Advanced Nurse Practitioner

at  Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

The ANP is defined as a First Level Nurse; the role will be to provide highly specialised care to patients within the General Practice setting, using advanced clinical knowledge that is evidence based. You will be expected to function independently and within a clinical team and will demonstrate advanced autonomous clinical practice working across traditional boundaries and augmenting the medical role, utilising assessment, decision making and diagnostic skills. Providing expert advice and to ensure the needs of the patient are met by leading, challenging, and changing practice within the clinical setting.
You will be expected to take the lead and participate in educational issues; clinical supervision; research & audit; evidence-based practice and provide mentorship to other clinical staff working in the field of General Practice.
The role of the ANP will include working collaboratively with other health care professionals in primary and secondary care to ensure a high quality easily accessible service and act as a ANP in the service provided.
The post holder will accept new and follow-up patient referrals within the General Practice, undertaking clinical audit and research, recognising, and acting as an advocate for patients, carers within the service and organisation and leading on changes as required.
An Enhanced DBS with barred lists for both Adults & Children is required for the post.
Provide advanced levels of clinical practice, knowledge, and skills in General Practice.
Undertake history and physical examination to accurately assess the patient’s condition.
Request, interpret and act upon relevant diagnostic tests and procedures.
Interpret, convey and act upon complex and conflicting information to MDT members/patients/relatives including in possible stressful situations, which may be delicate or offensive in nature (i.e. breaking bad news).
Act as a clinical expert providing continuous support to the nursing staff and other MDT members within and outside designated area of work.
Undertake advanced (invasive and non-invasive) procedures pertaining to patient need, in accordance with appropriate training and clinical supervision.
Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and Trust policy.
Maintain comprehensive, contemporaneous, and accurate nursing/medical records and documentation, utilising information technology where available to facilitate caseload management.
Effectively manage acute life-threatening conditions in accordance with current ALS guidelines (as appropriate at area of work/need).
Act as a role model through demonstration of high standards of practice, providing a clinical environment that motivates and encourages effective working partnerships.
Participate in multidisciplinary, case conferences, clinical and audit meetings.
The Secretary of State has approved the partnership between St Helens & Knowsley and Southport & Ormskirk Hospitals.
From 1 st July we have come together as a single organisation under the name Mersey & West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.
The Trust delivers acute hospital care, intermediate care, community, and primary care services to a population of over 600,000 people with a combined workforce of around 9000 dedicated and skilled staff from 17 locations including Whiston, Southport & Formby, St Helens, Ormskirk and Newton hospitals.
The Trust provides regional services for burns, plastic surgery and spinal injuries to more than 4 million people across Mersey and West Lancashire, Cheshire, the Isle of Man and North Wales.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Provide advanced levels of clinical practice, knowledge, and skills in General Practice.
Undertake history and physical examination to accurately assess the patient’s condition.
Request, interpret and act upon relevant diagnostic tests and procedures.
Interpret, convey and act upon complex and conflicting information to MDT members/patients/relatives including in possible stressful situations, which may be delicate or offensive in nature (i.e. breaking bad news).
Act as a clinical expert providing continuous support to the nursing staff and other MDT members within and outside designated area of work.
Undertake advanced (invasive and non-invasive) procedures pertaining to patient need, in accordance with appropriate training and clinical supervision.
Prescribe medication in accordance with current legislation and Trust policy.
Maintain comprehensive, contemporaneous, and accurate nursing/medical records and documentation, utilising information technology where available to facilitate caseload management.
Effectively manage acute life-threatening conditions in accordance with current ALS guidelines (as appropriate at area of work/need).
Act as a role model through demonstration of high standards of practice, providing a clinical environment that motivates and encourages effective working partnerships.
Participate in multidisciplinary, case conferences, clinical and audit meetings.
Gain informed consent from patients for procedures undertaken by self or on behalf of others, both written and verbal, according to Trust policy.
Provide evidence-based specialist knowledge and advice to patients, families/carers throughout the patient’s journey to meet their physical, emotional and psychological needs.
Provide clinical expertise in the management of patients utilising specialist theoretical and clinical skills.
Issue Fit Notes and Prescriptions.
Certify expected deaths as per Trust policy.
Facilitate and support general practice doctors/Matron/Trainees to develop effective working relationships with the multi-disciplinary team to enhance the care and management of patients.
Act as an autonomous practitioner exercising judgement, discretion and decision making in clinical care.
To support junior medical staff, sharing clinical workload and allowing junior doctors to achieve training and development requirements.
Act autonomously, referring to appropriate specialists/care agencies

EDUCATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Adherence to competency framework.
Attend mentor meetings with respective Consultants.
Take responsibility for one’s own professional development and continually assess and acknowledge areas for development as they arise.
Advise on the promotion of health and prevention of illness to all client/carer groups and empower individuals to make informed health choices
Recognise situations which may be detrimental to the health and well-being of the individual and manage risk accordingly
Seek opportunities to publicise and promote the role of the Advanced Nurse Practitioner and disseminate information regarding the development of practice
Assist in identified training and educational needs of the nursing staff/medical staff and participate in its delivery

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Ensure that the patient experience remains the focal point for service improvement within the Division.
Provide support for nursing staff in relation to clinical support to complaints, SIRI / SUI investigations.
To contribute effectively to service developments both within the divisions and at strategic level.
Attend General Practice meetings as required.
To act as a role model by demonstrating excellent communication and listening skills with patients, relatives and staff.
Promote effective team working within the team along with nursing and medical staff in the service.
Network locally, regionally and nationally to share and exchange ideas and principles.
Provide an effective leadership role in contributing to own departmental issue pertaining to clinical governance agendas and shared governance within the Trust e.g., maintaining standards, risk management, clinical audit and research, standard setting, benchmarking, evidence-based practice, etc.
Develop clinic skills as required and assist where necessary.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Develop good working relationships with medical and nursing staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team within and other departments within the Trust and external.
Act in accordance with the NMC guidelines/Code of Professional Conduct.

SAFEGUARDING RESPONSIBILITIES

Comply with Trust Safeguarding Children Policy and standard operating procedures to safeguard vulnerable children up to 18 years throughout the Trust, this includes the Protocol for Children who Do Not Attend Clinics, fulfilling your role as defined in these documents.
Liaise with all relevant professionals (Police, Social Services) in relation to safeguarding work undertaken by your Consultant. Type any medical reports for child protection cases as requested by the Consultant, nurse or junior medical staff. Arrange multi-professional meetings regarding child protection/child in need cases. Minute multi-professional meetings as necessary.
Provide administrative support for the Named Consultant and Named Nurse for Safeguarding Children
Know about the range of physical abuse, emotional abuse, neglect and sexual abuse.
Be able to recognise signs of abuse appropriate to role and what action to take
Know what to do if concerned that a child is being abused.
Know about the Trust’s local policies/procedures.
Understand the importance of sharing information, how it can help and the dangers of not sharing information.
Be able to recognise signs of child abuse as this relates to their role. e.g observe inappropriate parenting, an unusually quiet and withdrawn child etc
Be able to seek advice and report concerns, ensuring that they are listened to