verbal advice, teaching patients and their relatives/carers.

To contribute to safe and effective discharge planning.

To work cohesively with all members of the multidisciplinary team and promote effective liaisons, ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at all times.

To act as a patient’s advocate (where necessary).

In liaison with others, enable the development of staff caring for patients through support, formal/informal education and role modelling.

Person Specification

Experience

• Appropriate leadership and management experience
• Experience of undertaking research or audit projects

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Ability to work effectively as member of the team as well as practicing autonomously
• Effective decision making skills and ability to problem solve
• Excellent and effective communication skills - verbally and written, excellent interpersonal and organisational skills
• Ability to effectively organise and prioritise own and team workload
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in an often stressful environment
• Ability to cope with emotional issues presented in the course of work and to support others
• Act as a role model and as a mentor/assessor
• Flexibility and adaptability to meet the needs of a changing service
• Commitment to the development and provision of high quality nursing care
• Awareness of professional responsibilities to self and others

Statutory Registration

• Registered Nurse (adult or Child) on part 1 of the NMC register
• Valid UK NMC PIN

Qualifications

• Registered first level nurse
• Current NMC UK registration
• Evidence of ongoing professional Development
• Evidence of CPD in specialist area of practice
• A teaching/ mentoring qualification and/or the ability to facilitate and mentor the learning of others
• Leadership and Management Course
• Physical Assessment Skills (Adult)
• (or expectation to complete within 18 months).
• Non Medical Prescribing Qualification
• (or expectation to complete within 24-36 months).

Special Requirements

• Good level of computer skills
• Experience of EPR

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.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£38,682 to £46,580 a year Per Annum Pro Rata