Headache Clinical Nurse Specialist

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 56,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in London is seeking an experienced Clinical Nurse Specialist for its Headache Service. The successful candidate will manage patient care autonomously, deliver injectable treatments, and support the multidisciplinary team. Applicants should have a relevant post-registration qualification and advanced clinical skills, with a strong focus on patient-centered care. This is a full-time, permanent position with a salary range of £56,276 to £63,176 per annum.

Qualifications

• Experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialty.
• Experience of audit, research & evidence-based care.
• Proven management / leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Manage a caseload of patients within the specialty.
• Deliver individualised and personalised direct patient care.
• Act as an advocate for patients within the department.

Skills

Advanced clinical skills

Communication skills

Team working

Education

Post registration qualification in appropriate area of specialty

Job description

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated registered nurse to join our Headache Service as a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), working across the Pain Management and Neurology departments.

The Headache Service provides specialist care to patients with complex and chronic headache disorders, including migraine, trigeminal neuralgia, cluster headache, and other facial pain conditions. This role will involve delivering nurse-led clinics, administering injectable treatments such as nerve blocks and Botox, and contributing to the ongoing development of care pathways and protocols.

As a Band 7 CNS, you will work with a high degree of autonomy within a multidisciplinary team, supporting patients with long-term conditions through assessment, education, and evidence-based treatment planning. You will act as a clinical resource, supporting Band 6 nurses and the wider team, and will work closely with medical and AHP colleagues to ensure safe, effective, and patient-centred care.

This post will also contribute to a wider transformation programme aimed at aligning and integrating the headache services across Neurology and Pain Management. You will play an important role in shaping the evolving service model and in driving improvements in access, quality, and patient experience.

Closing date: Midnight 12/08/2025

Interview date: 20/08/2025

Main duties of the job

The post holder will work as a member of our multi-disciplinary team co-coordinating care and treatment of this interesting and complex patient group. Essential to this post is the maintenance of clinical excellence underpinned by evidence-based practice.

You will be expected to provide professional advice and support to other health care professionals caring for patients experiencing headache and work across departmental, divisional and Trust boundaries to provide a patient-centred seamless service.

You will have experience in some of the specialised skills within this multi-disciplinary setting ; and you will receive the necessary additional training, development and support.

Excellent communication and team working skills are essential as this post requires an appreciation of the complex issues that patients with headache; being able to advise patient's pharmacology and an ability to show initiative and understanding in providing support and care for these patients.

The successful candidate will also have the opportunity to assist in the development of nursing education and research at a local, national and international level.

This is a full time position

About us

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust comprises five of the UK's best known hospitals - Guy's, St Thomas', Evelina London Children's Hospital, Royal Brompton and Harefield - as well as community services in Lambeth and Southwark, all with a long history of high quality care, clinical excellence, research and innovation.

Guy's is home to the largest dental school in Europe and a £160 million Cancer Centre opened in 2016. As part of our commitment to provide care closer to home, in 2017 we also opened a cancer centre and a kidney treatment centre at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup. St Thomas' has one of the largest critical care units in the UK and one of the busiest emergency departments in London. It is also home to Evelina London Children's Hospital.

We have around 22,700 staff, making us one of the largest NHS Trusts in the country and one of the biggest employers locally.

Details Date posted

31 July 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£56,276 to £63,176 a year P.A including HCAs

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

196-NM13115

Job locations

Guys and St Thomas's Hospitals

London

SE1 7EH

Job description Job responsibilities

• Please see attached job description and Person Specification
• To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care including injectable treatments for headache and migraine

Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.

Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.

Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.

Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.

Actively engage service users through the facilitation of user groups and open days.

Co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues

Develop and run nurse led clinics where the post holder will co-ordinate the treatment in conjunction with medical staff, and provide treatment which includes injectable treatments for headache and migraine

Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.

• Participate in the promotion of patient centred care, and establish and maintain a supportive relationship with the patient and their family during the period of assessment, treatment and after care

Job description Job responsibilities

• Please see attached job description and Person Specification
• To work autonomously, managing a caseload of patients within the specialty whilst working as part of the multidisciplinary team, delivering individualised and personalised direct patient care including injectable treatments for headache and migraine

Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies in the speciality. To interpret information and take appropriate action and to lead others to do the same.

Act as an advocate for patients within the department, to ensure a patient orientated approach to the delivery of care and to meet standards within the NHS Plan and other relevant guidelines.

Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care and a good patient experience, having regard for their customs, religious beliefs and doctrines.

Recognise and avoid situations that may be detrimental to the health and wellbeing of the individuals.

Actively engage service users through the facilitation of user groups and open days.

Co-ordinate the provision of specialist services to patients, both within hospital and/or in the community setting, effectively liaising with multidisciplinary colleagues

Develop and run nurse led clinics where the post holder will co-ordinate the treatment in conjunction with medical staff, and provide treatment which includes injectable treatments for headache and migraine

Direct, support, encourage and advise clinical teams, by the provision of specialist knowledge and advice in the care of patients within the area.

• Participate in the promotion of patient centred care, and establish and maintain a supportive relationship with the patient and their family during the period of assessment, treatment and after care

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post registration qualification in appropriate area of speciality or equivalent post qualification experience

Desirable

• To have or working towards a non medical physical assessment course
• To have or working towards a masters degree

Experience Essential

• Experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialist area delivering effective patient focused care
• Experience of audit, research & evidence based care
• Proven evidence of management / leadership skills and autonomous practice

Skills Essential

• Advanced clinical, managerial and leadership skills in specialty
• Evidence of teaching skills in particular teaching patients in how to manage their conditions and raise their awareness of their condition
• Able to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care

Desirable

• Ability to interpret and analyse complex data and findings

Person Specification Qualifications Essential

• Post registration qualification in appropriate area of speciality or equivalent post qualification experience

Desirable

• To have or working towards a non medical physical assessment course
• To have or working towards a masters degree

Experience Essential

• Experience of working autonomously at an advanced level within the specialist area delivering effective patient focused care
• Experience of audit, research & evidence based care
• Proven evidence of management / leadership skills and autonomous practice

Skills Essential

• Advanced clinical, managerial and leadership skills in specialty
• Evidence of teaching skills in particular teaching patients in how to manage their conditions and raise their awareness of their condition
• Able to use skills of history taking and physical assessment to direct patient care

Desirable

• Ability to interpret and analyse complex data and findings

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information 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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guys and St Thomas's Hospitals

London

SE1 7EH

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details Employer name

Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust

Address

Guys and St Thomas's Hospitals

London

SE1 7EH

Employer's website

https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/careers/careers.aspx (Opens in a new tab)