Enhanced Practitioner for General Surgery

at  Dorset County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated qualified ECP to join our Surgical Team as Enhanced Clinical Practitioner for General Surgery
The Surgical Enhanced Clinical Practitioner [ECP] will work as an integral member of the multi-professional workforce. The post holder will take a lead role in the clinical assessment and treatment of surgical in-patients within the Trust.
The successful candidate will form part of the ward round team and be responsible for reviewing/ assessing patients, who will be a mix of acutely unwell and elective pathway and for their ongoing management of inter-hospital care. Will be required at times to work autonomously and aid in determining clinical diagnosis and treatment plans, working closely with senior medical and nursing staff. They will provide early escalation to the Senior Surgical Registrar or Consultant and where necessary refer to Critical Care Outreach and/ or Critical Care for ongoing management. They will be required to work collaboratively with all multi-disciplinary members of the surgical team, with potential need for future weekend and on call/ nightshift working once the team expands.
Manage a clinical caseload to an advanced professional standard using specialist knowledge from theoretical and practical experience.
Work as a pivotal member of the Surgical team and triage workload accordingly, assisting with ward tasks where required.
Undertake clinical assessment, early diagnosis of complications and initiation of treatment plans.
Work within the MDT to ensure onward referrals/pathways are managed appropriately.
Able to work more autonomously, will be able to review patients in SDEC, whom have been bought in from Surgical outpatient clinic or by prior arrangement, as per Surgical team.
Act as a Champion for Enhanced Recovery.
Facilitate safe and timely discharge of patients to home.
Provide support and education, both formal and ad-hoc/ in situ ward teaching, to junior members of the MDT with particular focus on decision making, management plans and appropriate escalation.
Maintain professional development needs for an ECP.
Adhere at all times to Codes of Professional Conduct and Regulatory bodies, e.g. NMC. To work in accordance with four Pillars of Advanced Practice. To act as a role model and display Trust values of Teamwork, Integrity, Respect and Excellence.
Identify and review current information available to determine and plan patient management process.
Undertake assessment in line with evidence based practice and policies e.g. taking case history, examinations, requesting diagnostic investigations.
Review and interpret all information available utilising a systematic process of reasoning to make a differential diagnosis.
Develop and record a treatment plan consistent with the outcome of the assessment and most probable diagnosis.
According to current legislation undertake independent prescribing.
Discuss sensitive information with patients and families and manage their behaviour accordingly.
Refer to other practitioners as and when necessary.
Maintain comprehensive and accurate assessment and treatment records in line with legal and local requirements. Communicate assessment and treatment results to the appropriate disciplines.
Use a range of skills to adapt the delivery of information using various methods of communication and using persuasive, reassuring skills as required e.g. breaking bad news.
Provide spontaneous and planned advice, teaching and instruction to other professionals, patients and relatives to promote understanding of the patient’s condition and ensure a consistent approach to patient care.
Explore complex issues and to make complex decisions encouraging the effective participation of all involved.
Communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background and preferred ways of understanding.
Work within a legal framework with patients who lack capacity to consent to treatment.
Ensure that all aspects of safeguarding, vulnerable adults, children and patients with learning disabilities are managed appropriately and escalated in accordance with Trust polic

Please refer the Job description for details