Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a dynamic, enthusiastic and motivated Advanced Practitioner to join the craniofacial service.
The post holder will work as a skilled, autonomous practitioner as part of the multidisciplinary team to deliver high quality care to patients. Advanced Practice is delivered by experienced, registered healthcare professionals. This is underpinned by learning at a master's level or equivalent award that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research, with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence. The post holder will have successfully completed MSc level qualification, PACR, PADRAP and Non-Medical Prescribing modules.
The successful applicant may come from various healthcare backgrounds, including nursing, paramedic science and physiotherapy, with most anticipated to be existing Advanced Nurse Practitioners with significant neurosurgical, neurological or pain management experience.
Main duties of the job
Provide skilled assessment of patients including history taking, physical assessment and requesting, interpreting and acting on appropriate tests and investigations in a timely manner.
Using expert and specialised clinical and theoretical knowledge to safely and appropriately assess and diagnose patients in their care.
Act autonomously within evidenced based guidelines to plan and implement individualised management plans. Formulate clinical decisions and often complex treatment plans to manage illness and/or injury.
Demonstrate competence, knowledge and skills in a wide range of practical procedures.
Prescribe as an Independent Prescriber, assessing and prescribing appropriate medication within appropriate specialty guidelines using the British National formulary.
To delegate/refer to other practitioners when this will improve health outcomes or when risk and needs are beyond own competence and scope of practice.
Accept referrals and triage from other disciplines/primary care and provide specialist advice and support to colleagues within the organisation and to the wider team outside the organisation.
Coordinate a multi-disciplinary team meeting and follow up patients beyond the MDT.
About us
North Bristol NHS Trust employs over 12,000 staff providing healthcare to the residents of Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset from our award-winning hospital building at Southmead. We are the regional Major Trauma Centre, and an internationally recognised centre of excellence in a range of services and major specialities. Our vision is that by enabling our teams to be the best that they can be, we will provide exceptional healthcare, personally delivered.
North Bristol NHS Trust values all people as individuals. We aim to be an anti-discriminatory organisation and are committed to building a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and skills. We welcome applicants from all underrepresented groups.
Details
Date posted
29 May 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
Depending on experience training band 7 if not already a band 8a ACP
Contract
Permanent
Working pattern
Full-time
Reference number
339-NMSK1547-DJF
Job locations
North Bristol NHS Trust
Southmead Road
Bristol
BS10 5NB
Job description
Job responsibilities
Procedural pre-admission assessments
Discharge planning.
Manage patient follow up.
Support/turnover/re-referral of patients with symptom recurrences and severe exacerbations
Become an interface for optimising Pharmacotherapies for Craniofacial Pain
Become integral in developing and managing a DIGITAL Platform (Living Well) specific to the service and a first in Bristol Neurosurgery which will enable effective patient interface and follow-up, and generate automated Patient Reported Outcome Measures enhancing Research and Audit. The successful implementation would enable expansion into other Neurosurgery subspecialties.
To learn clinical skills including radiology requesting and interpretation
Application of occipital nerve pain interventional therapies
Become an interface and applicator for Botox therapies for pain and Hemifacial Spasm; and other advanced interventional therapies for headache syndromes.
Develop an understanding and competence to manage neuromodulation systems, and the reprogramming of stimulators as required.
To act appropriately in emergency situations and to be familiar with emergency procedures including fire and resuscitation. To have the ability to lead and direct other staff appropriately in such situations.
To request blood group & screen (G&S) investigations and cross-matching (XM) of red blood cells (RBCs) in accordance with the Trust maximum surgical blood ordering schedules (MSBOS).
To act as an assessor for clinicians undertaking relevant clinical skills training.
To complete IRMER training, ensuring that you work within your scope of your approved non-medical referrer protocol with regard to requesting radiography (E.g CT or X-ray)
Personal & Professional
Be responsible for maintaining current registration with the relevant professional body (NMC / HCPC) and work within the Code of Professional Conduct and relevant Guidelines for Practice and maintain a personal professional portfolio.
Keep up to date with current research and audit findings and base all clinical assessment and management decisions on credible high-quality evidence
Promote integrated working practice between clinical areas and interdisciplinary teams to ensure safe patient care.
To work as part of a cohesive Advanced Practice team liaising closely with medical and nursing staff across the Division
To act as a positive role model for clinical staff. To be actively involved in teaching pre and post registration clinicians as well as an expectation to teach at a regional level on issues related to Craniofacial pain (e.g. neuro course).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Procedural pre-admission assessments
Discharge planning.
Manage patient follow up.
Support/turnover/re-referral of patients with symptom recurrences and severe exacerbations
Become an interface for optimising Pharmacotherapies for Craniofacial Pain
Become integral in developing and managing a DIGITAL Platform (Living Well) specific to the service and a first in Bristol Neurosurgery which will enable effective patient interface and follow-up, and generate automated Patient Reported Outcome Measures enhancing Research and Audit. The successful implementation would enable expansion into other Neurosurgery subspecialties.
To learn clinical skills including radiology requesting and interpretation
Application of occipital nerve pain interventional therapies
Become an interface and applicator for Botox therapies for pain and Hemifacial Spasm; and other advanced interventional therapies for headache syndromes.
Develop an understanding and competence to manage neuromodulation systems, and the reprogramming of stimulators as required.
To act appropriately in emergency situations and to be familiar with emergency procedures including fire and resuscitation. To have the ability to lead and direct other staff appropriately in such situations.
To request blood group & screen (G&S) investigations and cross-matching (XM) of red blood cells (RBCs) in accordance with the Trust maximum surgical blood ordering schedules (MSBOS).
To act as an assessor for clinicians undertaking relevant clinical skills training.
To complete IRMER training, ensuring that you work within your scope of your approved non-medical referrer protocol with regard to requesting radiography (E.g CT or X-ray)
Personal & Professional
Be responsible for maintaining current registration with the relevant professional body (NMC / HCPC) and work within the Code of Professional Conduct and relevant Guidelines for Practice and maintain a personal professional portfolio.
Keep up to date with current research and audit findings and base all clinical assessment and management decisions on credible high-quality evidence
Promote integrated working practice between clinical areas and interdisciplinary teams to ensure safe patient care.
To work as part of a cohesive Advanced Practice team liaising closely with medical and nursing staff across the Division
To act as a positive role model for clinical staff. To be actively involved in teaching pre and post registration clinicians as well as an expectation to teach at a regional level on issues related to Craniofacial pain (e.g. neuro course).
Person Specification
essential/desirable
Essential

• NMC registration/relevant registration
• Successfully completed MSc level qualification, PACR, PADRAP and Non-Medical Prescribing modules
• At least 3 years post registration experience within Neurosurgery, Neurology or Pain Management
• Clinical skills relevant to role
• already completed an appropriate MSc level qualification, they will develop evidence at least 2 years of speciality advanced training within their portfolio (based on whole time equivalence).
• Teaching/assessing qualification
• Able to demonstrate specialist knowledge in relation to Craniofacial pain service, treatments and surgical procedures, and willingness to learn.
• Advanced generalist and specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and experience of the care and management of patients, including history taking, differentiating diagnoses, implementing diagnostic reasoning, using referral pathways, prescribing medication, implementing treatment plans, including when not to treat.

• Excellent critical analysis and advanced clinical decision-making skills.
• Leadership training
• Presentation skills training

• NMC registration/relevant registration
• Successfully completed MSc level qualification, PACR, PADRAP and Non-Medical Prescribing modules
• At least 3 years post registration experience within Neurosurgery, Neurology or Pain Management
• Clinical skills relevant to role
• already completed an appropriate MSc level qualification, they will develop evidence at least 2 years of speciality advanced training within their portfolio (based on whole time equivalence).
• Teaching/assessing qualification
• Able to demonstrate specialist knowledge in relation to Craniofacial pain service, treatments and surgical procedures, and willingness to learn.
• Advanced generalist and specialist knowledge underpinned by theory and experience of the care and management of patients, including history taking, differentiating diagnoses, implementing diagnostic reasoning, using referral pathways, prescribing medication, implementing treatment plans, including when not to treat.

• Excellent critical analysis and advanced clinical decision-making skills.
• Leadership training
• Presentation skills training