Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Frailty SDEC/CAU)

NHS; Wigan; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job description

Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Frailty SDEC/CAU)

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

We are looking for an enthusiastic and passionate colleague to join us for a 12 month period to support the development of the next stages of our Frailty SDEC Unit & co-located Frailty Short Stay Unit as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP).

The post holder needs to be an experienced advanced level practitioner with a non-medical prescribing qualification (NMP), working autonomously with skills in assessment, examination and providing diagnosis and management for patients across the frailty pathway. Substantial NHS experience is essential but we welcome applications from nursing and AHP practitioners.

This is a full time post (37.5 hours) working Monday to Friday. It is fixed term for 12 months to cover maternity leave.

Existing NHS/WWL staff are encouraged to apply for this post as a secondment. The substantive line manager's approval must be secured prior to interview and written approval must be provided during pre-employment checks. This post may become permanent if the substantive postholder does not return.

Main duties of the job

You will join a team of skilled frailty practitioners including ACPs, nurses, AHPs, pharmacists and medical team (incorporating Geriatricians and General Practitioners) and our newly appointed Consultant Practitioner (Frailty) demonstrating advanced clinical skills and knowledge to enable the management of frailty patients within the Frailty SDEC.

You will work as an autonomous ACP within the Frailty SDEC and associated frailty short stay unit. You will be required to make independent clinical decisions and initiate investigations, direct and use the results of specialist investigations (e.g. blood tests, chest x-rays, ECGs, CT scans etc.) to assist in the formulation of diagnosis and plans of care and treatment leading to the patient's discharge back into the community.

You will work closely with ED and Community Response Team (CRT) ensuring timely transfer of frailty patients to the Frailty SDEC service.

Job responsibilities

Key results from the job holder

• The post holder will be professionally and legally responsible and accountable for all aspects of your own work including the management of patients in your care.
• The post holder will be responsible for providing face to face consultations for patients in the Community Assessment Unit.
• The post holder will provide clinical leadership and support for members of the multidisciplinary team.
• The post holder will be able to take a comprehensive patient history, carry out physical examinations and use expert knowledge and clinical judgement to identify the potential diagnosis.

Planning and Organisational Duties

• Work within the Trust's Policies and Procedures and the parameters set down in agreed local clinical protocols and guidelines and national guidelines such as those published by NICE.
• Organise the clinical management of individual patients, utilising clinical knowledge and advanced skills to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and initiate changes where required. This will include monitoring and evaluating the responses to treatment through analysis and interpretation of clinical tests and investigations and the discharge of the patient.
• Apply appropriate advanced clinical and technological skills in response to the changing needs of care and the dynamic state of healthcare services.
• Facilitate the development of clinical practice through research and education of the multidisciplinary team, by integrating theory with practice.
• Evaluate care through quality assurance initiative and assessment of clinical outcomes.
• Be an expert clinical resource for other health care practitioners.
• Take every opportunity to promote the health of patients and initiate health education strategies as necessary.
• Participate in risk management and risk assessment working closely with other members of the clinical team.
• Continually develop own professional practice as indicated by the changing needs of services / patients.
• Participate in the development of the quality and audit strategy, which includes standard setting and development of audit tools.
• Participate in developing and updating clinical protocols in care in responses to advances in clinical practice.

Communications and Key Working Relationships

• Accept, make and receive referrals to and from other health care professionals. Communicate patients' conditions, verbally and in writing, to other members of the healthcare team and contribute to decision-making processes in patient management.
• Communicate on an ongoing basis with the GP, Community Medical Lead, Senior Registrar / Consultant responsible for the patient - updating him / her on changes / progress.
• Participate in ward rounds, perform case presentation and contribute to the decision making process in patient management.
• Act as a resource, providing clinical leadership and facilitating professional development amongst the multidisciplinary team both within and outside the organisation.
• Promote best practice, utilising local and regional benchmarking groups for the generation and promotion of standards and clinical guidelines.
• Contribute to clinical governance arrangements by providing expert input and securing quality improvement, including influencing other disciplines, to help deliver quality services.

Responsibility for Finance

• Ensuring the effective use of all financial resources in providing and delivering the service.
• Identifying and implementing cost improvement programmes within the service.

Responsibility for Human Resources

• Involvement in staff engagement and patient feedback.
• Undertake clinical audit and audit the evaluation of practice of self and others.

Responsibility for Health & Safety

Compliance with the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 the post holder is required to fulfil a proactive role towards the management of risk in all of their actions. This entails the risk assessment of all situations, the taking of appropriate actions and reporting of all incidents, near misses and hazards, and a statutory duty of care for their own personal safety and that of others who may be affected by their acts or omissions.

Responsibility for Teaching

• Facilitate research-based practice, assist in disseminating research findings and support changes in care.
• Take part in/ lead research projects, as appropriate, in order to enhance knowledge of the role and / or patient outcomes.
• Support and facilitate other staff who are undertaking research / audit projects.
• Provides clinical leadership, acts as a resource and facilitate professional development amongst the multidisciplinary team both within and outside the organisation.
• Promote best practice, utilising local and regional benchmarking groups for the generation and promotion of standards, nursing and clinical guidelines.
• Contribute to clinical governance arrangements by providing expert input and securing quality improvement, including influencing other disciplines, to help deliver quality services.
• Contribute to the Induction programme of staff as required.
• Contribute to the development, supervision and training of other clinical staff.
• Support healthcare practitioners, students and others, as required, to achieve appropriate levels of competence in practice.
• Participate and provide clinical supervision for self and others.

Work Circumstances & on-call

The unit is open 7 days per week and shifts will be between 0800 and 2000.

Person Specification

Qualifications

• NMC or HCPC Registered Practitioner
• MSc Advanced Practice
• Non-Medical Prescribing Qualification
• PhD
• Frailty qualification

Experience

• Clinical experience of working as an autonomous ACP
• Substantial NHS experience
• SDEC experience

Skills

• Advanced communication skills
• Excellent team working skills
• Able to motivate and encourage others

Knowledge

• Knowledge of managing acutely unwell patients
• Undertaking clinical audits and implement changes in practice

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.

Wrightington Wigan & Leigh Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Deputy Director of Nursing & AHPs (Community)