Advanced Clinical Practitioner

1. Clinical/patient care To deliver and participate in the clinical care of patients working as a highly autonomous practitioner. To ensure that every patient receives specialised advice and appropriate management to facilitate a safe discharge, transfer or admission as required. Provide a level of advanced and comprehensive assessment based on a specialist body of knowledge, with a focus on assessing and managing risk.

Direct responsibility for the management of patients within own case load and supervision /development of junior members of the multidisciplinary team. To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients, resulting in the safe management, appropriate referral or discharge of patients To gain collateral history for patients to ensure appropriate management decisions are taken, this includes accessing summary care records To manage patient expectations using highly developed communication skills, recognising that many patients will have chronic conditions that should be managed within primary care This communication will often involve conflict due to unrealistic expectations and that managing these expectations will require delivery of a contentious message. To work in an environment that is high pressured, with multiple competing priorities, caring for patients from a range of backgrounds and conditions. To contribute to the development and improvement of systems, policies and processes that facilitate patient care.

Maintain own clinical development by keeping abreast of new treatments and technologies within primary, acute and emergency care. To improve the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients. Where appropriate to their presenting circumstances, to rigorously review all aspects of the patients plan of care and identify and address issues that cannot wait for the patient to be reviewed by their own GP. Contribute to the review and development of integrated care pathways and clinical guidelines to ensure a standardised approach.

Practice with confidence and competence within professional bodies guidelines (e.g. NMC, HCPC). To ensure that accurate documentation and records of patient care are kept. To provide expert advice on patient care to the healthcare team taking into account all aspects of clinical governance, and act as a specialist resource within the team.

Ability to adapt expert clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care. To prescribe safely and effectively as a non-medical prescriber in accordance with relevant guidelines and within the individuals scope of professional competence, to ensure all prescribing practice offers best value for money to the health system. Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection control management and relevant audit within their clinical area. To be a conscientious, confident and competent practitioner who works within their own scope of professional practice.

1. Management and Leadership Support the delivery of the service KPIs and play an active part in clinical governance, developing and leading on action plans. Lead and develop an area of responsibility related to advanced clinical practice or service development. To co-ordinate and provide leadership for the non-medical teams.

Deliver the highest level of interpersonal and communication skills and be actively involved in the development of effective communication strategies with other members of the multidisciplinary team. This will include discussions with patients around sensitive information and difficult conversations with patients and relatives. Participate in the development of a specialist service and act as a change agent, where necessary leading staff and facilitating the change process whilst encouraging others to be innovative and adaptable in the approach to change including development of new services. To act as a champion for the team, proactively liaising with external and internal stakeholders advocating advanced practice provision that is effective and responsive and that patients and clinicians experience a high standard of communication care and continuity.

To be an effective, competent and confident role-model / clinician and to champion the ACP role to other members of the team. To act as a role model for infection control practice, nutritional standards, medicines management and falls prevention, ensuring best practice in these areas is intrinsic to care delivery. To develop evidence based policies and procedures specifically required by the team. To develop clinical competencies for staff working within the team.

To develop and maintain effective communication with the multidisciplinary team to ensure high standards of care. To work collaboratively and strategically with representatives of other clinical areas, disciplines and services to provide a seamless pathway of care. Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff. To be conversant with all policies and procedures and ensure they are correctly implemented.

Participate in business planning and the development of financial bids for service development. 3. Education and Training To help identify, plan and implement goals for clinical development of staff working within the service, monitor the development of advanced skills within the team. To develop and maintain a positive learning environment for the team by providing support, ensuring developmental requirements are addressed.

To support the provision of clinical supervision and provide the opportunity to reflect and discuss areas of practice. To plan, implement and participate in teaching programmes for nursing, medical and allied health professional staff of all grades. To maintain close links with local Universities and to participate in the development and delivery of new and established specialist practice programmes. 4.

Audit and Research Contribute and at times lead the development of multidisciplinary research and clinical audit in the service and adjacent assessment areas, implementing effective and evidence-based practice. Exhibit advanced research and audit skills and provide support and appropriate implementation strategies for changes in clinical practice. Ensure the results of audit and research conducted by the team are disseminated. To share best practice; through publications and attendance/presentation opportunities at conference level.

1. Resource Management To apply sound financial evaluation to proposed service developments. Manage own workload. Support junior nursing, AHP and medical staff to manage their work load.

Work as a member of the multidisciplinary team, sharing in the responsibility for the provision of 7 day, care. Promote and adhere to the principles and practice of clinical governance. Responsible on a shift by shift basis for the advanced clinical practitioner management of all patients within the service. Demonstrate effective multidisciplinary team working and acknowledge the role of individual team members, ensuring that expertise is seen as a resource within the team.

Utilise a developed knowledge of vulnerable adult safeguarding procedures. Support trainee, new and experienced ACPs to manage their workload. To ensure all prescribing practice offers best value for money to the health system, that medications classed as general sale and pharmacy items are not provided to patients. To ensure appropriate use and care of high value clinical equipment such as portable ultrasound equipment.

1. Risk Management To ensure that systems are in place to manage, reduce and prevent clinical risk to self and others within acute services. To assist in the assessment and management of risk in line with the trust standard and alongside the operational management team by ensuring adverse incidents are reported, investigated and utilised to develop and open culture of learning from risk. Share lessons learned from significant events To monitor incidents highlighted by members of the team and communicate to appropriate areas to address risk issues.

Promote best practice in health & safety, utilising organisational policies. All employees are subject to the requirements of the data protection act and must maintain strict confidentiality in respect of patients and staff records. All employees have a responsibility under the organisations health and safety policy, to be aware of and conform to the policy, ensuring all health and safety rules are adhered to and ensuring that all accidents, incidents, near misses, damages and irregularities are documented and reported to a manager in accordance with policy. This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of duties and it may be reviewed and altered in the light of changed service needs and developments after discussion with the post holder.