Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Cardiothoracics)

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

The closing date is 30 April 2025

Job summary

An exciting new opportunity for a trainee advanced clinical practitioner to work with the well established cardiothoracic Advanced Clinical Practitioner team covering thoracic and cardiac surgery. The trust recognises the important role of advanced practice within our services and our team are well established and heavily supported for training and education.

We are looking to recruit an Advanced Clinical Practitioner trainee (band 7) to work within cardiothoracic who has started their training or someone with Level 6 modules who would be keen to become an ACP in cardiothoracic. Moving to Band 8a upon completion of Master qualification.

You will be expected to have completed an MSc in Advanced Practice & Non- Medical Prescribing certification.

You will be accountable to HCE consultant.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as 'Priority' and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

Main duties of the job

'Advanced clinical practice is delivered by experienced, registered health and care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a master's level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research, with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence.

Advanced clinical practice embodies the ability to manage clinical care in partnership with individuals, families and carers. It includes the analysis and synthesis of complex problems across a range of settings, enabling innovative solutions to enhance people's experience and improve outcomes. (HEE, 2017).

About us

We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience 8a upon Masters qualification

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AJ-S6945151

Job locations

Plymouth Hospital Trust

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

  1. Assess, differentially diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment interventions for patients by virtue of expert clinical judgement in close liaison with the surgical team and other MDT members.
  2. Use expertise and decision-making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with cardiothoracic patients on the ward post operatively, in conjunction with available information from multiple sources to make appropriate, evidence-based judgements and/or diagnoses.
  3. Initiate, evaluate and modify a range of interventions which may include prescribing medicines, therapies, life style advice and care.
  4. Exercise professional judgement to manage risk appropriately, especially where there may be complex and unpredictable events and supporting teams to do likewise to ensure safety of individuals, families and carers.
  5. Ensure compliance with their respective code of professional conduct and work within their scope of practice.
  6. Works in conjunction with cardiothoracic team to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care and implement safe practice at all times.
  7. Work in partnership with individuals, families and patients, using a range of assessment methods as appropriate to provide post operative care and safe discharge of cardiothoracic patients.
  8. Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of their broadened level of responsibility and autonomy. This includes being critically aware of their limits of their own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty and incomplete information.
  9. Be responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions and omissions at this level of practice.
  10. Utilise professional judgement and maturity, understanding when to seek help.
  11. Demonstrate critical reflection on own practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and openness to change.
  12. Demonstrate effective communication skills, supporting people in making decisions, planning care or seeking to make positive changes, using Health Education Englands framework to promote person-centred approaches in health and care
  13. Work collaboratively with an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources, developing, maintaining and evaluating links to manage risk and issues across organisations and settings.
  14. Evidence the underpinning subject-specific competencies i.e. knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope, and demonstrate application of the capabilities to these, in an approach that is appropriate to the individual role, setting and scope.
  15. Act as a clinical role model/advocate for developing and delivering care that is responsive to changing requirements, informed by an understanding of local population health needs, agencies and networks.
  16. Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection control management whilst working clinically and be a role model forother members of the clinical team.
  17. Initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines and in accordance with the legal framework you work under to supply and prescribe medicine

Please also see full JD attached

For further details / informal visits contact: Name Sam Melhuish Job title Advanced clinical practitioner - cardiothoracic Email address samantha.melhuish@nhs.net Telephone number 01752439182

Job description

Job responsibilities

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical Practice

  1. Assess, differentially diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment interventions for patients by virtue of expert clinical judgement in close liaison with the surgical team and other MDT members.
  2. Use expertise and decision-making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with cardiothoracic patients on the ward post operatively, in conjunction with available information from multiple sources to make appropriate, evidence-based judgements and/or diagnoses.
  3. Initiate, evaluate and modify a range of interventions which may include prescribing medicines, therapies, life style advice and care.
  4. Exercise professional judgement to manage risk appropriately, especially where there may be complex and unpredictable events and supporting teams to do likewise to ensure safety of individuals, families and carers.
  5. Ensure compliance with their respective code of professional conduct and work within their scope of practice.
  6. Works in conjunction with cardiothoracic team to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care and implement safe practice at all times.
  7. Work in partnership with individuals, families and patients, using a range of assessment methods as appropriate to provide post operative care and safe discharge of cardiothoracic patients.
  8. Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of their broadened level of responsibility and autonomy. This includes being critically aware of their limits of their own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty and incomplete information.
  9. Be responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions and omissions at this level of practice.
  10. Utilise professional judgement and maturity, understanding when to seek help.
  11. Demonstrate critical reflection on own practice, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and openness to change.
  12. Demonstrate effective communication skills, supporting people in making decisions, planning care or seeking to make positive changes, using Health Education Englands framework to promote person-centred approaches in health and care
  13. Work collaboratively with an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources, developing, maintaining and evaluating links to manage risk and issues across organisations and settings.
  14. Evidence the underpinning subject-specific competencies i.e. knowledge, skills and behaviours relevant to the role setting and scope, and demonstrate application of the capabilities to these, in an approach that is appropriate to the individual role, setting and scope.
  15. Act as a clinical role model/advocate for developing and delivering care that is responsive to changing requirements, informed by an understanding of local population health needs, agencies and networks.
  16. Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection control management whilst working clinically and be a role model forother members of the clinical team.
  17. Initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines and in accordance with the legal framework you work under to supply and prescribe medicine

Please also see full JD attached

For further details / informal visits contact: Name Sam Melhuish Job title Advanced clinical practitioner - cardiothoracic Email address samantha.melhuish@nhs.net Telephone number 01752439182

Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • NMC pin or equivalent professional body with prescribing rights
  • Degree level module within last 2 years
  • oEvidence of recent successful study at Degree/Masters Level, willingness to complete a 3 year MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner pathway

Desirable

  • oILS/ALS/CALS
  • oNon-Medical Prescribing

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • oAbility to motivate and innovate practice, acting as a role model and a resource for learning.
  • oHas a full understanding of the workings of the department and how this fits within the trust and referring authorities.
  • oHas an in depth understanding, of the dynamics and function of the Cardiothoracic Surgical patient pathway, CICU and ward environments
  • oDemonstrable experience in ward and team management and supervision and mentorship of junior staff
  • oDemonstrable experience within a Critical care/acute cardiothoracic/cardiothoracic environment.
  • Evidence of teaching and training within current role
  • Recent management experience within your area

Desirable

  • Cardiothoracic knowledge/ experience

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential

  • oExcellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and contribute with all levels of the multidisciplinary team
  • oAbility to build good working relationships with other professional specialists within and outside the Trust.
  • oExcellent mediating skills
  • oAbility to teach highly complex information and skills on a formal and informal basis to all levels of the multidisciplinary team including junior doctors in group or one to one format.
  • oAbility to communicate highly sensitive and complex information to patients and relatives when giving information prior to cardiothoracic operations
Person Specification

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • NMC pin or equivalent professional body with prescribing rights
  • Degree level module within last 2 years
  • oEvidence of recent successful study at Degree/Masters Level, willingness to complete a 3 year MSc Advanced Clinical Practitioner pathway

Desirable

  • oILS/ALS/CALS
  • oNon-Medical Prescribing

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

Essential

  • oAbility to motivate and innovate practice, acting as a role model and a resource for learning.
  • oHas a full understanding of the workings of the department and how this fits within the trust and referring authorities.
  • oHas an in depth understanding, of the dynamics and function of the Cardiothoracic Surgical patient pathway, CICU and ward environments
  • oDemonstrable experience in ward and team management and supervision and mentorship of junior staff
  • oDemonstrable experience within a Critical care/acute cardiothoracic/cardiothoracic environment.
  • Evidence of teaching and training within current role
  • Recent management experience within your area

Desirable

  • Cardiothoracic knowledge/ experience

APTITUDE & ABILITIES

Essential

  • oExcellent interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate and contribute with all levels of the multidisciplinary team
  • oAbility to build good working relationships with other professional specialists within and outside the Trust.
  • oExcellent mediating skills
  • oAbility to teach highly complex information and skills on a formal and informal basis to all levels of the multidisciplinary team including junior doctors in group or one to one format.
  • oAbility to communicate highly sensitive and complex information to patients and relatives when giving information prior to cardiothoracic operations

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

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

Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Plymouth Hospital Trust

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust

Address

Plymouth Hospital Trust

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Employer's website

https://www.plymouthhospitals.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)


For questions about the job, contact:

Lead ACP - cardiothoracic

Sam Melhuish

samantha.melhuish@nhs.net

01752439182

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

Depending on experience 8a upon Masters qualification

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

216-AJ-S6945151

Job locations

Plymouth Hospital Trust

Derriford Road

Plymouth

PL6 8DH


Supporting documents

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