Advanced Nurse Practitioner/ Advanced ECP - Home Visiting Clinician

Advanced Nurse Practitioner/ Advanced ECP - Home Visiting Clinician

Working as part of the Care Home Enhance Rapid Response service (CHERRS).

The aim of the service is to target urgent, emergency, unscheduled, and acute episodes of care in patients residing in care homes who would otherwise be at risk of hospital attendance or admission. The service provides a rapid response which ensures the unwell patient receives prompt examination and treatment by an advanced practitioner. You will be expected to assess episodes of acute/chronic illness and will be competent in the clinical examination, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of the patient, including prescribing where appropriate.

Main duties of the job

Must have Prescribing Qualification

To succeed, you will be a practicing advanced nurse practitioner/advanced paramedic with previous experience in urgent and emergency care. You will demonstrate a high standard of clinical skills. You will also have the ability to communicate, liaise, and interact effectively with multi-professional teams across organisational boundaries, including the ambulance service, primary care, social services, and secondary care providers.

Strong organisation and time management skills are essential, as is the ability to prioritise your workload. You will also have experience using various clinical IT systems, in addition to basic IT literacy.

About us

The ELM Alliance is a not-for-profit Federation of all independent GP practices throughout South Tees which covers over 300,000 patients. Members of the Alliance remain independent organisations, whilst collaborating in the development of local primary care.

The ELM Alliance CHESS service was first commissioned in June 2017 and has been successful in securing ongoing funding from June 2018. The service is provided Monday to Sunday 8am - 6pm, excluding Bank Holidays.

Job responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical

To provide assessment at first point of contact by attending to patients in care/nursing homes presenting with acute/chronic conditions.

1. To prioritise patients including urgent situations, demonstrating the use of clinical assessment skills to obtain history, patient examination, diagnosis and treatment, including non-medical prescribing where appropriate.
2. To evaluate clinical information from examination and history taking, and initiate appropriate treatment and/or referral.
3. To undertake and interpret diagnostics and take appropriate action to manage patient care.
4. To signpost appropriately to other services in the identified healthcare pathway.
5. To refer patients to appropriate care settings, within locally agreed healthcare pathways.
6. To discharge or treat, as appropriate and within the scope of practice.
7. To prescribe as an independent non-medical prescriber.
8. To maintain accurate and systematic documentation of patient interactions and clinical care provided, including adverse events.
9. To provide clinical advice to other members of the team where appropriate.

Confidentiality:

Under the Data Protection Act 1998, the ECP must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients and staff. Sensitive information in relation to a person's health and circumstances is of a confidential nature and information gained must not be communicated to other persons except in the recognised course of duty. Unauthorised disclosure of confidential information (including information about the organisation's business) will result in disciplinary action and may lead to your dismissal. If at any time you are in doubt regarding the use of information in the course of your duties, you should seek advice from the designated line manager before communicating any such information to any third party.

Data Protection:

The ECP will not use data held by ELM ALLIANCE or provide data to a third party for any purpose other than required within the remit of their duties.

Health & Safety:

The ECP will be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) to ensure that the agreed procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors, and staff.

The ECP will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety, and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

1. Identifying risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
2. Compliance with all infection control procedures.
3. Maintenance and security of any equipment allocated in the course of any.
4. Ensuring work areas are clean, safe, and free from hazards.
5. Reporting any potential risks identified.

Equal Opportunities and Diversity:

Promotes the concept of equality of opportunity and managing diversity service wide. Acts in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation. Respects the privacy, dignity, needs, and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues. To work within the organisations framework and local policies for lone workers.

Quality:

The ECP will comply with quality requirements within the organisation, and will: Be aware of any governance, patient safety, quality issues and potential risks; Co-operate with complaints, internal investigations and significant event analysis; Participate in the organisations quality review programme, which includes triage call review and analysis of triage outcomes, as well as patient satisfaction surveys; Assess own performance and take accountability for individual actions, either directly or under supervision; Work effectively with other health and social care providers to meet patients needs; Effectively manage own time, workload and resources, contributing to the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the organisation.

Communication:

The advanced practitioner will demonstrate effective communication within the team and will ensure:

1. Effective communication with other professional colleagues.
2. Effective communication with patients and carers.
3. Utilise alternative methods of communication as appropriate.

Professional standards and performance review:

Maintains consistent high professional standards and acts in accordance with the relevant code of professional conduct. The advanced practitioner will be required to attend all mandatory training expected to participate in the performance review process.

Flexibility Statement

The content of this Job Description represents an outline of the post only and is therefore not a precise catalogue of duties and responsibilities. The Job Description is therefore intended to be flexible and is subject to review and amendment in the light of changing circumstances, following consultation with the post holder.

Safeguarding

ELM ALLIANCE has a responsibility to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults who use our services. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this responsibility. As part of the selection process for this post you will be required to undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service Check. If you are successfully appointed, you will receive confirmation of which checks and/or registration you are required to have.

The Service is a non-smoking environment and no-one may smoke in the building or its environs during their working hours.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

• Able to work cooperatively with the multi-disciplinary team.
• Able and willing to develop professionally.
• Able to use own initiative.
• Able to act as a role model.
• Able to motivate other team members.
• Able to promote a learning environment.

Experience

• Ability to manage and prioritise workload.
• Proven ability to work autonomously and as part of a team.
• Previous experience of non-medical prescribing.
• Current knowledge of government targets, initiatives, N.I.C.E. guidelines and their impact on clinical practice.
• Knowledge of adult protection issues.
• Understanding of clinical governance and its significance and impact upon practice.
• Good communication skills.
• Basic IT skills in word processing and e-mail.
• Experience of triage/initial assessment.
• Able to work autonomously, using own clinical judgment to form a diagnosis.
• Knowledge of medical model of documentation.
• Able to give appropriate telephone advice.
• Understanding of health education/promotion.
• Able to give relevant discharge advice.
• Experience of following referral pathways.
• Evidence of experience/competency in the form of a professional portfolio.
• Experience of clinical audit.
• Experience of research projects.
• Leadership skills.
• Experience as an autonomous practitioner within urgent and or emergency care.
• Experience of working with care homes.
• Experience in using I.T based patient documentation system (TPP System 1).
• Sound organisational skills.
• Able to professionally and appropriately challenge differing opinions as a patient advocate.
• Record keeping skills.
• Experience of performing a social assessment.

Other requirements

• Vaccine and immunity status in accordance with UK Department of Health Guidelines.
• Able to deal with sensitive issues e.g. sudden death/bereavement, child abuse, domestic violence.
• Able to adjust and respond in rapidly changing environments.
• Able to work in a calm and organized manner in situations of extreme workload.
• Able to undertake home visits.
• Able to work flexibly: The post requires working within usual practice hours, but there may be the need to provide very occasional sessions in the evening or at weekends.
• Hold a current driving licence.
• Enhanced DBS disclosure.

Qualifications

• Current registered Nurse (NMC) or registered Paramedic (HPC).
• Evidence of continued professional development.
• University accredited advanced physical assessment skills course level 6/7 / ECP qualification.
• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification.
• Previous experience in urgent or emergency care.

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.

£49,725 a year FTE post probation - Plus enhancements for weekend working.