Detailed job description and main responsibilities
The ACP will provide an alternative medical workforce within a new service providing acute care to patients in their own home/place of residence. The ACP will work as an autonomous expert within the patient's home environment providing acute assessment, intervention and medical management plan for that patient.
A list of main tasks and duties are outlined below but are not exhaustive due to the evolving nature of this role and service.
1. Use highly developed clinical knowledge to independently assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatments and interventions for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis referred by external agencies into the Virtual Ward Service.
2. Undertake physical examination as indicated by the patient's condition; autonomously analysing complex clinical signs and investigation results to consider differential diagnoses and diagnose conditions, initiating treatment as required.
3. Perform clinical procedures appropriate to the history and physical examination of the patient, including further invasive testing and treatments requiring highly developed skills and precision, including (but not limited to) catheterisation, cannulation, peripheral arterial blood gas sampling as relevant within the patient's own home setting.
4. Request investigations such as blood, urine and other laboratory tests, electrocardiographs (ECGs), ultrasound scans, X-Rays and computed tomography (CT) scans in accordance with IR(ME)R regulations and as local policy allows.
5. Autonomously formulate appropriate management plans for patients, formulate clinical decisions and often complex treatment plans to manage acute illness and acute episodes of chronic illness including referral, admission or discharge.
6. Continuously re-evaluate findings and clinical response to treatment and establish an appropriate ongoing management plan accordingly.
7. Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent and emergency situations, including initiation and leadership of resuscitation.
8. Manage regularly clinical events involving patients often requiring unpredictable and high levels of physical effort according to the patient's dependency and clinical need.
9. Prescribe and review medication (as an independent prescriber) for therapeutic effectiveness appropriate to patient need and in accordance with best/evidence-based practice and national and local protocols and within the role's scope of practice and legal framework.
10. Integrate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in patient care/management plans.
11. Assess patients with mental health needs using local policy and guidelines and refer to appropriate services.
12. Communicate effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and others using appropriate communication styles. Anticipate barriers to communication and ensure patients and significant others are kept fully informed and consent to treatment.
13. Work in partnership with the existing senior multi-disciplinary teams, driving service development and change.
14. Manage conflicting views and liaise between groups where there may be conflict.
15. Highlight and address areas of witnessed poor practice and manage the situation appropriately.
16. Manage staff performance, training and supervision of trainee ACPs including annual appraisals.
17. Support staff development in order to maximise potential, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.
18. Support patients, carers, relatives and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area e.g. breaking bad news or following an unexpected event.
19. Produce accurate and complete documentation and patient records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
20. Possess excellent time management and personal organisation skills.
21. Develop and contribute local guidelines, interpreting and adapting national protocols and standards to enhance patient care and safety.
22. Ensure appropriate representation and participation in departmental meetings as appropriate for role.
23. Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and maintaining awareness of relevant research evidence.
24. Develop health promotion and education in conjunction with other health care professionals ensuring that all patient care within the multi-disciplinary team is based on research and best practice.
25. Act as a constant source of clinical and theoretical knowledge for all grades and disciplines of staff as well as patients and their significant others, providing support and clinical advice in specialist areas, based on evidenced based research.
26. Possess proficient typing, IT and computer skills. Use audio/visual equipment to record and impart information and research.
27. Prepare and deliver presentations and participate in workshops on a local, regional and national level, to ensure the communication of good practice.
28. Work with the MDT to further develop appropriate clinical pathways and care approaches. To disseminate learning and good practice gained to other team members.
29. Design, coordinate and undertake collaborative audit, research and development into Oncology and related practices.
30. Planning, delivering and implementing programmes of education and training for trainee ACPs, nurses, medical and other disciplines and continue to be involved in their ongoing support.
31. Undertake/participate in research/audit and publish findings.
32. Support Trust research and development plans.
33. Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct.
34. Ensure that own practice is kept updated, using an acceptable model of clinical supervision.
35. Take every opportunity to expand own practice in line with the Professional codes for the discipline. Identify personal career development pathway as part of formal appraisal system.
36. Through supervision and mentorship identify personal learning needs, participate in personal continuing education and other activities to promote own personal growth.
37. Develop clinical knowledge and professional skills through relevant training.
38. Adhere to occupational health guidelines at all times.
39. Be able to work on own initiative - independently and as a team.
40. Be able to read and interpret extensive policy documentation; sometimes of a clinical nature requiring periods of intense concentration.
41. Communicate with enthusiasm and conviction; motivating, inspiring and encouraging.
42. Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
43. Anticipate barriers to communication.
44. Communicate effectively often about complex, sensitive and potentially distressing information with patients with carers.
45. Create a trusting partnership with patients and/or relatives in order to communicate and explain complex medical issues including new diagnoses and agree a management/treatment plan.
46. Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance such as PALS and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients recognising and referring any difficulties and referring where appropriate.
47. Be responsible for the delivery of a detailed, accurate and potentially complex clinical handover to other specialties and General Practitioners. To produce detailed and accurate written information within the medical notes or medical IT system regarding all clinical assessments, investigations completed and requested and treatments administered.
48. Maintain confidentiality as required by professional, local and national policy, but acknowledge situations where there can be a breach of confidentiality.
49. Be able to recognise and defuse potentially aggressive and violent individuals/situations in line with local policy and legal frameworks.
50. Interpret national and local policy regarding virtual wards and make recommendations regarding the way in which this should be applied to the service.
51. The role involves a mixture of driving, assessments in the patient's home, sitting at a computer to update patients records, managing emails.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
* Current NMC Registration first level Nurse essential
* Clinical Based Master's Degree in Advanced Clinical Practice
* Registered Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
* Teaching/supervision and assessment skills.
* Leadership Qualification
* Up to Date Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification
* Substantial post registration experience of which significant experience is within Emergency/Acute/General Medicine Care at a senior level
* Evidence of extensive expert professional/clinical knowledge in Emergency/Acute/General medical care supplemented by specialist clinical training and CPD
* Highly developed effective communication/negotiation skills
* Evidence of involvement and leadership in teaching, supervising and mentoring learners
* Evidence of working on own initiative managing time and prioritising
* Excellent Clinical reasoning/clinical decision making
Desirable criteria
* Up to date IR(ME)R Certification
* Evidence of providing acute care within a community setting and/or service
* Evidence of autonomous decision making within a patient's own home
* Evidence of involvement in policy and practice change
* Evidence of proactive involvement in the mentorship and development of junior healthcare professionals
Skills, ability and knowledge
Essential criteria
* Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication
* Demonstrates specialist clinical expertise underpinned by theory acquired through CPD
* Evidence of involvement in the development of programmes of care, protocols and clinical audit
* Ability to lead and motivate others
* Influential and persuasive
* Proven ability to manage resources effectively and efficiently
* Excellent Team working skills
* Effective Communicator able to deliver complex and highly sensitive information
* Evidence of effective people management skills and leadership skills
Desirable criteria
* Computer literacy
* Good Presentation skills
Personal Qualities
Essential criteria
* To exert frequent concentration on patient assessment and responding to frequent changing needs in the clinical setting
* The ability to manage being exposed to distressing and frequent highly distressing and emotional circumstances
* The ability to exert frequent moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift
* Reflective Practitioner who can demonstrate research-based practice with an interest in the research process
Desirable criteria
* Autonomous qualities to be a confident lone worker
* A keen desire and ability to develop a service and roles associated within that service
Important information about your application
1. All correspondence will be sent to you via the email address you applied from. Please ensure you check your emails regularly.
2. References - please ensure you provide email addresses for all referees for the last three years of employment.
3. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome applications from everyone regardless of ethnicity, disability, gender, age, faith or sexual orientation. Appointment will be based on merit alone.
4. Flexible working will be considered in line with Trust policies.
5. New recruits are required to pay for their Disclosure and Barring Service check (and admin fee) prior to starting if the role requires a DBS check.
6. We work with 'trac.jobs' to support our recruitment process. If you have any queries regarding this please read this privacy notice.
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (UHNM) has been awarded the Gold Award for proudly supporting those who serve. We actively encourage applications from the Armed Forces community.
We will communicate with you regarding your job application via email. Please be aware that we cannot guarantee the security of any emails sent/received via non-encrypted format.
If you would like support completing an application form, please contact the recruitment department on 01782 675533 where one of our trained assistants will be able to help.
At UHNM we are fortunate to receive a high volume of applications for many of our roles; on this occasion we would reserve the right to close any advert early, therefore please apply without delay!
If you obtained your qualifications overseas, you will be required to provide an official government translation through ECCTIS (formerly known as NARIC). Please note, this is in addition to any professional registration requirements and not a replacement for your qualifications.
If you are currently in the UK on a visa, you must have at least six months remaining on your visa at the time of application to ensure sufficient time for the recruitment and training process associated with the role. The requirement of at least six months remaining on your visa does not apply to a Skilled Worker Visa, as a new Skilled Worker Visa would be required for a new role.
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
* JD (PDF, 740.4KB)
* Statement handling - updated from policy (PDF, 33.6KB)
* Policy ex-offenders (PDF, 36.1KB)
* Infection control statement (PDF, 107.5KB)
* DBS Code of practice (PDF, 54.9KB)
* Trust Policy on Managing Risk Associated with Safeguarding Children (PDF, 1.1MB)
* Family Relocation Information (PDF, 1.0MB)
* Speaking Up Policy (PDF, 523.6KB)
* Recruitment Reasonable Adjustments (PDF, 122.1KB)
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