About this role
Job summary
The Urgent Care Practitioner (UCP) is an autonomous clinician responsible for providing high-quality assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of patients presenting with a wide range of urgent, minor illness and minor injury conditions.
Working within agreed clinical competencies and professional scope of practice, the post holder will demonstrate advanced clinical reasoning, critical thinking and decision-making skills to safely assess patients of all ages, initiate appropriate investigations, prescribe medications where indicated and determine appropriate onward referral or discharge.
The practitioner will work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to ensure safe, effective and patient-centred care whilst maintaining high clinical standards and contributing to service development, governance and quality improvement.
SPONSORSHIP IS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION.
Main duties of the job
The main duties for this role include clinical practice, non medical prescribing, advanced clinical decision making.
About us
Milton Keynes Urgent Care Services (MKUCS) operates 365 days of the year 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We provide walk-in services for minor ailments and injuries and out of hours GP services linked to the 111 service when local GP surgeries are closed.
Based on the campus of Milton Keynes Hospital Foundation Trust, we aim to provide high quality, integrated care to the population of Milton Keynes.
MKUCS is a Community Interest Company providing NHS services commissioned by the Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group.
MKUCS is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults.
Job description Job responsibilities
Main Duties and Responsibilities
Clinical Practice
Undertake comprehensive clinical assessments of patients presenting with urgent healthcare needs.
Obtain detailed and accurate histories using advanced history-taking techniques.
Perform systematic physical examinations appropriate to the presenting complaint.
Formulate differential diagnoses using advanced clinical reasoning and critical thinking.
Develop evidence-based management plans in accordance with local and national guidelines.
Independently assess, diagnose and manage patients within professional scope of practice.
Identify patients requiring escalation and initiate appropriate emergency interventions.
Recognise the deteriorating patient and act promptly using NEWS2 and recognised escalation pathways.
Safely assess both adult and paediatric patients where competent.
Order, interpret and act upon diagnostic investigations including point-of-care testing where appropriate.
Request and interpret investigations in accordance with local policies.
Refer patients appropriately to emergency departments, specialty services, community services or primary care.
Provide effective safety-netting advice and discharge planning.
Prioritise patients according to clinical urgency.
Recognise red flag symptoms and emergency presentations.
Direct patients to the most appropriate care pathway.
Manage patient flow safely within the urgent care service.
Escalate concerns immediately where patient deterioration is identified.
Non-Medical PrescribingThe post holder is desired to be a qualified Independent Non-Medical Prescriber and will:
Prescribe safely and effectively within their scope of competence.
Utilise national and local prescribing guidelines.
Demonstrate antimicrobial stewardship principles.
Prescribe in accordance with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society Competency Framework.
Monitor prescribing practice through audit and reflective practice.
Maintain prescribing competence through continuing professional development.
Advanced Clinical Decision MakingThe post holder will demonstrate:
Advanced critical thinking.
Clinical judgement.
Risk assessment.
Independent decision making.
Diagnostic reasoning.
Recognition of uncertainty.
Appropriate escalation of complex cases.
Safe autonomous practice.
Communication Communicate effectively with patients, relatives and carers.
Deliver difficult or sensitive information professionally.
Liaise effectively with GPs, ambulance services, emergency departments and community services.
Complete accurate, contemporaneous electronic clinical records.
Participate in safeguarding discussions where appropriate.
Safeguarding Recognise safeguarding concerns affecting adults and children.
Escalate concerns in accordance with safeguarding policies.
Demonstrate professional curiosity.
Ensure safeguarding documentation is completed appropriately.
Participate in multi-agency working.
Clinical Governance Participate in clinical audit.
Support incident reporting and learning.
Participate in clinical supervision and appraisal.
Maintain professional registration and competence.
Comply with organisational policies and national standards.
Information TechnologyThe post holder will demonstrate competence in:
Electronic Patient Record (EPR) systems.
Clinical documentation.
Digital prescribing systems.
NHS clinical software.
Microsoft Office applications.
Electronic referrals.
Clinical coding where applicable.
Email and digital communication systems.
Excellent computer literacy is essential to support safe clinical practice and accurate record keeping.
Professional Responsibilities Work autonomously within agreed scope of practice.
Maintain registration with the relevant professional body.
Maintain professional indemnity where applicable.
Participate in mandatory training.
Maintain continuing professional development.
Act as a role model for junior staff and students.
Support education and mentorship within the service.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes Essential
Professional integrity. Compassion and empathy. Excellent interpersonal skills. Strong analytical ability. Resilience. Flexibility, able to work on a 24 hour shift pattern. Accountability. Commitment to patient safety. Commitment to lifelong learning. Ability to remain calm under pressure. Excellent problem-solving skills. High standards of professionalism.
Experience Essential
Significant post-registration clinical experience. Experience working within Urgent Care, Urgent Treatment Centre, Emergency Department, Primary Care or equivalent acute setting. Experience assessing patients independently. Experience in autonomous clinical practice. Experience of managing undifferentiated presentations. Experience of prescribing within scope of practice. Experience of electronic clinical record systems. Experience of multidisciplinary working.
Knowledge and Skills Essential
Advanced history taking. Comprehensive physical assessment skills. Excellent clinical reasoning. Advanced critical thinking. Differential diagnosis. Autonomous clinical decision making. Minor illness assessment. Minor injury assessment. Triage assessment. Risk assessment. Safeguarding knowledge. Recognition of deteriorating patients. Interpretation of clinical observations. Knowledge of national clinical guidelines (NICE, UKHSA and relevant professional standards). Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Excellent organisational skills. Strong IT and computer skills. Ability to work under pressure. Time management skills. Ability to prioritise workload effectively.
Qualifications Essential
Registered Nurse, Paramedic or Allied Health Professional with current professional registration Advanced History Taking qualification at Level 6 or Level 7 (or equivalent postgraduate study) Evidence of continuing professional development
Desirable
Independent Non-Medical Prescriber (V300) Degree in relevant healthcare profession
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 Milton Keynes Urgent Care Services
Address Milton Keynes Univ Hospital Campus
Standing Way, Eaglestone
Milton Keynes
MK6 5NG
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.miltonkeynesurgentcare.com/ (Opens in a new tab)