ANP (ARRS) - Care Homes - Rossendale PCN

The successful post holder will be an experienced Advanced Nurse Practitioner, acting autonomously within their professional scope of practice, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessments, diagnosis, treatment, evaluation and follow up of care. They will operate within their own sphere of competence and acceptable limits of practice to demonstrate safe, clinical decision‑making and expert care for patients. They will work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary general practice team to provide expert professional clinical advice to patients, carers and colleagues, ensuring clinical safety and excellence and providing nurse leadership as required. In order to work at this level, NMC requirements for advanced practice must be met. Please note that the role includes working towards obtaining the Advanced digital badge.

Main duties of the job

The successful post holder will provide high levels of clinical care for patients in care homes and housebound patients in the community, managing a range of acute, non‑acute and chronic disease conditions, using advanced autonomous clinical skills and a broad in‑depth theoretical knowledge base. They will be reliable and flexible and understand their duty of care, ensuring timely and effective communication is maintained with patients, colleagues and other healthcare professionals to achieve planned goals. Education, training and support may be provided to the care home team (where applicable) to ensure the highest standards of care are provided for patients. The successful candidate will undertake nursing, medical and social care assessments to initiate interventions to improve the quality of life within the setting and will assist with the admissions, care programme and discharge process of all patients. They will also ensure confidentiality is maintained regarding all aspects of patient care.

About us

The East Lancashire Alliance is a network of 9 PCNs covering 48 GP practices and over 390,000 patients across East Lancashire. Patients are at the heart of everything we do and we pride ourselves in ensuring our patients feel safe, supported, communicated with and respected at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable. The Alliance represents our member practices and champions our Primary Care Partners by working with local general practice and other system partners in the provision of patient‑centred, local healthcare services. Each practice has a close‑knit team of staff who collectively seek to improve the health of their patient populations. East Lancashire is one of the world’s most innovative and exciting places to live and work, with beautiful countryside, vibrant towns, villages and great shopping, entertainment and dining options, where you will experience a northern welcome.

Job responsibilities

• A – Clinical Practice

• Provide a first contact for care homes for advice regarding medical and nursing conditions of patients, making use of skills in history taking, physical examination, problem‑solving and clinical decision‑making to establish a diagnosis and management plan.
• Provide continuity of care for housebound patients in the community for advice regarding medical and nursing conditions of patients, making use of skills in history taking, physical examination, problem‑solving and clinical decision‑making to establish a diagnosis and management plan.
• Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to deliver safe and high‑quality care.
• Carry out clinical nursing practice at an advanced level using expert clinical skills, critical judgement and knowledge to deliver appropriate and safe care.
• Triage and treat patients, performing specialist assessment of their needs and make referrals as necessary to other members of the primary and secondary health care teams.
• Co‑ordinate the planning and delivery of holistic care ensuring patients and carers/relatives are involved.
• If the post holder is an independent prescriber, prescribe and review medication that is appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with the latest evidence‑based practice, national and practice protocols and within the scope of qualified practice.
• Diagnose and manage acute and chronic conditions, including drug and non‑drug based treatment methods into a management plan.
• Promote health and well‑being through the use of health promotion, health education, screening and therapeutic communication skills.
• Assess, diagnose and treat patients in practice premises or in their own home who require medical attention and/or refer to an appropriate agency.
• Refer patients to other members of the multidisciplinary practice team, secondary care organisation and other organisation where it may be necessary.

• Work towards obtaining the Advanced digital badge.
• Maintain up to date skills and knowledge, maintaining awareness of professional issues at an advanced level.
• Assess the effectiveness of own clinical practice and care delivery through self‑reflection and peer review, as well as benchmarking and formal evaluation.
• Promote evidence‑based practice through the use of latest research‑based guidelines and the development of practice‑based research.
• Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure up‑to‑date evidence‑based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained.
• Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan.
• Maintain professional registration.
• Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Record accurate consultation data in patient records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards.
• Keep up to date with pertinent health‑related policy and work with the Locality team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the PCN.
• Participate in multi‑disciplinary protocol and clinical pathways.
• Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate.
• Participate in PCN meetings reporting progress as required.

• Promote a learning environment for patients, care home staff and other health professionals.
• Contribute to the planning and implementation of teaching for existing staff, such as medical students, nursing students, GP registrars and health care assistants within the PCN.

Health and Safety / Risk Management

The post holder must always comply with the practice’s Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisation’s Incident Reporting System. They also must comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with sensitive information relating to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy. The post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their careers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Equality and Diversity

The post holder must cooperate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co‑workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum of 5 years post‑registration experience.
• Experience in the management of long‑term conditions such as asthma, COPD, diabetes, coronary heart disease.
• Evidence of appropriate continuing professional development activity to maintain up to date knowledge and ongoing competence in all aspects of the NP role.
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their own clinical practice.
• Interpreting and implementing local and national policy agendas for health.
• Experience of undertaking audit.

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse (currently registered with the Nursing & Midwifery Council).
• Master’s degree.
• Post‑graduate qualification at level 7 or above in a specialist area.
• Advanced Digital badge – obtained through an accredited programme or the e‑portfolio supported route.
• Teaching or mentoring experience and/or qualification.

Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding and knowledge of policy developments in regard to the delivery of primary care services including General Practice, the GMS/PMS contract, Clinical Governance, Quality and Outcomes Framework and Local/Directed Enhanced Service contracts.
• Understanding of evidence‑based practice.
• Knowledge of national standards that inform practice, e.g. National Service Frameworks, NICE guidelines.
• Understanding of their accountability arising from NMC Code of Professional Conduct (2009) and medicolegal aspects of the Nurse Practitioner role.
• Understanding of equal opportunity and diversity issues.
• Understanding and maintaining effective communication pathways within the organisation, the PCN and with key external stakeholders.
• Effective time management and ability to prioritise workload.
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to analyse data and information; drawing out implications for the patient and impact on care plan.
• Experience of using medical software package.
• Flexibility to work outside core hours.
• Proven record of effective use of networking and influencing skills.