Job summary
Advanced Clinical Practitioner
Department: Children's Emergency Department
Band 8A
Hours: 37.5 per week on a rota which will include early, lates, twilights and night shifts. All MKUH roles will be considered for flexible working
Are you ready to lead, innovate, and deliver exceptional care in a fast-paced clinical environment?
#TeamMKUH have an exciting opportunity for an experienced Paediatric Advanced Nurse Practitioner to join our Children's Emergency Department. As the Paediatric ACP, you'll play a vital role in assessing and managing acutely unwell children, working across the four pillars of advanced practice:
o Clinical Excellence: Independent assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and discharge planning.
o Leadership: Driving service improvement and shaping paediatric pathways.
o Education: Supporting trainee ACPs and delivering specialist training.
o Research & Development: Leading audits and contributing to evidence-based practice.
You should have excellent interpersonal skills, resilience, emotional intelligence, and a professional manner, and be able to prioritise and organise your workload and work under pressure. Furthermore, the successful candidate will collaborate across our internal and external partners, including medical and nursing teams, allied health professionals, social care, and urgent care providers.
Interview date: 8 October 2025
Main duties of the job
This post holder will practice as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Paediatric Emergency Department. They will be an experienced healthcare practitioner with significant experience within the field of Paediatrics and will have completed an MSc in Paediatric Advanced Practice and can evidence the relevant competencies in line with the HEE national framework for advanced clinical practice. Advanced clinical practitioners are expected to work across the four pillars of advanced practice; this post will be split:
80% clinical time
20% non-clinical time for education of self and others, research and development, leadership and service improvement
The Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioners will augment the nursing and medical teams. They are responsible for assessing and managing unwell and deteriorating children, in the Emergency Department. They will work to a high level of personal and professional autonomy, using specialist knowledge and skills to deliver independent assessment, clinical examination, diagnosis, clinical decision making and planning of care and treatment, health promotion and safe admission.
- Work collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team, contributing to decision making and providing high quality clinical care, emotional and psychological support and education to children and their carer's.
About us
Milton Keynes University Hospital, in proud partnership with the University of Buckingham, is a University Teaching Hospital committed to advancing patient care through cutting-edge research and education. With a "Good" rating from the CQC and significant investment underway, this is an exciting time to join our team and grow your career.
As a medium sized general hospital, we provide a full range of general medical and surgical services, including a busy Emergency Department, Maternity, and Paediatrics. As the population of our city and surrounding areas continues to grow rapidly, we are expanding and enhancing our facilities to meet rising demand and improve access to care for all our communities.
We are also proud to offer a growing portfolio of specialist services. In January 2025 we opened our state-of-the-art Radiotherapy Centre, bringing advanced cancer treatment closer to home. Our services also include neonatology, specialist surgical care, and a wide range of diagnostics, supported by the new Community Diagnostic Centre at Whitehouse Health Centre.
Further investment is underway, including the construction of Oak Wards - a new ward block featuring two 24-bed wards - and the recently approved Women and Children's Centre, set to open by 2030.
Visit our website to explore the latest news and opportunities at MKUH - News - Milton Keynes University Hospital -
For further information about Milton Keynes please visit - Visit Milton Keynes
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Clinical
The following clinical responsibilities will be expected to be developed within the role. The Paediatric ACP (PACP) will work closely with the Emergency Department Consultants liaising in a timely manner regarding any complex problems or difficulties. The ACP will be well supported by the medical team and Consultant and will be encouraged to work within their competencies and seek help early when required.
Leadership and management
Facilitate an effective workplace culture across all areas of child health and the organisation to sustain person centred, safe and effective care, through self-awareness, leadership, active learning, development, improvement and innovation and at all times functioning as a role model for advanced clinical practice.
Play a pivotal role as a change agent in the operational development of the Childrens Emergency Department. Initiating, managing and driving practice for the benefit of patient care in line with current trust and local programmes, utilising the four pillars of advice practice.
Work with clinical and leadership teams to develop new and improved processes and pathways to streamline and improve patient flow and care processes.
Education
Develop and deliver specialist education and training for health care professionals and other professional groups dealing with children
Act as an expert practitioner to provide a supportive learning environment which promotes continuous professional development and lifelong learning
Provide a supportive environment for all staff (including pre-registration students) which encourages learning and professional development. This will require liaison with education & learning providers and their tutorial staff.
Research
Assist in data collection for local, national, and multi-centre research projects.
Identify areas for research and audit, liaising with the research and audit teams.
Analyse audit and research findings and interpreting them for practice changes.
Prepare and presents reports on audit and research to the multi-disciplinary team and or corporate team.
Strategic Planning
Contribute to the delivery of the Trusts Strategies.
Act as a member of the senior team to promote the effective and efficient delivery of advanced care at the Trust.
Attend strategic planning meetings to support the ACP role at the Trust.
Contribute to the further development of future expert roles (E.g. Nurse or Midwife Consultant).
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description for further details.
Clinical
The following clinical responsibilities will be expected to be developed within the role. The Paediatric ACP (PACP) will work closely with the Emergency Department Consultants liaising in a timely manner regarding any complex problems or difficulties. The ACP will be well supported by the medical team and Consultant and will be encouraged to work within their competencies and seek help early when required.
Leadership and management
Facilitate an effective workplace culture across all areas of child health and the organisation to sustain person centred, safe and effective care, through self-awareness, leadership, active learning, development, improvement and innovation and at all times functioning as a role model for advanced clinical practice.
Play a pivotal role as a change agent in the operational development of the Childrens Emergency Department. Initiating, managing and driving practice for the benefit of patient care in line with current trust and local programmes, utilising the four pillars of advice practice.
Work with clinical and leadership teams to develop new and improved processes and pathways to streamline and improve patient flow and care processes.
Education
Develop and deliver specialist education and training for health care professionals and other professional groups dealing with children
Act as an expert practitioner to provide a supportive learning environment which promotes continuous professional development and lifelong learning
Provide a supportive environment for all staff (including pre-registration students) which encourages learning and professional development. This will require liaison with education & learning providers and their tutorial staff.
Research
Assist in data collection for local, national, and multi-centre research projects.
Identify areas for research and audit, liaising with the research and audit teams.
Analyse audit and research findings and interpreting them for practice changes.
Prepare and presents reports on audit and research to the multi-disciplinary team and or corporate team.
Strategic Planning
Contribute to the delivery of the Trusts Strategies.
Act as a member of the senior team to promote the effective and efficient delivery of advanced care at the Trust.
Attend strategic planning meetings to support the ACP role at the Trust.
Contribute to the further development of future expert roles (E.g. Nurse or Midwife Consultant).
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered nurse or paramedic with current registration with a professional regulatory body.
- Master's degree in advanced clinical practice Non-medical prescriber
- Other relevant qualifications at level 7 related to paediatric care
- Aiming to credentialing as PEM-ACP with the RCEM
- ETC/ATLS Provider status
- EPALS/APLS/ETC/ATLS Instructor status
- Paediatric Clinical History Taking and Physical Examination training/experience.
- Evidence of autonomous practice with high level of decision making.
- Highly developed communication skills (written and verbal)
- Specialist knowledge in the service
Desirable
- A clinical leadership/management qualification/experience
- EPALS/APLS Provider status
Experience
Essential
- Experience in clinical governance (risk management and complaints management)
- Experience of leading quality improvement initiatives within children's services
- Evidence of producing and presenting clinical papers/posters
- Ability to seek and provide peer reviews and support
- Ability to participate in a full shift rota
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to provide advice to other staff/teams
- Up-to-date knowledge of adult and child safeguarding
- Up-to-date knowledge of infection prevention and control issues
- Able to support personal resilience by seeking feedback and advice
- Able to engage patients and families in decision making
- Able to translate national guidance and guidelines into practice
Desirable
- Substantial clinical experience working with undifferentiated emergencies in children
- Experience in investigating serious untoward incident with follow up actions
- Experience in providing expert clinical care and advice
- Evidence of research skills
- Evidence of critical thinking with regards to effective patient management.
- Previous experience as a paediatric ACP.
- Updated national initiatives on paediatric ACP.
Personal Development
Essential
- Ability to be flexible, to have flair and initiative and be able to work in a team
- Motivated / positive - self-directed and committed.
- Professional image
- Have an ongoing personal development plan
- Ability to organize, priorities and coordinate work
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with colleagues and people at all levels
- Flexible approach to work
- Good listener
- Team player
- Ability to manage stressful situations, raise clinical issues and work independently to ensure the patients' needs are being met
- Ability to manage and motivate self and others.
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Registered nurse or paramedic with current registration with a professional regulatory body.
- Master's degree in advanced clinical practice Non-medical prescriber
- Other relevant qualifications at level 7 related to paediatric care
- Aiming to credentialing as PEM-ACP with the RCEM
- ETC/ATLS Provider status
- EPALS/APLS/ETC/ATLS Instructor status
- Paediatric Clinical History Taking and Physical Examination training/experience.
- Evidence of autonomous practice with high level of decision making.
- Highly developed communication skills (written and verbal)
- Specialist knowledge in the service
Desirable
- A clinical leadership/management qualification/experience
- EPALS/APLS Provider status
Experience
Essential
- Experience in clinical governance (risk management and complaints management)
- Experience of leading quality improvement initiatives within children's services
- Evidence of producing and presenting clinical papers/posters
- Ability to seek and provide peer reviews and support
- Ability to participate in a full shift rota
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
- Ability to provide advice to other staff/teams
- Up-to-date knowledge of adult and child safeguarding
- Up-to-date knowledge of infection prevention and control issues
- Able to support personal resilience by seeking feedback and advice
- Able to engage patients and families in decision making
- Able to translate national guidance and guidelines into practice
Desirable
- Substantial clinical experience working with undifferentiated emergencies in children
- Experience in investigating serious untoward incident with follow up actions
- Experience in providing expert clinical care and advice
- Evidence of research skills
- Evidence of critical thinking with regards to effective patient management.
- Previous experience as a paediatric ACP.
- Updated national initiatives on paediatric ACP.
Personal Development
Essential
- Ability to be flexible, to have flair and initiative and be able to work in a team
- Motivated / positive - self-directed and committed.
- Professional image
- Have an ongoing personal development plan
- Ability to organize, priorities and coordinate work
Communication
Essential
- Excellent communication skills with colleagues and people at all levels
- Flexible approach to work
- Good listener
- Team player
- Ability to manage stressful situations, raise clinical issues and work independently to ensure the patients' needs are being met
- Ability to manage and motivate self and others.
Specific requirements
Essential
- Able to perform the duties of the post with reasonable aids and adaptations
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).
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
