Job summary
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) role is a cutting-edge position within advanced clinical practice, crossing traditional professional boundaries and undertaking roles historically associated with medical staff. The ACP leads inter-professional practice and acts as a role model for excellence in delivering holistic patient care.
The post holder will assess and treat a wide range of acute and chronic clinical cases, providing expert clinical input while ensuring evidence-based practice underpins all aspects of care and treatment. The role demands critical thinking, safe clinical decision-making, and delivery of advanced-level practice within the specialist field.
Working within locally and nationally agreed protocols, the ACP demonstrates capability across the Four Pillars of Advanced Clinical Practice and exercises autonomous clinical judgement to assess, investigate, diagnose, plan, implement, and evaluate patient care.
The ACP also contributes to service delivery and provides leadership in supporting the education and development of nursing, midwifery, allied health professional (AHP), and medical colleagues.
Main duties of the job
- Provide advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, and management for orthopaedic patients across inpatient, outpatient, and virtual pathways.
- Lead and contribute to orthopaedic audit, clinical governance, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Ensure accurate and timely completion of National Major Trauma Registry (NMTR) and Neck of Femur (NOF) database entries. Support and develop the Virtual Fracture Clinic (VFC) model to optimise patient flow and improve patient experience.
- Participate in orthopaedic ward rounds, trauma meetings, and multidisciplinary care planning.
- Manage patients with NOF and major trauma injuries according to national guidelines and local protocols, in partnership with the Major Trauma Practitioner.
- Provide clinical leadership in implementing best-practice standards such as BOAST, NICE, GIRFT, and NHFD pathways.
- Provide leadership and line management to orthopaedic practitioners, clinical specialists, and trauma coordinators.
About us
At DCHFT, we pride ourselves on the care we provide for our patients, and on the culture, we are creating for our staff. We work hard to create a fair, inclusive environment for our staff.
Our Mission is to work in partnership to provide high quality, compassionate services and to nurture an environment where people can be at their best. Our vision is healthier lives, empowered citizens, thriving communities.
We are a Trust that celebrates diversity, and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We welcome applications from people in all under-represented groups.
We understand that some applicants may choose to use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in preparing their application materials. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind candidates that all submissions must be truthful and accurately reflect your own experiences and suitability for this role.Personal integrity and authenticity are central to our recruitment process. We value honesty and appreciate applications that are genuine and representative of the individual behind them.
This role is eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI). We welcome applications from individuals who require sponsorship to work in the UK. Sponsorship will be offered subject to meeting UKVI eligibility criteria.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.
Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.
For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Our DCHFT Job Description and Person Specification (attached) tells you all about this role, what to expect and what is needed to succeed. When completing your application please make sure to tell us how your experience and skills fit the person specification.
Please contact us at Recruitment@dchft.nhs.uk if you are unable to view or download the attachment.
For all our roles, we are looking for staff who hold our Trust Values of Integrity, Respect Teamwork and Excellence, and who are passionate about providing the best patient care. To read more about our Trust and our Values search Dorset County Hospital online.
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Current unrestricted registration as a Nurse, Midwife or AHP
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent qualification
- Teaching and assessing/mentorship qualification
- Registered Independent Prescriber
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience in orthopaedics
- Minimum of 2 years' experience within the speciality
- Leadership qualification/course
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Clinical Supervision experience
- Evidence of delivery of training
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- In-depth knowledge of current practice issues
Desirable
- Management & Leadership experience
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of ability to work & lead autonomously at advanced practice level
- Contribution to audit
- Ability to initiate, sustain and evaluate change within a variety of clinical situations
- Management of patients with complex needs
- Advanced Clinical Practice skills
- Clinical Examination skills
- Skills in critical analysis & application of research to practice
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries, to negotiate effectively and resolve complex problems
- Evidence of good written and oral communication skills including presentations
- Able to recognise and analyse complex situations and take appropriate solutions
- Ability and initiative to develop specialist areas of interest
Person Specification
Education, Qualifications & Training
Essential
- Current unrestricted registration as a Nurse, Midwife or AHP
- MSc Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent qualification
- Teaching and assessing/mentorship qualification
- Registered Independent Prescriber
- Minimum of 5 years post-registration experience in orthopaedics
- Minimum of 2 years' experience within the speciality
- Leadership qualification/course
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
- Clinical Supervision experience
- Evidence of delivery of training
- Evidence of continuing professional development
- In-depth knowledge of current practice issues
Desirable
- Management & Leadership experience
Skills & Abilities
Essential
- Evidence of ability to work & lead autonomously at advanced practice level
- Contribution to audit
- Ability to initiate, sustain and evaluate change within a variety of clinical situations
- Management of patients with complex needs
- Advanced Clinical Practice skills
- Clinical Examination skills
- Skills in critical analysis & application of research to practice
- Ability to work across professional and organisational boundaries, to negotiate effectively and resolve complex problems
- Evidence of good written and oral communication skills including presentations
- Able to recognise and analyse complex situations and take appropriate solutions
- Ability and initiative to develop specialist areas of interest
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
