County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Clinical Nurse Specialist
The closing date is 27 November 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivatedand experienced registered nurse to join our Acute Pain team. The candidatemust be a first level registered nurse, will have significant post registrationexperience with an interest in acute pain management. You will be an integralpart 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, theirfamilies and carers.
The individual must be enthusiastic, committedand demonstrate a passion for delivering the highest standard of patient carethough quality improvement and education. The successful candidate should beable to develop and facilitate education packages linked with acute painmanagement. Work in a supervisory way to support junior staff and demonstrategood communication and leadership skills.
Main duties of the job
To provide patients and their relatives/carers, nursing andmedical staff with specialist advice and support to manage acute pain andcomplex symptoms in an acute hospital setting.
To ensure safety and efficacy of pain management techniquesby regular patient contact and direct clinical care.
To regularly review the effectiveness of treatment plans andsuggest changes as a result of new information or changes in a patient'scondition. By working cohesively with all members of the multidisciplinary teamand promoting effective liaisons, you will ensure the very best services topatients are provided at all times.
The role is crucial in raising awareness andpromoting a wider understanding of pain and pain management strategies,requiring you to be actively involved in staff and patienteducation.ves/carers.
About us
If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.
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.
Over reliance onAI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances ofsuccess.
For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.
From April 9th 2025 - Healthcare assistants - You must have a minimum of two yearsof experience working within the NHS as a HCA for the Trust to considersponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria andhave a current visa expiring within 3 months).
Job responsibilities
Toindependently manage a caseload of patients, assessing, planning, implementingand evaluating individual care needs in a manner that maintains and promotesquality and patient safety.
Toprovide patients and their relatives/carers, nursing and medical staff withspecialist advice and support to manage acute pain and complex symptoms in anacute hospital setting.
To ensuresafety and efficacy of pain management techniques by regular patient contactand direct clinical care.
Toregularly review the effectiveness of treatment plans and suggest changes as aresult of new information or changes in a patient's condition.
Givewritten and verbal advice, teaching patients and their relatives/carers.
Tocontribute to safe and effective discharge planning.
To workcohesively with all members of the multidisciplinary team and promote effectiveliaisons ensuring that the very best services to patients are provided at alltimes.
To act asa patients advocate (where necessary).
Inliaison with others, enable the development of staff caring for patientsthrough 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 yearPer Annum Pro Rata
#J-18808-Ljbffr