Refractory Headache Specialist Nurse

Company: Cambridge University Hospitals
Apply for the Refractory Headache Specialist Nurse
Location: Cambridge
Job Description:

Main area Neurology Grade Band 7 Contract Permanent Hours

  • Full time
  • Part time
  • Flexible working

37.5 hours per week (Full time or part Time / Flexible working hours may be considered.) Job ref 180-D-CVA1237

Employer Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Employer type NHS Site Addenbrookes Hospital – Division D Town Cambridge Salary £49,387 – £56,515 Per Annum Salary period Yearly Closing 25/10/2026 23:59 Interview date 02/11/2026

Job overview

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s Neuroscience Center is based at the Addenbrooke’s site. The post-holder will be part of an enthusiastic and friendly team of 1 Consultant Neurologists with a special interest in Refractory Headache management and 2 Clinical Nurse Specialists. In addition, the sub-specialty has input from other doctors, trainee doctors and nurses/allied health professionals from across the trust and the community. The team prides itself of its great deal of team-spirit, co-operation and mutual support as it continues to expand.

Main duties of the job

The Department of Neurosciences is a specialist regional centre for procedural therapies for headache management. We offer a nurse-led Refractory Headache service and the addition of this post will move us closer to our vision for a more comprehensive service. The post-holder will have the opportunity to develop their own interests in Refractory Headache Management and to provide leadership for other clinical staff CUHNFTApplicants must have full registration with the NMC

Working for our organisation

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest teaching Trusts in the country. It comprises Addenbrooke’s Hospital and the Rosie Hospital. We provide accessible high-quality healthcare for the local people of Cambridge and regional and national specialist services. It’s a great place to nurse, work and live.

You will work on a vibrant hospital campus with a friendly community feel; we have excellent facilities to practise your skills and abilities to support your career pathway and development. Our values of Together – Safe, Kind, Excellent support the delivery of outstanding care. We have a fully electronic patient record system that is improving health-care quality; this is transforming services, improving patient safety and clinical outcomes.

Why choose Cambridge University Hospitals?

  • Our values and reputation for outstanding care
  • Opportunities to experience a range of specialities
  • Career and development opportunities
  • Preceptorship and mentoring programmes delivered by a dedicated clinical education support team
  • Research experience and opportunities
  • Lovely location and quality of life
  • Excellent schools/colleges and transport links (road, rail and air)

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Please see the attached Applicant Information Pack (combined Job Description and Person Specification) for key duties and responsibilities.

This vacancy will close at midnight on 25th October 2026.

Interviews are due to be held on 2nd November 2026.

All appointments with a start date on or after 1 October 2026 will be subject to a 12-week probationary period. This provides a structured and supportive period to help you settle into your role, with regular reviews and feedback.

As there is a 12-week probationary period, successful candidates are expected to have the Right to Work for a period of at least 6 months from the proposed start date. Immigration and Right to Work status will be discussed with successful candidates at conditional offer. CUH will not offer sponsorship to candidates that have applied for a fee waiver.

Due to Home Office immigration rules, a full-time permanent vacancy cannot be filled by individuals on a student visa. Therefore, please be advised that if you are a student visa holder, we will not be able to offer you a full-time permanent contract unless you have:– applied for a Graduate visa– or you will have successfully completed your course and have applied for a Graduate visa before the anticipated start date of your employment

Benefits to you

At Cambridge University Hospitals, we want to do all we can to support good working days. We offer development opportunities and a wide range of benefits, including on-site leisure facilities, shopping concourse and day nurseries. Our good work programme currently includes providing reduced cost Stagecoach bus travel to and from Cambridge University Hospital site. Park and Ride bus journeys between Babraham Road and Trumpington sites are free, as is the route to and from Cambridge train station and our hospitals. We also subsidise the cost of parking on site for eligible staff.

On CUH campus, hot food is available 24/7 and at a reduced cost for colleagues. Recently we launched the first of our staff pod break spaces. Located in the Deakin Centre, we have a purpose-created colleague-only café, with free tea and coffee, a break space and private outside area for colleagues to rest, refuel and recharge. Just one of the ways we are working hard to support good working days at CUH.

CUH is committed to assisting employees in achieving a good work-life balance irrespective of role or personal circumstances. Flexible arrangements may include, but are not limited to, part-time working, job-share, term-time working and flexible start and finish times.

We welcome applications from the Armed Forces.

Person specification

Qualifications

  • Registered Nurse educated to Degree level or willingness to undertake
  • Evidence of continuous professional developmen
  • Teaching or mentoring qualification
  • Advanced communication skills/counselling qualification or willingness to undertake
  • Independent prescribing role
  • Research Module
  • Master’s Degree
  • Non-medical prescribing course

Experience

  • Significant relevant experience in the Specialty and ability to demonstrate expert nursing skills
  • Evidence of mentorship/preceptorship roles
  • Accept personal accountability for own practice
  • Experience of formal/informal teaching
  • Experience of initiating change
  • Previous work as a Refractory Headache nurse
  • NHS experience

Knowledge

  • Demonstrate good understanding of evidence-based practice
  • Demonstrate understanding of Clinical Governance, the impact of NICE guidelines and how these are implemented
  • Understanding of patient pathways its complexities and how to support the patient through this

Skills

  • Advanced verbal and written communication skills
  • Capable of working as an integral member of the team
  • Flexible and adaptable to changing situations due workload and colleagues’ needs
  • Ability to undertake teaching of staff and patients
  • Ability to work unsupervised and manage own workload; effective time-management
  • Effective interpersonal skills
  • Commitment to multidisciplinary working
  • Demonstrate analytical and judgmental skills
  • Ability to quickly appraise situation and act accordingly
  • Assertiveness/perceptive counselling skills
  • Documentation, audit and presentation skills
  • Leadership Skills
  • Research and clinical audit

Additional Requirements

  • To act in a professional manner at all times in accordance with NMC Code of Conduct
  • Capable of developing liaisons with other practice areas/academic institutions
  • The ability to understand and behave at all times, towards patients, visitors and colleagues according to the Trust values of safe, kind, excellent
  • Knowledge of broader issues related to specialty – political and Trust

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Tina Morales Job title Refractory Headache Specialist nurse Email address cristina.morales@nhs.net Telephone number 01223254911 Additional information

Dr Jane AndersonConsultant Neurologist Refractory Headacheemail:jane.anderson5@nhs.net

Erica Chisanga

Head Specialist Neurology Nursing Services (Epilepsy, Neuro-immunology, Refractory Headache)

e.chisanga@nhs.net

01223216073

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Posted: October 16th, 2026