Advanced Clinical Practitioner in Stafford

We have an exciting opportunity for a caring and compassionate Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) to join the physical health team working on Ellesmere House, a forensic low secure learning disability unit based at St George's Hospital in Stafford. This role offers the chance to make a meaningful difference in the lives of men with learning disabilities who are at various stages of their secure care journey, including treatment, rehabilitation, and discharge planning.

We are inviting applications from registered Learning Disability Nurses or Mental Health Nurses with substantial experience supporting people with learning disabilities and/or autism, particularly those with complex mental health needs. You will have successfully completed an MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice and bring a genuine commitment to delivering high-quality, person-centred care. We're looking for someone who is enthusiastic about supporting individuals with learning disabilities, autism, and neurodiversity, including those with complex mental, physical, emotional, and behavioural needs.

As an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, you will be working with service users with a range of complex physical and mental health needs and may also have complex emotional and behavioural needs.

Main duties of the job:

• Deliver autonomous, advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, and treatment for patients, including those with complex physical and mental health needs.
• Manage care collaboratively with patients, families, and carers, addressing complex problems and improving outcomes.
• Prescribe medication and refer patients to appropriate specialists where required.
• Provide clinical leadership and management to ensure safe, effective, high-quality care.
• Lead and contribute to quality improvement, service development, audit, and evaluation within the service.
• Support and enhance staff capability by delivering education and training to nursing and support staff.
• Maintain continuous professional development, engaging in supervision, appraisal, and acting as a role model for learning.
• Work at an advanced practice level across the four pillars: clinical practice, leadership, education, and research.

About us: Come and work with us at our award-winning NHS Trust, leading the way for trying new and better ways of working to help improve life for our local communities. We have around 9,000 staff who provide physical and mental healthcare, support for people with learning disabilities, and adult social care across Staffordshire, Stoke-on-Trent, Shropshire, and Telford & Wrekin. We also run regional and national services, including help for new parents (perinatal care), eating disorders, forensic services, sexual health, and support for people in prison with mental health, drug, or alcohol problems.

We offer great career development for both clinical and non-clinical roles, with ongoing training and support to help you learn and grow. We are 'United in our Uniqueness' and committed to creating a workplace where everyone feels welcome and can be themselves, no matter their background or identity. We want our staff to feel supported and valued, and we aim to build a team that reflects the communities we serve. Together, we can make sure every voice is heard, and every difference is respected.

Please note, we may be required to close this vacancy early if we receive a high volume of applications. Please be aware that the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in completing application forms will be monitored to ensure fairness and transparency. If you have used AI you must state this in your application.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: Professional regulated core qualification with the NMC/HCPC. Post graduate qualification in NMP and Advanced Health Assessment. Master level qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice.
• Experience: Extensive experience in a management/clinical/practitioner leadership role within mental health/LD setting. High level of clinical expertise in working with people's mental health/LD. Extensive experience of working in mental health/LD services and assessing complex mental health/LD presentations. Experience of developing clinical pathways and intervention plans. Experience in teaching/clinically supervising junior staff. Experience of leading/managing a multidisciplinary team. Experience of leading on a series of audits, action plans and projects simultaneously. Experience in assessing, formulating and managing risk for people with severe and enduring mental health difficulties/LD. Experience in clinically leading staff groups. Experience in developing and adapting systems and processes to meet the needs of the individual and the service.
• Skills, Knowledge & Abilities: Knowledge of current national agenda relating to the NHS, social care sector, and forensic mental health/LD services. Ability to involve service users in co-creation and coproduction. Knowledge of evidenced based interventions when working with service users for a variety of presentations. Knowledge and good understanding of current trends and legislation impacting on services provided to those in the forensic mental health/LD setting. Awareness of clinical governance practices. Highly developed communication skills appropriate for the client group. Evidence of experience in education of multi-professional groups. Ability to identify deficiencies in services and to actively contribute to overcoming these. Experience of mentorship in practice. Evidence of teaching skills.
• Personal Attributes: Facilitate a culture of life-long learning including involvement in the process of clinical supervision, student final sign off and appraisal. Passion for working within forensic settings. A sense of curiosity and desire to positively influence practice by acting as a role model for others. Demonstrate evidence of team working. Able to contribute to team discussion and be respectful of others' views. Honest and trustworthy. Able to work in uncertain and challenging environments, where exposure to distressing situations is likely. Resourceful and resilient.

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. Applicants must have current UK professional registration.