Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP)

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

The post holder is a caring, committed and experienced (prescribing essential) practitioner who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate safe, competent clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment, diagnostic skills and prescribing, for patients within the general practice.

The post holder will commit to demonstrating critical thinking in the safe clinical decision-making process. They will communicate and work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures

They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting delivery of policy and procedures.

There is a requirement to see extra or emergency patients and undertake home visits, and care home visits.

You may be required to work between the hours of 7.00am and 8.00pm, and some weekend work.

Job Responsibilities:

Diagnosing and treating patients

• Triage and treat patients wishing to see a health care professional using a variety of techniques to elicit and interpret the history of an event/illness, including past medical history and drug history in order to reach a clinical decision, provide appropriate care and/or make any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team.
• Disseminate test results to patients and counsel them accordingly.
• Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within boundaries of competence and to acknowledge limitations.
• Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary.

Management of Chronic Disease:

• Contribute to chronic disease management by assessing, planning, monitoring and reviewing progress. Assessments should include spirometry, foot examination, lifestyle screening, pulse oximetry etc.
• To support the clinical team in identifying and targeting patients for assessment and treatment.
• Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures
• Undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs etc. Perform investigatory procedures.

Administration and professional responsibilities:

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the Practice team including QOF and other locally commissioned services
• Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes
• Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded and amended
• Ensure appropriate items of service claims are made accurately, reporting any problems to the Practice Manager
• Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the Practice
• Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit
• Attend and participate in Practice meetings as required
• Maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms

Training and personal development

• Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with Practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.
• Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the introduction of all members of the Practice staff where appropriate
• Contribute to and take part in in-house training programmes reporting to the Practice Manager
• Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development ensuring any requirements are met
• If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given
• Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan

Liaison

As well as the clinical team there is a need to work closely with reception & office staff to ensure the smooth running of the Practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person.

Meetings

• It will be necessary to attend and contribute to various Practice meetings as requested.

Confidentiality:

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Reporting potential risks identified

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audits where appropriate

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• IT skills (MS Office, Internet etc)
• Interpersonal skills
• Time Management
• Problem solving skills
• Knowledge of clinical governance

Desirable

• Report writing skills
• Knowledge in the delivery of Health Care Advice and Health Promotion Knowledge relating to current national legislation relating to primary care

Behaviors

Essential

• Smart, polite and confident
• Planning and organising
• Performing under pressure
• Adaptability
• Using initiative
• Team working
• Self motivated
• Flexibility
• Confidentiality

Experience

Essential

• Experience in triage
• Experience of dealing with patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions
• Evidence of professional development
• Worked in General Practice

Desirable

• Experience in audit

Qualifications

Essential

• Advanced Clinical Practitioner Masters or equivalent
• RGN Qualification
• Current NMC Registration
• Advanced Nurse Practitioner Qualification
• or
• Paramedic Degree
• Urgent Care Practitioner Qualification
• and
• Prescribing Qualification

Desirable

• Accredited training in chronic disease management
• Physical Assessment Qualification

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).