Clinical Nurse Specialist - Pain Management in Carmarthen

Join Hywel Dda University Health Board's Inpatient Acute Pain Service as a motivated and forward-thinking Registered Nurse, where you'll play a key role in delivering safe, high-quality, patient-centred care within a supportive and dynamic team. We are recruiting a Clinical Nurse Specialist, ideally with experience in pain management services. However, applicants with the relevant knowledge, skills, and a willingness to develop are encouraged to apply, with an Annex 21 training programme available.

Experience should include managing patients receiving regional analgesia (e.g. epidurals or nerve blocks), patient-controlled analgesia (PCA), and complex acute or acute-on-chronic pain. You will join a friendly, supportive team focused on excellent care and continuous professional development. The role requires autonomous working, effective prioritisation, and strong communication with multidisciplinary teams including anaesthetists, pharmacists, ward staff, and allied health professionals. You will also contribute to education across teams and wider service development.

This is a permanent, full-time post working across Glangwili (clinical base site) and Withybush General Hospitals, depending on service need. We welcome enquiries from candidates interested in developing a career in pain management, even if you don't currently meet all the criteria or would like to discuss working across two sites – please feel free to get in touch to discuss further.

The successful candidate will:

• Autonomously assess and manage patients with acute and acute-on-chronic pain using evidence-based approaches, including PCA, regional analgesia, and other advanced pain management techniques.
• Provide professional and clinical leadership in the care of inpatients with acute pain, acting as a key resource for patients, carers, and staff.
• Support patients in making informed decisions about managing complex health needs through the provision of high-quality, evidence-based guidance.
• Offer expert advice and guidance to multidisciplinary teams to ensure safe and effective pain management.
• Lead and contribute to the development of patient information resources and clinical guidelines.
• Play a key role in shaping good practice by contributing to protocol and guideline development.
• Deliver specialist education and training across multidisciplinary teams, including designing, delivering, and evaluating teaching programmes.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines and services, fostering strong professional relationships and shared learning.
• Contribute to service development through audit, research, and quality improvement initiatives, ensuring high professional standards are maintained.
• Engage in networking opportunities locally and across Wales.

This role provides excellent opportunities for professional growth, leadership development, and progression within a supportive and forward-thinking service.

This post is advertised as a Band 7, however applicants who do not currently hold all the necessary competencies to a Band 7 level are encouraged to apply and, if successful, will be appointed under Annex 21 rules whereby 60% of the top of Band 7 will be payable in the first year, 65% second year, 70% third year and 75% fourth year. Applicants would be supported to develop their competencies required to fulfil the role within four years via a development plan. Following successful completion and attainment of the skills and competencies for the role, the post holder will then be paid at Band 7 (minimum point on the scale). Failure to achieve the competencies in the designated timeframe could result in re-deployment.

As part of the Annex 21 process, there is no financial penalty to those who apply for this role where the percentage will cause a reduction in pay, subsequently a local protection would be put in place until the pay has caught up. Applicants will be able to find a full job description and person specification attached within the supporting documents.

Qualifications and Knowledge

• Registered first level Nurse with NMC Registration
• Educated to Master's level or equivalent experience (with a willingness to work towards this)
• Teaching qualification or experience.
• Evidence of post registration education in pain management.
• Relevant degree or commitment to study at degree level.
• Clinical knowledge of acute/chronic pain and its management.
• Understanding of the bio-psychosocial nature of chronic pain experience and management.
• Understanding of cognitive behavioural therapy.
• Supplementary /Independent prescriber.
• MSc Pain Management.
• Evidence of study / research in this field.

Experience

• Experience of working within a multiprofessional environment.
• Able to work autonomously.
• Prior experience using a biopsychosocial approach to treatment.
• Experience in the care of patients with regional analgesia and Patient Controlled Analgesia.
• Proven commitment to pain management care by evidence of professional development.

Language Skills

• Welsh Speaker (Level 1) – desirable for this post.

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.