Whittington Health NHS Trust logo

Associate Pain Specialist Nurse


Location
Salary
£47,951 - £56,863 per annum inclusive of HCAs
Profession
Clinical nurse specialist
Deadline
31 Aug 2026
Contract Type
Permanent
Posted Date
30 Jul 2026
Medical Protection — the side of locally employed doctors from £83

Job overview

The Associate Pain Specialist Nurse will work alongside the Lead Nurse for Pain Management and Pain Consultants, gaining specialist experience in pain management while helping in the provision of expert nursing interventions for patients and contributing towards the development and implementation of inpatient pain services in line with national priorities.

The team provides five-days a week service to inpatient patients at Whittington Hospital including post-operative patients, trauma patients and a wide range of patients having acute and acute on chronic pain.  The team works in close co-operation with, and supports other clinical, nursing, medical and managerial colleagues.  You will ensure effective communication throughout the Trust to develop and build working relationships with the MDT to facilitate high quality ‘best practice’ and evidence-based innovative care and management of patients with pain.

You will be responsible for contributing towards the day-to-day operational delivery of the Pain Services; therefore, you are expected to provide a visible, reliable and accessible leadership presence to whom patients and staff can turn for assistance, expert advice and support.  Demonstrate good time management and organisational skills to deliver a flexible service that responds appropriately to unpredictable needs in line with professional codes of conduct and local policies and guidelines.

Main duties of the job

  • Develop knowledge of the different therapeutic interventions and strategies that can be utilised in the management of acute and/or chronic pain conditions and teach patients and relatives about their condition, treatment, and self-help options.
  • Carry a caseload and be responsible for providing specialist clinical advice and support to, and liaising with staff, patients and carers.
  • Contribute to the management of inpatient pain referrals received daily from different sources to ensure that patients are reviewed in a timely manner.
  • Make evidence-based, appropriate, and timely decisions about the management of patient care, by conducting assessment, planning and provision of specialist nursing advice and carrying out specialist nursing procedures in line with professional codes of conduct and local policies and guidelines within the wards, A&E and Acute Ambulatory Care, liaising with senior colleagues as required.
  • Will be required to work in a clinical role alongside the pain team and will, in collaboration with the other clinical nurse specialists, train nursing staff in the care of patient and use of different pain management devices such as PCA, epidural analgesia, rectus sheath and other continuous nerve block infusions.
  • Improve and maintain standards of care within the specialty by clinical supervision and self-reflection, using this to improve care and practice.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see attached documentation for full job description which outlines the details of the role and responsibilities.

If you are interested in the role and believe you hold the qualities we require, then apply today!  We look forward to receiving your application.

Person specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Highly motivated and motivating with keen interest in pain management
  • Assertive, articulate and confident communicator
  • Reliable, flexible and ready to step up when need arise
  • Creative lateral thinker
  • Recognises own limitations

Skills and Abilities

Essential

  • Evidence of good interpersonal skills.
  • Mature and sensitive approach to difficult situations.
  • Ability to work independently while maintaining a team approach as a team player.
  • Ability to manage own time and caseload

Desirable

  • Demonstrable evidence of leadership and change management skills.
  • Counselling skills

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Band 5 or higher with extensive relevant post-registration experience in an acute care area or pain management (A&E, AAU, Surgical Wards, ICU/HDU, Recovery)
  • Experience of using IT to support clinical practice.
  • Evidence of participating in the planning of patient care including working with MDT
  • Experience in teaching carers, patients and their family
  • Good understanding and experience in participating in clinical audit, research and QI projects.
  • Evidence of ongoing professional development

Desirable

  • Awareness of national pain guidance and a range of acute and chronic pain management strategies
  • Awareness of the barriers of pain management for patients who belong in the vulnerable group
  • Knowledge and understanding of current issues and developments pain management
  • Knowledge of critical analysis to provide evidence-based practice in pain management
  • Experience and participation in formal and informal teaching of students and colleagues; a practice assessor or supervisor
  • Experience of caring for patients with pain management pumps such as PCA and epidural.

Education and Qualification

Essential

  • RN Degree in Nursing
  • Registered Nurse in NMC
  • Demonstrable evidence of post registration educational continuing development

Desirable

  • Practise Supervisor and Assessor Course
  • Teaching qualification
  • Pain-related post-graduate course
  • Recovery course / Critical care course/Advance Physical Assessment

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Applying for this NHS job

This advert is for Associate Pain Specialist Nurse with Whittington Health NHS Trust in London, London, England. It is listed as a Clinical nurse specialist role. The advertised salary is £47,951 - £56,863 per annum inclusive of HCAs. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 31 Aug 2026.

Before you apply, compare the job description with the person specification and mirror the employer's essential criteria in your supporting information. Use the vacancy title, employer, location, salary, contract type, closing date and posted date (30 Jul 2026) to decide whether this role fits your current NHS job search. If the employer can close applications early, prepare the application before the stated deadline rather than waiting for the final day.

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