Job summary
We are looking for enthusiastic, innovative and engaging individuals, who have a passion for the delivery of high quality patient care within the community. The candidates will have to be able to prioritise their own workload without supervision, have an excellent patient focussed approach and be able to use their initiative as well as work as part of a multidisciplinary post supports delivery of a 2hr Urgent care response - Community Rapid Intervention Service as part of admission avoidance alongside our General Acute Medicine and Frailty Virtual Ward is a new and innovative Service, that has an agreed admission criteria and works in partnership with supporting care services to deliver acute care in the patient's own home. The aim of a virtual ward is to reduce length of acute hospital stay and/or avoid hospital admission; this leads to quicker recovery and reduces disruption to patients', and their carers' lives. This means we can proactively manage people living with frailty at home, and for those that have a sub-acute episode we can improve a patient's experience and outcomes. In addition, this means we have more space in our hospitals for acutely unwell patients and reduces the pressure on urgent care.
Main duties of the job
Role SummaryThe post holder will be a Registered Healthcare Professional and hold an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent at MSc level to be agreed as part of the application process. They will be an independent Non-Medical Prescriber. They will practice at an advanced level demonstrating in depth knowledge and competence in all aspects of acute care within the patient's home setting & environment, encompassing enhanced assessment, critical thinking and clinical management skills that are evidence based and deliver high quality patient centred post holder will have both UHNM and MPFT responsibility to promote clinical excellence in the care of patients referred to or managed by the Virtual Ward by providing clinical advice and support to nursing staff and other health care professionals. They will provide expert professional and independent clinical care which enables the coordination of a multi professional seamless service for all patients referred through the CRIS and Virtual Ward role will include developing audit and research projects within their sphere/ area of practice, and participating in up-dating and implementing departmental policies, protocols and guidelines, in line with national guidance and contemporary evidence
About us
This post is part of the Acute Care at Home service which is responsible for a Community Rapid Intervention Service (CRIS) and the Community Virtual Ward Service (CVWS)
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Areas/TasksThe 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 patients home environment providing acute assessment, Intervention and medical management plan for that list of main tasks and duties are outlined below but are not exhaustive due to the evolving nature of this role and 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 in to the Virtual Ward ServiceUndertake physical examination as indicated by the patients condition; autonomously analysing complex clinical signs and investigation results to consider differential diagnoses and diagnose conditions, initiating treatment as required.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 patients own home setting.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.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.Continuously revaluate findings and clinical response to treatment and establish an appropriate ongoing management plan accordingly.Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent and emergency situations, including initiation and leadership of regularly clinical events involving patients often requiring unpredictable and high levels of physical effort according to the patients dependency and clinical need.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 roles scope of practice and legal framework.Integrate both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment in patient care/management patients with mental health needs using local policy and guidelines and refer to appropriate services.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 in partnership with the existing senior multi-disciplinary teams, driving service development and conflicting views and liaise between groups where there may be conflict.Highlight and address areas of witnessed poor practice and manage the situation staff performance, training and supervision of trainee ACPs including annual appraisals.Support staff development in order to maximise potential, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.Support patients, carers, relatives and staff during difficult situations arising in the clinical area breaking bad news or following an unexpected eventProduce accurate and complete documentation and patient records consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.Possess excellent time management and personal organisation be an available knowledge resource in how to initiate and manage the impact of changeDevelop and contribute local guidelines, interpreting and adapting national protocols and standards to enhance patient care and be aware of budgetary constraints within the department and manage resources appropriately and encourage others to do appropriate representation and participation in departmental meetings as appropriate for actively contribute and provide leadership with service development plans within the responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and maintaining awareness of relevant research evidence.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 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.Possess proficient typing, IT and computer skills. Use audio/visual equipment to record and impart information and research.Prepare and deliver presentations and participate in workshops on a local, regional and national level, to ensure the communication of good with the MDT to further develop appropriate clinical pathways and care approaches. To disseminate learning and good practice gained to other team, coordinate and undertake collaborative audit, research and development into Oncology and related practices.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.Undertake/ participate in research/ audit and publish findings.Support Trust research and development plansRecognise and work within own competence and professional code of conductEnsure that own practice is kept updated, using an acceptable model of clinical 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.Through supervision and mentorship identify personal learning needs, participate in personal continuing education and other activities to promote own personal growth.Develop clinical knowledge and professional skills through relevant to occupational health guidelines at all able to work on own initiative independently and as a able to read and interpret extensive policy documentation; sometimes of a clinical nature requiring periods of intense concentration.Communicate with enthusiasm and conviction; motivating, inspiring and encouraging.Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.Anticipate barriers to communication.Communicate effectively often about complex, sensitive and potentially distressing information with patients with 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 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 responsible for the delivery of a detailed, accurate and potentially complex clinical handover to other specialities 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 administeredMaintain confidentiality as required by professional, local and national policy, but acknowledge situations where there can be a breach of able to recognise and defuse potentially aggressive and violent individuals/situations in line with local policy and legal frameworksInterpret national and local policy regarding virtual wards and make recommendations regarding the way in which this should be applied to the serviceRole involves a mixture of driving, assessments in the patients home, sitting at a computer to update patients records, managing emails
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
1. Current NMC Registration first level Nurse essential
2. Clinical Based Master's Degree in Advanced Clinical Practice
3. Registered Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
4. Teaching/supervision and assessment skills.
5. Leadership Qualification
6. Up to Date Advanced Life Support (ALS) certification
7. Substantial post registration experience of which significant experience is within Emergency/Acute/General Medicine Care at a senior level
8. Evidence of extensive expert professional/clinical knowledge in Emergency/Acute/General medical care supplemented by specialist clinical training and CPD
9. Highly developed effective communication/negotiation skills
10. Evidence of involvement and leadership in teaching, supervising and mentoring learners
11. Evidence of working on own initiative managing time and prioritising
12. Excellent Clinical reasoning/clinical decision making
Desirable
13. Up to date IR(ME)R Certification
14. Evidence of providing acute care within a community setting and/or service
15. Evidence of autonomous decision making within a patient's own home
16. Evidence of involvement in policy and practice change
17. Evidence of proactive involvement in the mentorship and development of junior healthcare professionals
skills,abilty and knowledge
Essential
18. Excellent interpersonal, written and verbal communication
19. Demonstrates specialist clinical expertise underpinned by theory acquired through CPD
20. Evidence of involvement in the development of programmes of care, protocol's and clinical audit
21. Ability to lead and motivate others
22. Influential and persuasive
23. Proven ability to manage resources effectively and efficiently
24. Excellent Team working skills
25. Effective Communicator able to deliver complex and highly sensitive information
26. Evidence of effective people management skills and leadership skills
Desirable
27. Computer literacy
28. Good Presentation skills
personal Qualities
Essential
29. To exert frequent concentration on patient assessment and responding to frequent changing needs in the clinical setting
30. The ability to manage being exposed to distressing and frequent highly distressing and emotional circumstances
31. The ability to exert frequent moderate physical effort for several short periods during a shift
32. Reflective Practitioner who can demonstrate research-based practice with an interest in the research process
Desirable
33. Autonomous qualities to be a confident lone worker
34. A keen desire and ability to develop a service and roles associated within that service