Job overview
Are you an experienced Advanced Clinical Practitioner looking to be part of an ambitious team that is transforming urgent surgical care?
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an enthusiastic, innovative and highly motivated Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) to join the Surgical Assessment Unit (SAU) at Southport Hospital.
This is far more than a traditional ACP role. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to help shape and develop the future direction of the Surgical Assessment Unit as we continue to redesign services to improve patient experience, reduce unnecessary admissions and deliver timely, high-quality emergency surgical care.
Working alongside consultant surgeons, specialty doctors, nursing teams and the wider multidisciplinary team, you will provide expert autonomous assessment, diagnosis and management of patients presenting with acute surgical conditions, whilst playing an integral role in service improvement and pathway development.
Southport and Ormskirk Hospitals provide healthcare to approximately 258,000 people across Southport, Formby and West Lancashire. Southport Hospital is the Trust's emergency surgical site, providing 24-hour acute surgical assessment and emergency surgery.
If you are passionate about advanced clinical practice, leadership, innovation and delivering outstanding patient care, we would love to hear from you.
Please note the job description and person specification are subject to change as per AfC review.
Main duties of the job
- Independently assess, investigate, diagnose and manage patients presenting to the Surgical Assessment Unit with acute surgical conditions.
- Work autonomously within their scope of advanced clinical practice, making complex clinical decisions and initiating appropriate investigations and treatment plans.
- Independently prescribe medications and request and interpret diagnostic investigations.
- Work collaboratively with consultant surgeons, junior medical staff and the multidisciplinary team to ensure timely assessment, treatment and discharge planning.
- Support safe patient flow through early senior clinical decision-making and admission avoidance where appropriate.
- Provide advanced clinical leadership within the Surgical Assessment Unit and act as an expert resource for colleagues.
- Lead and contribute to service improvement, clinical audit, education and research activities.
- Play a key role in developing and shaping the future model of care within Surgical Assessment Unit, helping to design innovative pathways that improve quality, safety and patient experience.
- Participate in the Surgical Division rota, including seven-day working where required.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
About you
- A registered healthcare professional (NMC or HCPC).
- Qualified as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner with a recognised MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice.
- An independent non-medical prescriber.
- Experienced in autonomous assessment and management of acutely unwell patients.
- An excellent communicator with strong clinical reasoning and decision-making skills.
- Passionate about quality improvement, education and developing services.
Why join us?
This is an exciting time to join the Surgical Division. We are investing in the development of our Surgical Assessment Unit and are looking for an ACP who wants to influence how services evolve.
You'll have the opportunity to:
- Help shape the future of Surgical Assessment at Southport Hospital.
- Work alongside an experienced and supportive multidisciplinary team.
- Influence service redesign and innovation.
- Develop advanced clinical leadership skills.
- Contribute to improving patient flow, patient experience and clinical outcomes.
Please see Job Description and Person Specification attached.
Advertising Date: 22nd July 2026
Closing Date: 29th July 2026
Shortlisting Date: 30th July 2026
Proposed Interview date: TBC
Please note this vacancy may close early if a high number of applications is reached.
Person specification
Other
Essential
- Occasional requirement to exert moderate physical effort for short periods during a given time when moving and transferring patients using hoists and other lifting aids.
- Required to move patients on trolleys and in wheelchairs
- Required to concentrate when carrying out care. Work is generally predictable but occasional requirement to deal with unpredictable emergency situations.
- Working closely with complex patients and their carers
- Supporting patients, carers and families who have been given bad news
- Supporting staff when delivering and patients when receiving complex interventions
- Frequent exposure to highly unpleasant conditions with blood and body fluids
Skills
Essential
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills demonstrating negotiation and persuasion skills
- Evidence of both theoretical and practical skills and competency in Care Management within the specialty
- Ability to manage demanding and challenging workload
- Evidence of both theoretical and practical skills and competency in IV therapy and care
- Ability to handle sensitive situations with tact and diplomacy
- Ability to make effective decisions
- Interpretation of diagnostic tests
- Ability to build rapport with colleagues, patients and relatives
- Experience of MDT working
- Strong leadership and team building skills
- Ability to use own initiative
- Effective time management skills
- Ability to work autonomously or within a team
Desirable
- Enthusiastic, dynamic, self-motivated
- Confident with IT
Values
Essential
- We are kind
- We are open
- We are inclusive
Knowledge
Essential
- Significant demonstrable experience of working in an acute care setting some of this must include working at a senior level managing and leading teams and this will be assessed at interview
- Ability to demonstrate specialist expertise underpinned by theory through CPD
- Excellent clinical reasoning /clinical decision making skills
- Evidence of involvement in the development of programs of care, protocols and guidelines
- Knowledge of Clinical risk management and Governance
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered health professional with legal and accountable responsibilities for non-medical prescribing
- First level registered nurse/professional UK registration
- First Degree (or equivalent experience)
- Post registration course in specialty
- Immediate Life Support
Desirable
- Teaching qualification (C&G730, CertEd, PGCE or equivalent)
- Masters in Advanced Clinical Practice
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Applying for this NHS job
This advert is for Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) with Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust in Prescot, North West, England. It is listed as a Band 8 Nurse practitioner role. The advertised salary is £57,528 - £64,750 per annum. The contract type is Permanent. The application deadline is 29 Jul 2026.
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