Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Job overview

Within the Bucks memory clinics, the current dementia diagnosis and treatment pathway is applied for all referrals, irrespective of presenting needs or complexity, and involves a mix of clinicians, delivering a range of functions. The AP role enhances this by offering a pathway to people with non-complex needs, where the assessment, diagnosis and treatment functions continue to be incorporated into one consultation.

This is consistent with the current ‘one-stop shop’ model’.

The Advanced Practitioner (AP) role builds on and compliments the existing clinical skill mix and assessment / diagnosis / treatment pathway with the addition of a health care professional who can assess, diagnose, and treat dementia within one contact. Where the diagnosis is not clear, the role has access to a clear escalation structure.

 

Main duties of the job

The AP will be an existing independent prescriber or be prepared to undertake suitably accredited training. They will need to be experienced in titrating mediation and prescribing any alternative medication as part of ongoing treatment options.

The AP will need to successfully complete the Advanced Practice in Dementia Masters Module at Brookes University or have completed a similar accredited post-graduate course with content that directly evidences competency in the non-medical diagnosis of dementia.

 

Working for our organisation

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust provides physical, mental health and social care for people of all ages across Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Bath and North East Somerset.

Our services are delivered at community bases, hospitals, clinics and people’s homes, delivering care as close to home as possible 

Our vision is that no matter who you are or where you are, you will tell us that you receive: “Outstanding care delivered by an outstanding team”

Our values are: “Caring, safe and excellent”

At Oxford Health we offer a wide range of benefits designed to support your career and wellbeing. These include:

• Excellent opportunities for career progression
• Access to tailored individual and Trust wide learning and development
• 27 days annual leave, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days with continuous service
• NHS Discount across a wide range of shops, restaurants and retailers
• Competitive pension scheme
• Lease car scheme
• Cycle to work scheme
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aiders
• Staff accommodation (please note waiting lists may apply)
• Staff networking and support groups hosted by our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion team

 

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Provide a diagnosis of dementia where appropriate following completion of a comprehensive clinical 
assessment and within the bounds of the agreed protocol and/or pathway within the service. 
• Ensure the diagnostic assessment undertaken in cases of suspected dementia which includes comprehensive history taking, review of radiological reports, cognitive blood screening test results and ECG, as 
appropriate for the individual being assessed.
• Communicate the diagnosis sensitively to the person with dementia and relevant others. Inform the 
referring clinician of the diagnosis, including subtype, through provision of effective clinical reports.
• Prescribe medication as an independent prescriber within their own sphere of competence and the 
bounds of their approved prescribing status in accordance with the Trust non-medical prescribing policy.
• Review the efficacy of memory enhancing medication that has been prescribed for service users in line 
with the service pathway & protocol. 
• Promote patient choice and understanding when delivering a diagnosis or prescribing medicines, 
including provision of high-quality information both written and verbal to support this.
• Recognise the limits of their own expertise and (in line with the local protocol/ pathway for assessment 
of suspected dementia), request additional assessments from more senior multi-professional colleagues 
when required in the context of complex case presentations or circumstances of diagnostic uncertainty.
• Access regular caseload and clinical supervision (as identified within the local service protocol/pathway), 
to summarise, present and discuss diagnostic assessments that have been completed with a senior 
medical practitioner within the service and/ or nurse specialist (where appropriate). 
• Ensure that the patient’s GP is notified of any changes to that patient’s prescription, including 
commencement of any new medication in accordance with Trust policy.
• In the event of adverse drug reaction, to be accountable for ensuring that the GP/Consultant is advised 
accordingly.
• Provide advice and support to other clinicians acting as a source of expertise.
• Participate in and undertake clinical supervision for junior members of the team within the service on a 
regular basis.
• To keep accurate, professional patient records and to update in a timely way

Person specification Qualifications Essential criteria

• Nursing Degree
• NMP

Experience Essential criteria

• Experience working in Memory Clinic
• Experience of Non-Medical Prescribing
• Experience of delivering diagnosis

Knowledge Essential criteria

• Knowledge of up to date prescribing guidelines
• Knowledge of dementia
• Knowledge of post diagnostic support

• All new starters have a 6 month probationary period. This, together with the induction process, aims to create a positive supportive working environment allowing new employees to learn key elements of their role over a reasonable timescale
• Candidates not currently employed by the Trust who attend an interview for non-qualified Band 1-5 posts are required to undertake numeracy and literacy assessments.
• Appointment to this post is subject to the trust receiving satisfactory references covering 3 years of employment or study. Please ask your referees to respond promptly to reference requests.
• Employees are expected to undertake mandatory and statutory training related to their role.
• We are ambitious in our pursuit of excellence, driven by the belief that a fair, just and fully inclusive organisational culture enables our teams to deliver the best quality of care and services possible and we work hard to ensure that our diverse workforce reflects the communities that we serve. 
• We welcome applications from all sections of the community, are an Equal Opportunities employer with a number of internal networking groups to support our employees and where possible will always look to make reasonable adjustments in order that you can fulfil the role to recognise your full potential. All our employees are committed to demonstrating through their behaviour our core values – safe, caring and excellent.
• Oxford Health is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, we expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
• Oxford is a world-renowned centre of excellence for research. Oxford Health works closely with the University of Oxford department of Psychiatry and the Department of Primary care, has a Biomedical Research Centre dedicated to improving mental health and the NIHR Clinical Research Facility at the Warneford site. The Trust also hosts the NIHR Applied Research Collaboration (ARC) which carries out applied research that directly impacts patient health and wellbeing

Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust are pleased to be a Gold Award holder under the Armed Forces Covenant Employer Recognition Scheme. We have an active Armed Forces network within the Trust and offer a Guaranteed interview scheme to candidates who meet the essential requirements for the job. For more information or any specific questions, please do contact us at Careers@Oxfordhealth.nhs.uk

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