Trainee Advanced Critical Care Practitioner

Job overview

The successful candidate will be expected to work alongside our friendly, supportive  critical care multidisciplinary team on our 11 bedded adult critical care unit, caring for level 2 and level 3 patients. You will also have the opportunity to work alongside our qualified ACCP's.  We are currently in the early building stages of our new hospital project working on a 24 bedded critical care unit which will continue to support a wide range of conditions and specialties.

Successful candidates will need to commit to attending the course at Southampton University two days a week alongside their clinical commitments at Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. This post requires successful completion of the 2 year tACCP course. On successful completion the candidates would progress to ACCP at Band 8a and work on rotation on the medical rota.

Candidates must be able to commence in September 2025. There is scope to consider candidates who can commit to the university element but need a longer notice period in their current employment.

Main duties of the job

The purpose of this post is to support the successful applicant to successfully complete the Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) Apprenticeship MSc (Level 7) programme through the University of Plymouth’s PGDip and MSc programme with the aim of achieving FICM membership.

The post holder will complete training in line with the Trust’s framework for advanced clinical practice and the individual’s primary professional regulatory body, with the expectation that on successful completion of the PG Dip ACCP the post holder will occupy a Band 7 (AfC) ACCP role and on successful completion of MSc the post holder will move into a fully qualified ACCP role at Band 8a.

The post holder will be working towards fulfilling the expectations of membership of the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine as an ACCP. On successful completion of the apprenticeship programme, the post-holder will be able to:

• Utilise advanced clinical reasoning skills and assessment techniques autonomously in the context of their speciality
• Set appropriate treatment aims and objectives for a complex range of critically ill patients
• Competently plan and implement realistic programmes of investigation and treatment
• Evaluate investigations and treatment plans to assess impact and outcome.
• Relate findings to presenting pathology and revise treatment plans
• Demonstrate advanced clinical competence in area of speciality

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

The tACP (ACCP) is an experienced senior nurse, paramedic, pharmacist or physiotherapist who has commenced or is due to commence formal education at master’s level on a recognised ACP (ACCP) programme with the aim and commitment of progression to qualified ACP (ACCP) level on completion.

The ACP (ACCP) bridges the professional and clinical boundaries between traditional health professional roles and more independent medical care often enabling them to take on the role and responsibilities formerly undertaken by medical practitioners. The tACP (ACCP) will develop the ability to work independently and in partnership with the multidisciplinary team under the clinical supervision provided by a Consultant and/or Team Leader.

For areas where ACPs cover roles previously undertaken by medical practitioners, The tACP (ACCP) will work towards complementing the senior resident medical rota in Critical Care by acting as a senior, expert, skilled resource.

The tACP (ACCP) will assist with or lead audit, research and development initiating the implementation, evaluation and assist development of multidisciplinary guidelines and protocols, incorporating current best evidence in consultation with medical and nursing staff for the care of patients across the Trust.

• Take responsibility for the management of patients within own caseload and supervision/development of junior members of the multi-professional team.
• For those who complete the independent prescribing qualification during their pathway (relevant to role and discipline) the post holder is able to prescribe / de-prescribe medicines for patients as per the legal requirements for their professional regulatory body, National Prescribing Centre and national guidelines and in accordance with the Trust’s non-medical prescribing policy and Trust formulary.
• The tACP (ACCP) has a key working relationship with all members of nursing, midwifery, AHP, medical staff and members of the multidisciplinary team involved in the care of patients.
• The post holder will promote the concept of clinical governance and facilitate the implementation of workforce strategy and work within agreed Trust/department protocols and guidelines.