Advanced Care Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Job Title: Advanced Care Practitioner - Nurse/Paramedic/ Clinical Pharmacist

Responsible To: Chief Executive, North Hampshire Urgent Care

Accountable To: Director of Nursing, North Hampshire Urgent Care

The primary focus of the role is work as an autonomous practitioner providing high quality and timely patient centred care. A key role of this post is to have responsibility for those patients attending our Same Day Care bases who have primary and urgent care problems and could be safely and appropriately seen by an autonomous practitioner.

The post holder will be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, referral and discharge of a diverse range of patients with minor illnesses and within their level of competence and agreed protocols.

To deliver high quality safe, effective patient centred care.

• To provide competent, compassionate responsive care.
• To communicate effectively with patients, carers and colleagues.
• To integrate clinical knowledge and skills into the out of hours service, providing first contact patient care.
• To integrate clinical knowledge and skills and work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide high quality patient care out of hours.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Care

Act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating clinical competence and a knowledge base supplementing those associated with conventional nursing/ paramedic /pharmacist roles.

Undertake an element of triage, streaming patients to the appropriate service or closing call with appropriate advice and safety netting.

Undertake face-to-face consultations with patients as an autonomous practitioner and using own clinical judgement, diagnose, treat, refer and/or discharge patients within competence and home visit if required

Make direct referrals to primary, secondary and social services within locally agreed pathways, guidance and protocols.

Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care, delivered in a timely manner.

Be an independent prescriber and safely supply and administer medicines.

Provide clinical advice to Administration staff where required

Ensure complete and accurate documentation of each and every patient contact

Work as an autonomous practitioner and as part of multi-disciplinary and multiagency teams in order to ensure patients needs are met.

Professional

Adhere to the relevant Professional Conduct/ Standards and at all times work within the scope of professional practice, in particular but not exclusively to the following:

• Code of Professional Conduct (NMC, 2015)
• Standards for competence for registered nurses (NMC 2008)
• Standards for Medicines Management (NMC 2008)
• HCPC Standards (HCPC, 2016)
• GPhC Standards (GPhC, 2018)

Ensure that professional practice adheres to organisational policies, procedures and guidelines.

Maintain a professional manner.

Maintain confidentiality with regard to information pertaining to patients and staff.

Ensure that the service interfaces with all other stakeholders in a professional and productive manner, providing an effective service to partner organisations and other service providers.

Act as a positive role model.

Communication

Communicate effectively with patients and families regarding complex information about their care

Provide advice and information to patients, carers and their families where appropriate

Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health professionals to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service.

Ensure accurate documentation record keeping in line with local policies and NMC/ HCPC/ GPhC guidelines.

Promote and demonstrate effective communication networks within the organisation, with partner organisations and other service providers

Clinical Governance

Cooperate with all investigations and audits as required.

Adhere to North Hampshire Urgent Cares policies, procedures and guidelines.

Service Improvement

Contribute to quality improvement within the service through the identification and initiation of changes, which lead to better evidence based practice and improved standards of care

Participate in clinical audit identifying areas of best practice and areas for improvement.

Contribute to the setting and monitoring of standards of care.

Help develop the services available to the urgent care population to reflect identified needs

Educational/Personal Development

Contribute to the development and maintenance of an excellent learning environment.

Support clinical practice and development of knowledge/skills.

Adhere to professional registration requirements to maintain professional development, participate in supervision and revalidation in line with NMC/ HCPC/GPhC guidance.

Participate in defining own developmental plan to maintain and develop own clinical skills and ensure own professional development

Undertake and complete all statutory and mandatory training, in line with NHUC requirements in particular for Basic Life Support/Intermediate Life Support, Information Governance, Infection Prevention Control, Safeguarding and conflict resolution. (Access to these training requirements will be available through NHUC if you are not able to access via your primary job).

To access regular peer support and clinical supervision.

Contribute to your own personal development and participate in an appraisal and regular performance reviews.

To support and coach peers, new colleagues, students and personnel on temporary placements.

Other

Demonstrate commitment to flexible working patterns, to meet the needs of the service and staff.

Undertake home visits if within competence and agreed with visiting GP.

Support Emergency Department Primary Care Streaming services if competent and experienced.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse, Specialist Paramedic or Clinical Pharmacist
• Evidence of current NMC/HCPC/GPHC registration
• Educated to Masters level or RCN Accredited
• Accredited Advanced Nurse / Paramedic Practitioner / Clinical Pharmacist Training Programme
• Non Medical Prescribing qualification

Desirable

• Leadership qualification
• Mentoring qualification

Skills

Essential

• Demonstrate excellence in the ability to assess and manage patient risk effectively and safely
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communications skills
• Reflective practitioner
• Time management and ability to prioritise workload

Desirable

• Experience of use Rotamaster
• Experience of Adastra
• Experience of telephone triage and video consultation

Other

Essential

• Flexibility of working hours / able to work at the desired times
• DBS Enhanced Level Check
• Willingness to undergo additional training, education and mentoring to develop and maintain clinical skills.
• Willingness to assist with mentoring, training and support of peers, colleagues, students and placement personnel.

Desirable

• Car driver/clean license
• Ability to undertake training during office hours.

Experience

Essential

• At least five years clinical experience or relevant other field
• Evidence of working as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner / Specialist Paramedic / Clinical Pharmacist with primary care experience
• Evidence of continuing professional development activity to maintain up-to-date knowledge
• Experience of providing whole episode of care to patients
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their own clinical practice

Desirable

• Post reg. experience in A&E unscheduled care, first response paramedic or related fields
• Evidence of leadership and mentoring skills

Knowledge

Essential

• Awareness of policy developments related to the delivery of out of hours primary care services including General Practice, Clinical Governance
• Understanding of evidence based practice including knowledge of national standards that inform practice (e.g. National Service Frameworks, NICE guidelines etc.)
• Understanding of their accountability arising from the NMC Code of Professional Conduct / HCPC standards/GPHC Standards
• Understanding of equal opportunity and diversity issues.
• Good knowledge of Safeguarding both Adults & Children at Level 3

Qualities and Attributes

Essential

• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm to developing clinical skills
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities
• Ability to work as part of an integrated multi-skilled team
• Able to work under pressure
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Able to use own initiative

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.

UK Registration

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