ACP (Advanced Practitioner)

Bexley Health Neighbourhood Care – GP Federation

Job description

To act as an autonomous practitioner working independently and in conjunction with other health care professionals to assess, diagnose and treat the conditions of patients attending within primary care initiating direct referrals as appropriate.

Provide expert professional advice to patients, carers and colleagues and ensure the maintenance of clinical excellence.

To develop new and innovative concepts, models, methods and practices to deliver new and improved primary care services to meet the needs of the practice and the population we serve.

To provide education and training to other staff

Description

The Advanced Practitioner works autonomously and is accountable for own professional actions.

Triage and treat patients, performing specialist assessment of their needs and make referrals as necessary to other members of the primary and secondary health care teams as appropriate

Undertakes Clinical Practice at an advanced level using expert knowledge and clinical skills to deliver holistic care to people accessing primary health care services.

Assesses diagnoses and treats patients attending primary care or in their own home with a range of conditions and refer to appropriate service as necessary.

Directly admits patients to hospital in acute medical need.

Initiates the process of diagnosis with patients suspected to have a chronic disease e.g. Diabetes, COPD, asthma, IHD referring to other clinical staff as appropriate

Request diagnostic investigations and interpret within agreed protocols e.g. x-ray, blood tests, scans, etc.

Makes critical judgements of the highest order to satisfy the expectations and demands of the job e.g. first contact with patients presenting acutely and manages care.

Making recommendation for/or prescribing and reviewing medication that is appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with latest evidence-based practice, national and practice protocols and within the scope of qualified practice

Works within professional guidelines and codes of conduct.

Job summary

You will work as an advanced, autonomous practitioner using a high level of decision making. Your primary focus will be the provision of excellent patient centred care, encompassing the skills of face to face clinical assessment, examination, clinical diagnosis and the development and delivery of effective urgent treatment for patients of all ages with undifferentiated, undiagnosed primary/ urgent health care problems of full general practice patient needs including paediatrics, care of elderly and mental health. This role works within the parameters of current prescribing legislation

Main duties of the job

KEY RESPONSIBILITES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES

Obtain a patient history and establish a diagnosis of a patients health condition. Demonstrate a high-level clinical knowledge and advanced skills to undertake a consultation, including accurate clinical history, perform a physical examination to formulate a differential diagnosis and devise, monitor and review evidence-based treatment plans and advice. This will be in a patients home as required and may include lone working. Arrange services and support with other healthcare providers. Act as a referral agent and care coordinator by establishing multi-agency collaboration across primary/ secondary interface to meet the needs of the patient, including social needs. This may include the need to contribute to social care in emergency situation. Determine treatment decisions based on interpretation of consultation, ensuring that optimum physical and psychological needs are met and are ethically based. Make appropriate follow up referral as needed and/or ensure the patient has instructions on action to take if not improving. Manage a patients medication to achieve optimum outcomes as an independent prescriber, seeking advice when necessary from the Clinical assessment service.

Overview of your organisation

Bexley Health Neighbourhood Care (BHNC) is a GP Federation supporting the 21 Bexley Practices / 4 PCNs who are working collaboratively to enhance the health and wellbeing of Bexley residents, covering over 246,000 patients.

The goals of BHNC are to work strategically with all Bexley PCNs, to help secure the best services for patients whilst working together, to support the member practices in the challenges of a changing NHS.

BHNC aims to improve the morale of PCNs / general practice in Bexley, by sharing expertise, services and supporting its workforce. BHNC will make a positive impact on medical services in Bexley, by working closely with the ICB, local NHS trusts, local providers and patient groups, to improve the delivery of healthcare to the local population

Experience

Essential criteria

Experience of clinical leadership Proven track record of teaching and assessing Experience of service specific advanced clinical skills Experience of working within multi professional settings with consolidated clinical practice and contributing to effective team working Experience of leading evidenced service improvement and innovation through service /practice development initiatives, audit or research. Knowledge of local and national healthcare agendas/strategy and policies and how they relate to the specific service. Understand the legal, ethical and professional responsibilities and accountability with regards to advanced level, autonomous practice. Understand the impact of advanced practice roles on service delivery and their contribution to the multi professional team Knowledge and understanding of clinical human factors in delivery of safe healthcare practice In depth service specific knowledge which underpins advanced level practice Experience of working independently in a healthcare role People management experience Evidence of higher level of practice within the specialist area Experience of work using telephone triage Ability to engage with people and motivate and support them to work to high standards

Desirable criteria

Clinical supervision/coaching skills

Personal and General

Essential criteria

Calm under pressure, able to use initiative and make decisions Excellent interpersonal/communication skills with a variety of media and at all levels. This includes the ability to communicate in difficult, challenging non face to face environments High level of clinical reasoning skills Able to problem solve Ability to work as part of the organisational team Ability to contribute to and manage change Organised with effective time management Adaptable and self-motivated Conscientious, reliable and resourceful self-starter Commitment to role with ability to work unsocial hours General Flexibility to meet service /rota needs, Ability to travel to all sites on request and external meeting locations on request Ability to deal sensitively with distressing, emotional situations Professional attitude to employment Competent IT and keyboard skills Must be eligible to work in the UK Must have an enhanced DBS

Qualifications

Essential criteria

Regulated Health Care professional with current registration (NMC/HCPC) At least 5 years post qualification and registration: – including at least 6 months working within primary care and/ or urgent care setting Minor illness module level 6 or above. Physical Assessment of adults course level 7 or above Palliative care/ End of life care course or module. Verification of Expected Death course. Consultation Skills- (history taking and physical examination.) Registered as a non-medical prescriber with the relevant regulator (V300 non- medical prescribing qualification) Supervision/leadership/mentoring training or qualification Working towards a Masters in Advanced clinical Practice or equivalent Significant post registration experience where autonomous working at an advanced level has been acquired in the specialty area or a related area where advanced skills could be transferable

Desirable criteria

Physical assessment of children or equivalent module Chronic disease management Recognised Teaching and Assessing course Mental health and/or learning disabilities qualification

Your FTC with BHNC will end on 31.03.24 This will be reviewed prior to the end of the period with a view to this becoming permanent employment with BHNC or the Practice (Remuneration to remain the same) in line with the guidance from NHSE regarding the future of Primary Care Network Directed Enhanced Services.