Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Job overview

Are you wanting to develop your autonomy as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner?

We are a growing multidisciplinary service leading in the clinical management of patients within our Community Inpatient Units and Community Virtual Wards across Norfolk.

Our ACP workforce is from a variety of disciplines including nursing, paramedic and physiotherapy with backgrounds in primary, secondary and tertiary care covering a multitude of specialties.

This is an ACP led model which provides additional clinical and technology enabled support to a complex caseload of patients in their own homes and within a community inpatient setting who would otherwise be admitted to an acute hospital, or supporting patients being discharged.

You will make initial and follow up assessments of patients both in stable and unstable phases of their disease. Implementation of diagnostic skills including full history, appropriate clinical examination and request of investigations where required, as such this is a highly autonomous role.

This role involves travelling to various inpatient units and Virtual Ward bases / patient homes across the entirety of Norfolk, therefore a driving licence and access to a vehicle are essential.

We welcome applications from both established ACPs and those able to demonstrate significant potential to be successful in a developmental position.

Main duties of the job

Main Duties & Responsibilities

Clinical

In order to work at this level, professional requirements for advanced practice must be met.

1) The ACP will lead and maintain a culture which is open to change, new ideas, concepts and innovation.

2) Act as an advanced practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional healthcare role.

3) Undertake comprehensive clinical consultations with patients as an autonomous practitioner using their own clinical judgement to diagnose, treat, refer and/or discharge patients.

4) Make direct referrals to primary, secondary and social referrals within locally agreed pathways, guidance and protocols.

5) Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care, delivered in a timely manner.

6) Prescribe, supply and administer medicines as indicated to address patient needs in accordance with own practice or within PGD’s. Use handwritten or electronic prescribing as appropriate.

7) Ensure accurate and complete documentation of each and every patient contact.

8) Work as part of a multi-disciplinary and multi-agency team in order to ensure patients’ needs are met.

9) Utilise critical thinking and problem-solving skills including critical reflection.

Apply now to join an organisation that has been awarded an Outstanding rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the highest possible rating and the first stand-alone NHS community trust in the country to be awarded the title.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

1) Work within the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Team across the Community Inpatient Units and Community Virtual Ward across Norfolk you will provide a variety of step-down care and admission avoidance with the shared goal of providing high level care out of the acute hospital setting, wherever possible

2) Lead complex decision making, challenging conversations and balance risk management as part of your role. We work closely with service providers across the healthcare setting to prevent unnecessary admissions to acute hospitals.

3) Assess patients within the community and inpatient units providing both medical and supportive care.

4) We invite applications for full time or part time posts, flexible working and we consider trainee opportunities.

5) Trainee posts will be Band 7 and negotiated based upon learning needs. Post holder will need to complete a master’s pathway and personalised training before attaining an 8a ACP position.

8) Rotations across both services are an expectation of the role

Professional

1) Combine theory and experience to operate as an expert practitioner. Your expertise will be clearly visible in clinical practice.

2) Work within your scope of practice, follow Trust policy and procedure. Conduct venepuncture / cannulation, catheterisation, ECG recording and interpretation, blood gases/ cultures and verification of expected death as well as interpreting pathology results including bloods & radiology.

3) Clerking of newly referred patients, some of which are acutely unwell and have had no prior workup, ensuring necessary investigations are requested and treatment plans commenced.

4) Provide specialist and advanced skills in patient assessment and scope of practice across a range of specialties such as history taking and physical examination.

5) Lead complex discussions with MDTs / patients / next of kins to identify appropriate locations of care, escalating where appropriate whilst advocating patient wishes

6) Where appropriate lead advanced care planning discussions, lead ReSPECT conversations and plan accordingly

7) Maintain accurate, contemporaneous, and timely care records.

8) Discharge of patients compiling discharge summaries and prescribing medications to take home.

9) Leading on discharge processes ensuring appropriate follow-up / communication

10) Prescribe, administer, and dispense appropriate medications for management and treatment of patient’s symptoms within Trust PGD’s or own boundaries as a prescriber.

11) Respect and promote dignity, choice and autonomy of patients, families and carers.

12) Provide leadership and support during daily Red to Green and MDT meetings to support patient flow.

Clinical governance and service improvement

1) Work with clinical leads, ward managers, matron and medical staff to provide clinical leadership to other members of the team, investigate adverse clinical incidents and complaints.

2) Develop and implement clinical audits and research projects, identifying areas of best practice and areas for quality improvement.

3) Provide support and supervision to assist both internal and external learners to develop knowledge, skills and abilities.

4) Contribute to quality improvement within the service through the identification and indication of changes, which lead to evidence-based practice and improved standards of care.

5) Work with associate Directors of primary care to contribute to patient pathways in line with the EEC Clinical and Care Strategy

Human Resource Management

1) Participate in the recruitment and development of staff in the medical directorate ensuring patient care is high quality.

2) Comply with Trust policies and requirements, undertaking duties in accordance with relevant codes of professional conduct.

3) Creating a healthy working environment, focusing on health and safety policies and risk assessment.

Financial Management

1) Develop services combing high-quality patient care with effective resource allocation/utilisation.

2) Understand business planning and its utilisation in securing funding for service development.

Information Management

1) Manage information processes within the unit and use information to make timely and effective decisions.

2) Educate, understand and abide by the implications of relevant legislation and policy.

3) Provide accurate information to support and develop improvements in services. Contributing to the development of information systems, interpret and analyse data to support decision making.

4) Comply with the data protection act and Caldicott principles.

General Points

1) Carry out duties and conduct yourself in accordance with professional Codes of Conduct reflecting an attitude and appearance that promote the profession.

2) Show evidence of continual professional development using available resources, keeping up to date with current developments within the Health Service.

3) Provide cover across North, West, South and Central Norfolk. We endeavour to maximise efficiency, reducing travel where possible allocating individuals to work in geographically appropriate areas, however if needed, individuals will be required to cross-cover to ensure patient safety and service needs are met.

Care and compassion

Post holders must be able to actively demonstrate and proactively deliver effective and personal care which is safe for patients in a calm, caring and compassionate manner to every patient, every time. This should be at the core of all care planning which actively involves the patient and where appropriate their relatives/carers. With the ability to escalate areas of inter professional and multi-agency care concerns to the Ward Manager, Matron or Director of Nursing in a timely manner.

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.