Job summary
Dorset County Hospital is advancing the care of our frailty services in partnership with our community service providers. Under the Frailty Working Together programme we are excited to be developing our frailty services to include a bespoke frailty Same Day Emergency Care unit. This will compliment other frailty pathways for patients where same day tests and investigations can inform treatments that better meet patient's wishes and reablement in a domiciliary setting rather than hospital. We wish to offer the right, highly motivated person an exciting opportunity to help us create this vision for patients with frailty. This person will be hugely passionate about all aspects of caring for patients with frailty and will drive an ethos of personalised care.
Through CPD, research and audit DCH is committed to progressing the frailty service to meet the future needs of its surrounding community.
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) for Frailty will also bring ideas, enthusiasm and skill to provide new opportunities for our registered and support workforce. We recognise a number of pipelines into the professional registered care workforce through apprenticeships, international recruitment and return to practice and will need to provide opportunities for staff to work across the frailty pathway to better understand how it is connected to ensure smooth patient transitions through it
Main duties of the job
The ACP 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 ACP is an experienced senior Nurse/Midwife/AHP who has successfully completed formal education at master's level on a recognised ACP programme.
The ACP bridges the professional and clinical boundaries between nursing/midwifery/AHP and medical care often enabling them to take on the role and responsibilities formerly undertaken by medical practitioners. The ACP practices both autonomously 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 ACP complements the Middle Grade medical rota and the ACP rota by acting as a senior, expert, skilled resource.
The post holder will use collaborative and independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement, manage and evaluate clinical nursing/midwifery/AHP and medical care and management of patients. The ACP will take a lead in the on-going assessment, investigations, procedures, treatment and management of patients in their speciality area.
About us
At Dorset County Hospital (DCH) we aspire to providing outstanding care for people in ways which matter to them. Our trust strategy is focussed on three strategic goals: People, Place, and Partnership. It signals our intention to truly value our staff. Our people are our most important asset, and we want them to feel valued, welcomed, respected, they belong and matter. We recognise the link between high levels of staff satisfaction and improving patient experience and outcomes.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Dorset County Hospital has a number of employees from overseas delivering high quality services and we recognise the value of diversity in leadership.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Deliver and participate in the clinical care of patients attending the Trust.
- Prioritises health needs and intervenes appropriately.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken. To practice at an advanced level of professional autonomy and accountability that is within the Trusts policies and that of their professional regulatory body.
- Provide a level of advanced and comprehensive clinical skills, assessment based on a specialist body of knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills evidenced at academic level 7.
- To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients, resulting in the safe and appropriate management of patients with undifferentiated, differentiated and complex presentations.
- Ensure patients are informed and consent is gained prior to treatment, investigation and management, as appropriate.
- Take responsibility for the management of patients within own caseload and supervision/development of junior members of the multi-professional team.
- Is able to identify the need for appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret the results.
- To identify and intervene proactively where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients, staff or relatives and escalate these to the Departmental Risk Lead and/or Consultant Leads for Clinical Governance
- To share knowledge and expertise, acting as an expert resource to others across primary and secondary care, as appropriate.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of systems and processes that facilitate patient flow.
- To improve the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients, including issues pertaining to child protection and vulnerable adults.
- 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 Trusts non-medical prescribing policy and Trust formulary.
- Ability to adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care.
- To provide specialist advice on patient care to the healthcare team, taking into account all aspects of clinical governance and act as a specialist resource within the Trust.
- Initiates prescribed treatment and medication (where appropriate)
- Screening of patients for the early signs of disease and risk factors
- Responsible for rapidly and continuously evaluating the patients condition and response to therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities, and modifies the plan of care for optimal patient centred outcomes
- Responsible for both initiating and then terminating an episode of care by either referring on to another agency or by autonomously discharging the patient
- Provides highly specialised clinical advice regarding care.
- Contribute to the review and development of clinical patient pathways to ensure a standardised approach to care.
- Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection prevention and control management and relevant audit within their clinical area.
- Demonstrate dexterity and expertise in physical skills e.g. cannulation, suturing, endoscopy
- Educates patients, relatives and staff as necessary.
- Ensures patients views are taken into account in the decision-making process.
- Participates in meeting and promoting the health education needs of patients and carers.
- Promotes health through co-ordinated activities and programmes with patients, colleagues and carers where appropriate.
- To maintain up to date patient records in accordance with Trust policy, including the use of the Electronic Patient Records System.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Deliver and participate in the clinical care of patients attending the Trust.
- Prioritises health needs and intervenes appropriately.
- To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken. To practice at an advanced level of professional autonomy and accountability that is within the Trusts policies and that of their professional regulatory body.
- Provide a level of advanced and comprehensive clinical skills, assessment based on a specialist body of knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills evidenced at academic level 7.
- To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients, resulting in the safe and appropriate management of patients with undifferentiated, differentiated and complex presentations.
- Ensure patients are informed and consent is gained prior to treatment, investigation and management, as appropriate.
- Take responsibility for the management of patients within own caseload and supervision/development of junior members of the multi-professional team.
- Is able to identify the need for appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret the results.
- To identify and intervene proactively where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients, staff or relatives and escalate these to the Departmental Risk Lead and/or Consultant Leads for Clinical Governance
- To share knowledge and expertise, acting as an expert resource to others across primary and secondary care, as appropriate.
- Contribute to the development and improvement of systems and processes that facilitate patient flow.
- To improve the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients, including issues pertaining to child protection and vulnerable adults.
- 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 Trusts non-medical prescribing policy and Trust formulary.
- Ability to adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care.
- To provide specialist advice on patient care to the healthcare team, taking into account all aspects of clinical governance and act as a specialist resource within the Trust.
- Initiates prescribed treatment and medication (where appropriate)
- Screening of patients for the early signs of disease and risk factors
- Responsible for rapidly and continuously evaluating the patients condition and response to therapeutic interventions and treatment modalities, and modifies the plan of care for optimal patient centred outcomes
- Responsible for both initiating and then terminating an episode of care by either referring on to another agency or by autonomously discharging the patient
- Provides highly specialised clinical advice regarding care.
- Contribute to the review and development of clinical patient pathways to ensure a standardised approach to care.
- Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection prevention and control management and relevant audit within their clinical area.
- Demonstrate dexterity and expertise in physical skills e.g. cannulation, suturing, endoscopy
- Educates patients, relatives and staff as necessary.
- Ensures patients views are taken into account in the decision-making process.
- Participates in meeting and promoting the health education needs of patients and carers.
- Promotes health through co-ordinated activities and programmes with patients, colleagues and carers where appropriate.
- To maintain up to date patient records in accordance with Trust policy, including the use of the Electronic Patient Records System.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Current unrestricted registration as a Nurse, Midwife or AHP
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent qualification
- Teaching and assessing/mentorship qualification
- Registered Independent Prescriber
Desirable
- Leadership qualification/course
- ALS/ATLS/ETC/APLS/EPALS (as relevant to role)
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience
- Minimum of 2 years' experience within the speciality
- Evidence of ability to work & lead autonomously at advanced practice level
- Management of patients with complex needs
- Evidence of delivery of training
- Clinical Supervision experience
- Contribution to audit
- Ability to initiate, sustain and evaluate change within a variety of clinical situations
Desirable
- Management & Leadership experience
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Advanced Clinical Practice skills
- Clinical Examination skills
- In-depth knowledge of current practice issues
- Skills in critical analysis & application of research to practice
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries, to negotiate effectively and resolve complex problems
- Evidence of good written and oral communication skills including presentations
- Able to recognise and analyse complex situations and take appropriate solutions
Desirable
- Ability and initiative to develop specialist areas of interest
Special Requirements
Essential
- Flexible approach to shift patterns and service delivery
Desirable
- Ability to travel to different sites within and external to the Trust
Additional Department Specific Criteria
Essential
- Advanced communication course (Breaking bad news, DNAR decisions
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
- Current unrestricted registration as a Nurse, Midwife or AHP
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent qualification
- Teaching and assessing/mentorship qualification
- Registered Independent Prescriber
Desirable
- Leadership qualification/course
- ALS/ATLS/ETC/APLS/EPALS (as relevant to role)
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience
- Minimum of 2 years' experience within the speciality
- Evidence of ability to work & lead autonomously at advanced practice level
- Management of patients with complex needs
- Evidence of delivery of training
- Clinical Supervision experience
- Contribution to audit
- Ability to initiate, sustain and evaluate change within a variety of clinical situations
Desirable
- Management & Leadership experience
Skills and Knowledge
Essential
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- Advanced Clinical Practice skills
- Clinical Examination skills
- In-depth knowledge of current practice issues
- Skills in critical analysis & application of research to practice
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries, to negotiate effectively and resolve complex problems
- Evidence of good written and oral communication skills including presentations
- Able to recognise and analyse complex situations and take appropriate solutions
Desirable
- Ability and initiative to develop specialist areas of interest
Special Requirements
Essential
- Flexible approach to shift patterns and service delivery
Desirable
- Ability to travel to different sites within and external to the Trust
Additional Department Specific Criteria
Essential
- Advanced communication course (Breaking bad news, DNAR decisions
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.
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.
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).
