Whitstable Medical Practice

Trainee/Qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Frailty

This job is now closed

Job summary

Our General Practice Older Persons (GPOP) Team is expanding and we want you to be part of our development. We are recruiting a trainee or fully qualified advanced clinical practitioner who has a passion for frailty and older peoples care.

You will either be enrolled on an MSc Advanced Practice course or already have this qualification or equivalent. If you are still in training you will be supported through this by our team of experienced frailty advanced clinical practitioners (ACPs) and the wider, supportive general practice team. Our wider team includes GPs, practice nurses, ACPs in urgent care, paramedic practitioners, nurse practitioners, clinical pharmacists, physician associates, radiographers and administrative staff.

As a team we support the care of older people within the Whitstable area, in particular leading the care for all the local care home residents, conducting home visits for those with severe frailty and running proactive frailty clinics. We also provide teaching and support to our colleagues regarding older persons care and link in closely with other community services such as the community frailty team.

Salary

Trainee ACP - equivalent to band 7 rising to the equivalent of band 8a after successful completion of the training.

Advanced ACP - equivalent to band 8a depending on experience.

Main duties of the job

The candidate must have a special interest in frailty, have considerable post registration experience, be competent in assessing patients, arranging investigations, considering differential diagnoses and implementing management plans. It is essential to have professional registration.

The post holder will work alongside experienced Frailty Practitioners in addition to a number of other Allied Health Professionals. They will have strong organisation skills, be flexible and show empathy and compassion. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with evidence of leadership qualities are also required.

About us

Whitstable Medical Practice is a forward thinking single practice Primary Care Network (PCN) GP Practice based across 3 sites in Whitstable. There are 29 equity partners and 6 salaried GP's looking after over 43,500 patients. There is also 22 Allied Health Professionals directly employed - Clinical Pharmacy Team, Frailty Practitioners, Social Prescribers, First Contact Physiotherapists, Podiatrist and Mental Health Practitioners.

We pride ourselves on our innovative approach to Primary Care. We are a training practice and run various in house contracts including Cataract surgery, Ultrasound, Dermatology, Physical Therapies and Audiology together with further community contracts, a Day Surgery Suite and an Urgent Treatment Centre with digital x-ray.

As is typical across the country, we are experiencing an increasing elderly population which is placing additional pressures on the local health economy. There are 10 care and nursing homes in the area all of whom are registered with the practice.

Date posted

08 February 2024

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

A2876-24-0004

Job locations

Estuary View Medical Centre

Boorman Way

Whitstable

Kent

CT5 3SE

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Title:Trainee/Qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Frailty.

Accountable to: Partners, Management Team and General Medical Services Manager.

Principle Liaisons: Partners, Salaried GPs, Frailty colleagues, Consultant Geriatrician, Nurses, General Medical Services Manager and Management Team of Whitstable Medical Practice.

Job Summary

The post holder will apply clinical expertise, levels of judgement, discretion and decision making to the provision of clinical care of patients within the local community of Whitstable. As an ACP they will be expected to work autonomously through the application of clinical skills in relation to the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and the management of the patient.

They will regularly collaborate with the GP's (and other ACP's) at the Practice, consultant geriatrician and other community teams to meet the needs of the patients, upholding National, local and practice policy and procedures

The post holder will ensure that patients, their families and carers are supported and kept informed with the care and management of the patient.

As a member of the Whitstable Medical Practice Older Persons team the post holder will be expected to carry out Home Visits within the local community as well as managing patients within the care home settings.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Patient Care:

To work closely with the GP's and consultant geriatrician in providing a service for patients ensuring the delivery of treatment, care planning and hospital admission prevention where appropriate.

Undertakes first line comprehensive clinical assessment of patients, including those with complex presentations, employing an extended scope of practice beyond own profession including advanced clinical assessment skills, referral and interpretation of investigations and independent prescribing (when qualified).

To provide advanced assessment and care planning, including history taking and physical assessment of patients.

To work closely with the consultant geriatrician, GP'sand patients in identifying and devising effective care for each patient recognising him/her as an individual. The plan of care, which should be developed in conjunction with the patient, carer/family and relevant others, should be outcome based and ensure appropriate pathways of care and communication via liaison and referral to other agencies as required.

To work in conjunction with a wide range of clinical colleagues facilitating a patient or client focused, co-ordinated case management approach across primary and secondary care for people who are most vulnerable to and at high risk of repeat admissions to hospital

To participate in efforts to shape multi-disciplinary pathways designed to support patient choice, improve quality of life, promote self-management and assure early intervention through the proactive provision of care in or as close to the patients own home as possible

Requests, reviews and interprets diagnostic investigations within the context of other available information utilising a systematic process of clinical reasoning to formulate a differential diagnosis (with appropriate support as required)

Involves patients, families and carers in the identification of patient-centred concerns and priorities about health and well-being and negotiates approaches available to prevent deterioration or promote comfort and well-being.

Demonstrates empathy and compassion when communicating sensitive information and advice to patients, carers and relatives.

Evaluates the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions and modifies the management plan accordingly.

Adopts an integrated care approach to meeting an individual patients needs across services through collaboration with care teams who refer patients to the service and those who provide on-going care after discharge

Assesses capacity, gains valid informed consent and works within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.

Provides guidance to the clinical team with regard to therapeutic interventions, advance care planning and best interest decision-making for patients who lack mental capacity

Recognises deteriorating patients, implements early interventions and escalates care where appropriate.

Empowers patients to manage their long-term conditions as independently as possible.

Applies expert knowledge in palliative care to symptom control, recognition of dying and advance care planning.

Refers to other practitioners and agencies when necessary.

Communication and Working Relationships:

Ensure close liaison with GP's, clinicians, consultant geriatrician, and General Manager in communicating clinical issues

Facilitates the communication of highly complex information regarding specialist issues on a range of service developments with the Practice and other health and social care professionals. This communication is directed to professional colleagues, across all areas of the health economy and primary care networks in the CCG or ICB area.

Advanced communication skills are necessary to communicate with patients to gain consent for treatment within a care pathway. Highly sensitive and contentious information is regularly required to be communicated to patients after clinical and medical results are collated, formulating specific management plans which can be an upsetting nature.

Responsible for developing and maintaining effective communication channels with patient, carers and other health and social care professionals.

Promote empathy, enable sharing of complex multi-professional viewpoints and sensitive handling of confidential information

Analytical and Judgement:

The Trainee or Qualified ACP will work across the caseload using their clinical skills to identify the needs of patients and the correct services to liaise with.

Advise on the promotion of health and prevention of illness and provide information to individual and groups to prevent ill-health.

To provide specialist assessment of patients, using analytical and judgement skills. To provide appropriate patient centred treatment using evidence based practice wherever possible.

Analyses and interprets highly complex information gained during clinical examination and history taking to diagnose an individuals problems or illness and to decide on an appropriate course of action or treatment (with appropriate support as required for the trainee candiate)

Analyses and interprets results from tests and investigations to inform diagnosis and treatment (with appropriate support)

Able to access and assimilate previous patient records where available

Identifies evidence based interventions to meet an individuals complex health needs within the context of the overall management plan

Supports the development of a learning organisation by identifying, challenging and reporting poor performance and alerting managers to resource issues which may affect patient safety.

Safeguarding:

Whitstable Medical Practice is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults; and expects all staff and post holders to share this commitment by understanding their role in effective safeguarding.