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Job summary

Main area
Neurology
Grade
NHS AfC: Band 6
Contract
9 months (Secondment 9 months)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
153-ME06731
Employer
University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust
Employer type
NHS
Site
Poole Hospital
Town
Poole
Salary
£39,959 - £48,117 per annum
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
16/09/2026 23:59
Interview date
25/09/2026

Employer heading

University Hospitals Dorset NHS Foundation Trust logo

Headache Nurse Specialist

NHS AfC: Band 6

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce. 

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic and motivated registered nurse to join the Dorset Headache Service on a Band 6 secondment basis.

This role offers an excellent development opportunity for a nurse with an interest in neurology, specialist outpatient services and advanced therapeutic interventions. Working within the Dorset Headache Service, the successful candidate will play a key role in supporting patients with chronic migraine and complex headache disorders, alongside patients requiring injectable therapies within the Movement Disorders Service.

A key feature of this role is the opportunity to undertake specialist training in the delivery of Botulinum Toxin treatment for chronic migraine and other advanced headache therapies.
 

The post holder will work closely with Consultant Neurologists, delivering high-quality patient-centred care and supporting the continued provision and development of specialist headache services across Dorset.

This 9 month secondment provides a unique opportunity to gain specialist knowledge and skills in headache management, advanced migraine therapies and nurse-led service delivery while contributing to the future direction of the service.

Interview: 25th September

Main duties of the job

The successful candidate will:

  • Coordinate and support the delivery of the Dorset Headache Service.
  • Provide specialist nursing care to patients with chronic migraine and complex headache disorders.
  • Deliver and monitor advanced headache treatments, including Botulinum Toxin therapy and CGRP monoclonal antibody treatments, following training and competency assessment.
  • Support delivery of injectable therapies within the Movement Disorders Service.
  • Undertake patient assessment, treatment reviews and follow-up within agreed protocols.
  • Provide information, education and support to patients and carers.
  • Act as a key point of contact for patients accessing the service.
  • Monitor clinical outcomes and maintain accurate patient records.
  • Participate in audit, service evaluation and quality improvement initiatives.
  • Work collaboratively with Consultant Neurologists and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective patient care.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

For UHD employees, this fixed-term post will be offered as a secondment in line with the Trust’s Secondment Policy. Please speak with your line manager before applying.

 

 

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

For a more detailed job description and person specification, please refer to the documents attached to this advert. 

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential criteria
  • NMC UK Registered Nurse
  • Evidence of continual professional development
Desirable criteria
  • Non-medical prescribing course
  • Physical Examination of the Adult Course
  • Teaching/mentorship qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Clinical experience in outpatient settings
  • Clinical experience in headache disorders/neurology
  • Experience working in a multi-disciplinary team
  • Evidence of working independently
Desirable criteria
  • Familiar in the use of injectable treatments and monoclonal CGRP antibodies for headache and migraine
  • Previous case holding experience

Technical Skills Competencies

Essential criteria
  • IT literacy using a range of current and relevant packages (Medisight, EPR, E-camis)
  • Leadership ability, change management skills, planning and prioritisation, problem solving
  • commitment to personal and professional development and development of others
Desirable criteria
  • Qualified non-medical prescriber or working towards it

Knowledge

Essential criteria
  • Demonstrable knowledge and experience of working with aseptic techniques
  • Have an awareness of different types of headaches and treatment plans
  • Awareness of medications and prescriptions required
Desirable criteria
  • Demonstrate up to date knowledge, skills and expertise in the speciality of headache disorders/neurology including national policies and guidelines

Personal Attributes

Essential criteria
  • Ability to work unsupervised and on own initiative
  • Ability to prioritise effectively
  • Ability to work under pressure and with frequent interruptions ·
  • Flexible working pattern

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Disability Confident - two yearsUHD ValuesApprenticeships logoArmed Forces Covenant Gold AwardStonewall equality policy. Equality and justice for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans people.Step into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Jody Bryant
Job title
Senior Matron Networked medicine
Email address
[email protected]
Telephone number
03000198573
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