Advanced Care Practitioner/Urgent Care Practitioner

Job responsibilities

JOB SUMMARY:

The role of the Advanced Care Practitioner within the primary care setting is to provide an on the day emergency service for patients, making professionally autonomous decisions. The role will involve the assessment, diagnosis, treatment or referral of patients presenting with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems. The post-holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the decision making process and will work within their scope of competence, working collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of the patients.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice

Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting unscheduled with undifferentiated diagnosis either in the Practice or in patients homes

To support and continue the development of an on the day emergency patient service in the Practice

Independently triage and prioritise patients, being able to demonstrate the use of different techniques to elicit the history of an illness, including past medical and drug history. Carry out physical examinations and use expert knowledge and clinical judgment to identify potential diagnosis

Independently treat patients, including the prescribing of medicines as appropriate and within scope of practice

Refer patients for investigations or to the appropriate specialist

To undertake and interpret diagnostics and take appropriate action to manage patient care, distinguishing between abnormal and normal findings to relate them to a possible diagnosis

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

To refer patients to appropriate care setting, within locally agreed health care pathways

Complete and maintain accurate and contemporaneous documentation on patient records of presenting history, diagnosis, medications and management plan

Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with NICE for Mental Health

Provide clinical advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team where appropriate

Work within the Code of Professional Conduct or guidelines of relevant professional

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment

Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders

Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues

Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g. PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.

Delivering a quality service

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC/HPC

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to national guidelines and evidence based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation

Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities

Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required

In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate

Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Use a structured framework (e.g. root cause analysis) to manage, review, and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near miss events

Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery

Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance

Leadership personal and people development

Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role model

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice

Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work

Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards

Team working

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need

Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time management strategies

Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care

Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

Management of risk

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

Apply infection control measures within the practice to local and national guidelines

Advocate for policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all

Learning and development

Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g. courses and conferences)

Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate

Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and diversity

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity

Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a nondiscriminatory culture

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights

Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies

Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity of good practice

Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care

Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care

Qualifications

Essential

• BSc in Automonous Practice/Paramedic Practice HCPC/IHCD Paramedic qualification
• Level 6 in physical assessment, minor illness, minor injury management
• Non-medical prescribing qualification

Desirable

• MSc Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Currently qualified as an Autonomous Practitioner with minimum 3 years post registration, at least 2 years recent primary and community experience managing patients with undifferentiated medical problems.
• Teaching and assessing qualification
• ALS/APLS provider

Experience

Essential

• Experience as a non-medical prescriber, dispensing as per protocols and the use of PGDs, PSDs
• Experience of triage/initial assessment and ability to give appropriate telephone advice
• Knowledge of safeguarding of both adults and children, child protection, recognition of signs of abuse
• Experience and competency within a current professional portfolio
• Experience in the use of IT based documentation systems supported by skills in word processing and email

Desirable

• Experience as an ECP/ANP/Autonomous Practitioner in an emergency, urgent care or mobile setting
• Experience and skills in injury management
• Experience and competency in performing a social assessment

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Skills in multi-system assessment
• Proven ability to work autonomously and as part of a team
• Ability to professionally and appropriately challenge differing opinions working as a patient advocate
• Current knowledge regarding health education and promotion
• Knowledge and ability to give sound discharge advice and awareness of referral pathways
• Thorough documentation and record keeping skills
• Ability to manage and prioritise workload
• Demonstrate an understanding of clinical governance, its significance and impact upon practice
• Comprehensive understanding of the NMC/HPC Code of Professional Conduct
• Current knowledge of government initiatives and targets including NICE guidelines and their place in clinical practice
• Proficient organisational skills
• Able to work cooperatively within and across the multidisciplinary team
• Act as a role model
• Show enthusiasm for learning and professional development
• Have flexibility and initiative, being able to adjust and respond to changing environments
• Enhanced DBS disclosure

Desirable

• Able to record and interpret ECG
• Ability to inspire and motivate team members, promoting a learning environment
• Ability to undertake home visits
• Current, full driving licence with business insurance

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).