About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity is now available for a qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) to join the Urgent Community Response TeamatLewisham Hospital.The ACP will practice with a high degree of autonomy supported by the Clinical Leads for Frailty.Under the direction of theFrailty consultant and in conjunction with the UCRteam, the ACP will use expert, evidence-based clinical practice to care forpatients within the community. The ACP will be responsible for the assessment of patients, implementation and completion of agreed clinical management plans, requests and review clinical investigations, prescribe relevant medications and referral to other specialities and tertiary centres.
The successful candidate will work a shift pattern including out of hours and will primarily be based in the community setting. This post holder will be able to evidence the completion of Master level studies in advanced clinical practice. In addition, applicants will have to providea portfolio of evidence with the relevant advanced capabilities demonstrating relevant experience in frailtyor related speciality.
We welcome applications from those interested in developing into therole of ACP. You will initially be employed as a trainee ACP (band 7) and you will be supported through the Trust ACP credentialing program, once all the set elements of the program are completed and signed off, you will automatically progress into ACP Role (band 8a).
Main duties of the job
As an ACP, you will deliver advanced clinical care to acutely unwell patients in the community, undertaking comprehensive assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning and non-medical prescribing. You will work collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams to support admission avoidance, optimise patient outcomes and deliver high-quality, evidence-based care. The role also includes leading service improvement initiatives, supporting clinical governance, education and workforce development, contributing to research and audit, and providing leadership to drive innovation and continuous improvement across the UCR service.
The ACP provides clinical leadership within the multidisciplinary team, supports and supervises junior staff, contributes to workforce development and recruitment, and works collaboratively across services to ensure seamless patient care. The role also supports education and training through clinical supervision and teaching, participates in audit, research and quality improvement activities, and promotes evidence-based practice. In addition, the ACP contributes to resource and risk management by ensuring safe clinical practice, implementing governance processes, monitoring incidents, and supporting continuous service improvement.
About us
Please refer to the Applicant Guide via the link below for key information:- Applying to LGT Guide - Key Information for Applicants
Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivate a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the 5 aspirations:
Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development Widening access (anchor institution) and employability Improving the experience of staff with disability Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development Making equalities mainstream
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical Practice
Be able to provide advanced practice level of care to patients who are acutely unwell in the communitywith a variety of urgentconditions. The ACP will treat patients with various degrees of acuity from routine patient review to urgent presentations.
Use advancedknowledge and skills for the delivery of the evidence based specialised clinical care in frailty, exercising a high degree of professional autonomy,demonstratingthe ability to make sound decisions based on the knowledge and experience. This includesclinical history taking, physical examination,requestand interpretation of secondary data (i.ediagnostics) and the use of clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnosis and implement evidence-based management plans including nonmedical prescribing.
Provide a holistic consultation of patients using a range of different assessment methods including medical history taking, physical assessment, clinical investigations, and risk stratifications tools,appropriate tothe presentation within the scope of the role.
Reach a valid, reliable, and comprehensive conclusion on complex clinical cases based on the history and clinical findings. These conclusions will involve facts or situations which require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options. Utilise advanced practice skills for assessing and interpreting complex needs of patients/clientse.g.clinical assessment of multiple pathology and complex health and social needs/ conditions.
Initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines for the management of patients with medical presentationsandin accordance withpresent legislation for the supply and prescribing of medicines.
Perform advanced skills in line with the Trust Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and safely perform complex procedures, where accuracy is important, but there is no specific requirement for speed. This level of skill may berequiredfor manipulation of fine tools or material such as invasiveclinical procedures. i.e., Ultrasound guided iv canulation, ascitic tap, lumber puncture.
Communicate with patients in ways that empower them to make informed choices about their health and healthcare, providing and receiving complex, sensitive or contentious information, where persuasive, motivational, negotiating, training, empathic or re-assurance skills are required.
Address safeguarding for adults and children with a high degree of professional curiosity.
Work in partnership with other clinical teams makingappropriate referralsto optimise health outcomes and resource allocation.
In partnership with patients, clients, and other professions, make sound decisions which are ethically based and in the interest of patients and clients in the absenceof precedents and protocols.
Provide specialist knowledge, advice, resourceinformationand support to clinical staff across the Trust.
Responsible for the safe use of equipment other than equipment which they personally use, dismantling and assembling equipment for use by other staff or patients/clients.
Be able to recognise, assess and refer patients with potential mental health needs for specialist support asrequired.
Service & Practice Improvement
Promote the improvement of quality and clinical effectiveness.
Evaluate and audit own and others clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on the findings.
Take a critical approach toidentifygaps in the evidence base and its application to practice, alertingappropriate individualsand organisations tothese and how they might be addressed in a safe and pragmatic way.
Develop and implement robust governance systems and systematic documentation processes, keeping the need for modifications under critical review
Lead new practice and service redesign solutions in response to feedback, evaluation and need, working across boundaries and broadening sphere of influence.
Implement practices that areappropriate forpatient and service need through understanding the wider implications of epidemiological, demographic, social, political, legislative, and professionaltrendsand developments.
Identifythe need for change and proactively generate practice innovations to implement solutions to better meet the needs of patient and the service.
Develop and undertake activities tomonitorthe progress and efficiency of the service and owns practice.
Continually assess and monitor risk in their own and others practice and challenge others if necessary.
Critically appraise and synthesise the outcomes of relevant research, serviceevaluationand audits, and apply the information whenseekingto improve practice.
Management and Leadership
Contribute to the development to the specialist service and act as a change agent andfacilitatethe change process whilst encouraging others to be innovative and adaptable in the approach to change.
Demonstrate and role model inclusive attitudes and behaviours to pro-activelyinitiateand develop relationships, fostering clarity of roles within teams, to encourage productive working
Support the development of junior ACPs in line with the trust SOP.
Work across professional, organisational and system boundaries to proactively develop and sustain new partnerships and networks to influence and improve health, outcomes, and healthcare delivery systems.
Review and updatedocumentation and policies specially required by the team.
Be conversant with all the relevant Trust policies and procedures and ensure they are correctly implemented.
Work collaboratively with representatives of other clinical areas,disciplinesand services to provide a seamless pathway of care.
Coordinate, lead, and manage the activities of clinics on a day-to-day basis.
Assistingwith the investigation of complaints and lead on the development of action plans to address areas of concern.
Prioritise,organiseand manage own workload in a manner thatmaintainsand promotes quality.
Evaluate own practice and participate in multidisciplinary serviceand team evaluation,demonstratingthe impact of advanced clinical practice on servicefunction and effectivenessand quality.
Demonstrate team leadership,resilienceand determination, managing situations that are unfamiliar, complex, or unpredictable andseekingto build confidence in others.
Actively engage in peer review to inform own and others practice, formulating and implementing strategies to act on learning and make improvements.
Actively seek feedback and involvement from individuals, families, carers,communitiesand colleagues in the co-production of service improvements.
Participate in the recruitment,selectionand retention of staff.
Represent the Trust on national forumsrelated to the role and Advanced Clinical Practice.
Demonstrate receptiveness to challenge, and preparedness to constructively challenge others, escalating concerns that affect individuals,families,carers,communities and colleagues safety and well-being when necessary.
Information Management
Always adhere to confidentiality with sensitive personal data.
Responsible for the systematic monitoring of investigations and appointments, in collaboration with administration and managerial staff.
Ensure compliance with care pathways and service development.
Provide reports of the statistics related to service and practice developments as required.
Providehigh standardsof documentationin accordance withthe Trust documentation policy.
Education and Training
Lead andparticipatein developmentteaching programmes for Nurses, Doctors and ACPs in the care of patients relevant to the UCRdepartment.
Achieve trust credentialling status as set out in the Trust SOP for advanced practice including speciality credentialling were applicable.
Exhibit a personal commitment to clinical education and development. Work in collaboration with others to plan and deliver interventions to meet the learning and development needs of their own and other professions.
Raise awareness of the current local, regional,nationaland international perspectives in clinical specialties.
Audit and Research
Proactively contribute to the development of multidisciplinary research and clinical audit in the service and, implementing effective and evidence-based practice
Participate andcontribute to any on-going regional and national research to evaluate the effectiveness of care strategies related to the patient experience.
Share best practice; through publications and attendance/presentation opportunities at National and Trust conferences.
Facilitate collaborative links between clinical practice and research through proactive engagement, networking with academic, clinical, and other active researchers.
Resource Management
Apply sound financial evaluation to proposed service developments.
Maintainaccuraterecords in relation to equipment used andmaintainedby theUCRteam.
Risk Management
Ensure that systems are in place to manage, reduce and prevent clinical risk to self and others within the UCRdepartment.
Monitor incidents highlighted by members of the emergency team and communicate toappropriate areasto address risk issues.
Promote best practice in health & safety, utilising unit and Trust policies.
Person Specification
Qualifications and Training Essential
NMC Registered RN/RM, GPhC or HCPC registered professional. MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice or NHSE digital badge. Evidence of a ACP/Frailty portfolio of practice or relevant specialty. Teaching/Assessment/Mentorship qualification (supervising and assessing). V300 non-medical prescribing qualification. Level 7 Advanced physical assessment module. ALS
Desirable
Frailty related level 7 studies. Leadership qualification or relevant leadership experience. Research in practice qualifications or relevant experience. IMER certificate. ALS/instructor. PGCert in education/Fellowship of higher education (FHEA).
Experience Essential
Extensive previous clinical experience in the acute care of adults. Senior experience of leadership within a service including the management of a group of staff. Experience in the development of staff. Experience of working with a high degree of autonomy in line with a scope of practice. Able to weigh evidence, clinical guidance and occupational policies and seek advice from peers and senior members of the clinical teams when required. Ability to interpret highly complex and/or sensitive information demonstrating negotiating empathic skills to achieve outcomes with patients or health professionals. Evidence of implementing policies related to own area of work Evidence on the delivery of specialist training to nurses, doctors and AHPs. Evidence of leading on conducting audit/research. Experience in the management of physical illness in patients presenting mental health complaints.
Desirable
Experience managing own service budget. Significant experience in a range of patients in acute care settings. Experience in the management of adults presenting safeguarding concerns. Experience in teaching and assessment in clinical practice to nurses/doctors/CNS. Evidence of participating in academic publications.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Advanced knowledge in Frailty or related speciality underpinned by relevant experience Relevant experience obtaining a clinical history of the patient and conducting a focal physical assessment of the patient and underpinned by assessment models (ie medical consultation models, focal systems assessment). Able to record healthcare generated information and maintain accurate record keeping. Experience of participating and conducting appraisals. Evidence of conducting own research and publications.
Desirable
Evidence of ongoing professional development across the 4 pillars of advanced practice.
Personal Qualities and Skills Essential
Able to plan and prioritise own workload in line with complex activities and plans which require adjustment in line with a changing workplace environmentable to contribute and participate in multidisciplinary/multi-agency team working. Self-motivated towards own practice and development.
Desirable
Demonstrate commitment to support national and Trust strategies and objectives for Advanced Clinical Practice. Evidence of involvement in national multi agency programs.
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Address University Hospital Lewisham
Lewisham
SE13 6LH
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.lewishamandgreenwich.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)