The Acute Pain Service provides specialist clinical leadership and support to ensure safe, effective, and evidence-based pain management across inpatient areas.
The service supports the assessment, monitoring, and optimisation of pain management for patients with complex needs, including post-operative, acutely unwell, and high-risk patients. It provides expert guidance on analgesia prescribing, including opioid stewardship, regional techniques, and multimodal pain management approaches.
The team works collaboratively with medical, nursing, and multidisciplinary teams to:
Improve consistency and safety of pain management
Support early recognition of complications related to analgesia
Facilitate timely recovery, mobilisation, and discharge
Deliver education and competency development for ward staff
The service plays a key role in improving patient experience, reducing variation in care, and supporting delivery of safe, high-quality clinical outcomes in line with national standards and Trust priorities.
PLEASE NOTE, WE MAY CLOSE THIS VACANCY EARLY IF WE RECEIVE A HIGH NUMBERS OF APPLICATIONS.
Provide specialist clinical assessment and management of patients with acute and complex pain across inpatient areasDeliver expert advice on analgesia prescribing, including opioid stewardship, regional techniques, and multimodal pain managementSupport early identification and management of complications related to pain and analgesia (e.g. over-sedation, respiratory compromise)Work collaboratively with medical, nursing and MDT teams to optimise patient recovery, mobilisation, and dischargeDevelop and embed evidence-based pain management protocols, guidelines, and pathwaysLead on education and training to improve staff competence and confidence in pain assessment and managementContribute to patient safety improvement, reducing variation in care and preventable harmParticipate in audit, quality improvement, and governance processes, including incident review and learningSupport delivery of key organisational priorities, including patient flow, reduced length of stay, and improved patient experience
Act as a clinical expert and resource for pain management across the Trust
Provide specialist advice and support to MDT colleagues, reducing variation in care
Promote a culture of safe, personalised, patient-centred care
Support escalation and clinical decision-making for complex patients
Deliver education and training to ward staff to improve pain management competence
Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust is an integrated Trust and the only provider of NHS acute care in Walsall, serving a population of 284,300, providing inpatient and outpatient services at the Manor Hospital as well as a wide range of services in the community. Walsall Manor houses the full range of district general hospital services under one roof. The £170 million development was completed in 2010 and the continued upgrading of existing areas ensures the Trust now has a state-of-the-art Critical Care Unit, Neonatal Unit, Obstetric Theatre, and Integrated Assessment Unit facilities.
A new Urgent Emergency Care Centre was opened in March 2023. The two-storey development has significantly improved emergency care facilities and capacity and has provided almost 5,000 square metres of additional clinical space.
The post holder will deliver expert, evidence-based acute pain management across inpatient services, providing specialist assessment, intervention and ongoing review for patients with complex pain needs.
Working autonomously and as part of the multidisciplinary team, the role will lead on safe, effective and consistent pain management practice, supporting improved patient outcomes, experience and recovery.
The post holder will act as a visible clinical leader, providing specialist advice, supporting staff education, and contributing to service development, quality improvement, and governance to ensure delivery of high-quality care in line with Trust and national standards.
Clinical Practice
Deliver specialist assessment, planning and management of patients with acute and complex pain
Manage a defined caseload autonomously, including referral triage and prioritisation
Undertake advanced assessments and implement appropriate pain management interventions (e.g. PCA, epidural, infusions)
Lead or participate in acute pain ward rounds and multidisciplinary reviews
Ensure safe and effective prescribing and medicines management (including controlled drugs where applicable)
