County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) is a cutting-edge role in the field of advanced clinical practice which crosses professional boundaries, undertaking traditional medical roles and leading inter-professional practice. It is a role model of excellence in the delivery of holistic care to patients. On qualification, the ACP will be able to assess and treat the many varied clinical cases; both acute and chronic. The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the safe clinical decision-making process and is required to deliver an advanced level of clinical practice within the field of specialty care. Working within local and nationally agreed protocols and guidelines, the ACP demonstrates the knowledge and skills across the Four Pillars of Advanced Practice. With support and supervision, the ACP exercises independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate the clinical care and management of patients. During their training, the post holder will develop and demonstrate advanced skills and competencies and ensure that evidence-based practice is inherent in all aspects of care and treatment.
Main duties of the job
The key function of the Acute Oncology Specialist Nurse is to assist with the delivery of a comprehensive acute oncology service that will link together Oncology General Medicine and the wider Chemotherapy and haematology services. You will work as part of the Acute Oncology Team whilst completing your training providing clinical advice for patients, receiving oncology treatments e.g. Chemotherapy, Radiotherapy, Monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapies.
You will be responsible for patients with newly diagnosed primaries of unknown origin along with those with newly diagnosed metastases requiring Oncology intervention (in liaison with tumour specific CNS).
You will care for and support patients who are experiencing an oncological emergency and ensure they have the correct investigations and procedures.
You will be part of the out of hours on call rota for patients who are on SACT.
Act as the Oncology Specialist Nurse for patients with primary cancers providing holistic assessment and coordinating the patients' journey through the diagnostic and treatment phase of the patients' journey. Referring where appropriate the key worker role to Primary care and/or Palliative care.
Job responsibilities
You will deliver and participate in the clinical care of patients attending the Trust under supervision from a qualified ACP/senior clinician or designated lead.
1. You will prioritise health needs and intervene appropriately.
2. To be professionally and legally accountable for all work undertaken.
3. To practice at an advanced level of professional autonomy and accountability that is within the Trust's policies and that of their professional regulatory body.
4. Alongside your academic progression and development, you will develop a portfolio of advanced and comprehensive clinical skills, assessment based on a specialist body of knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning skills evidenced at academic level 7.
5. Take responsibility for the management of patients within your own caseload and supervision/development of junior members of the multi-professional team.
6. Be able to identify the need for appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret the results.
7. The post holder will use collaborative and independent judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement, manage and evaluate clinical nursing/midwifery/AHP and medical care and management of patients under the supervision of a qualified ACP/senior clinician or designated lead.
8. The ACP will assist/lead in the ongoing assessment, investigations, procedures, treatment and management of patients in their speciality area.
9. The ACP works within the multidisciplinary team to develop a portfolio of evidence of delivering advanced clinical skills and medical practice, clinical leadership and providing clinical supervision/support and structured teaching and mentorship for multidisciplinary professionals (including medical staff) to facilitate ongoing education, training and development.
10. To identify and intervene proactively where circumstances contribute to an unsafe environment for patients, staff or relatives and escalate these to the departmental risk lead and/or consultant leads for clinical governance.
11. To share knowledge and expertise, acting as an expert resource to others across primary and secondary care, as appropriate.
12. Contribute to the development and improvement of systems and processes that facilitate patient flow.
Person Specification
Statutory Registration
* NMC registration
Experience
* Chemotherapy management experience
* Excellent clinical skills including knowledge and management of central lines and chemotherapy administration
* Evidence of developing and implementing protocols and guidelines
* Sound knowledge of existing national guidelines and standards in chemotherapy
* Understanding of the need for strong commitment to high standards of patient care and the active involvement of users in the development of the service
* Ability to work at an advanced level of practice
* Advanced and effective communication skills.
* High degree of manual dexterity
* Ability to work strategically across the Trust and other organisations with a wide range of professionals
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Highly self-motivated
* Confident
* Skills in identifying, designing and providing education, training and facilitate groups/workshops
* Professional credibility
* Self-motivated, proactive and innovative
* Ability to provide education, complete research and audit
Qualifications
* Level 1 Registration
* Teaching & Assessing Certificate
* Recognised Chemotherapy Theory and Practice competence
* Level 4 assessor for chemotherapy or equivalent
* Evidence of continuing professional development
* Teaching qualification.
* Previous experience as band 6.
* Counselling Certificate
* Advanced communication skills course
* Clinical skills course
* Non-medical prescriber
Special Requirements
* Team player and also able to work autonomously to maximise service delivery
* Advanced people/communication skills
* Approachable
* Tactful and diplomatic
* Ability to carry tasks through to completion
* Keen to enhance the Chemotherapy Service
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.
#J-18808-Ljbffr