Emergency Care Practitioner/Emergency Nurse Practitioner

We are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Emergency Care Practitioner/ Emergency Nurse Practitioner (ECP/ENP) to join our dynamic healthcare team at Uckfield Minor Injury Unit. The role is for one full time vacancy and one part time.

The successful candidate will provide Clinical and Professional Leadership, ensuring robust governance for staff within the designated area or service. They will ensure that staff maintain clinical competence, that services are delivered with clinical effectiveness and safety, and that an exceptional patient experience is consistently achieved. The post holder will work centrally in the development of the Minor Injuries Unit and its education and training needs. To be a pro-active role model for the Unit in terms of clinical, education and general management quality standards and the nurse professional team leader.

Main duties of the job

• Exercises judgement in identifying, assessing and interpreting complicated conditions, where a range of options require consideration for the treatment and discharge planning for patients attending with minor complaints.
• Able to plan and organise a number of activities within the unit with regards to demand of the service and the allocation and re-allocation of staff to ensure clinical safety within the environment and for the discharge of patients.
• Ensures that all staff including temporary staff and students in the unit are aware of emergency procedures to follow.
• Leads others in the assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care of patients in the unit in accordance with Trust ENP Guidelines and departmental protocols prior to discharge home or transfer of the patient to another hospital.
• When necessary assists others in planning duty rotas to meet the requirements of the clinical area and the needs of the unit and takes into account skill mix requirements in relation to acuity and dependency.
• With due regard to Risk Management policies and procedures, ensures that a safe environment for patients, relatives, carers and staff is maintained.
• To be familiar with the Major Incident Policy, has the knowledge and skills to assist as directed within that plan, should the need arise.
• To ensure provision of professional leadership and supervision to staff within own discipline and facilitation of appropriate professional leadership for other disciplines.

About us

We are the main provider of NHS community services across East and West Sussex, with 6,000 staff serving 1.3 million people. We deliver essential care to adults and children, helping them manage their health, avoid hospital admissions, and reduce hospital stays.

Our Trust vision is to provide excellent care at the heart of the community. We offer opportunities across medical, clinical, support, and corporate services.

Why work for us?

• Positive 2023 NHS Staff Survey results, highlighting compassionate leadership and wellbeing;
• Varied environments: community hospitals, patients' homes, and bases across Sussex;
• Flexible working options: part-time, flexi-time, annualised hours, and flexi-retirement;
• Excellent training, development, and research opportunities;
• Cost-effective workplace nurseries in Crawley, Hove, and Brighton;
• Active EMBRACE, Disability & Wellbeing, LGBTQIA+, and Religion & Belief network;
• Level 3 Disability Confident Leader and Veteran Aware Trust;
• Beautiful Sussex location near the South Downs and coast.

Our values -- Compassionate Care, Working Together, Achieving Ambitions, Delivering Excellence -- guide everything we do. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all backgrounds, particularly from ethnically diverse, disabled, and LGBTQIA+ individuals. We aim to create an inclusive environment and support reasonable adjustments during recruitment.

This post may close early if sufficient applications are received.

Job responsibilities

• Accountable for the direct delivery of care to patients attending Minor Injuries Unit. Responsible for assessing, requesting and interpreting diagnostic radiographs. Diagnosing, treating and discharging or referral to other professionals.
• Takes responsibility for ensuring the maintenance of high standards of nursing care. Leads and participates in Nursing and clinical audit in the Unit collecting and collating information as required.
• Responsible for the management of the Unit to record and monitor sickness and to take corrective action where necessary. Participates in managing resources; human and material.
• Ensures the application of local standards, policies and philosophies which further the philosophy of patient centred, individual and evidence based care for all patients. In conjunction with other ENPs, ensures that an annual training needs analysis is undertaken, which is communicated to the Clinical Lead.
• Ensures evidence based innovative practice in the delivery of nursing care and supports others in the implementation of changes identified to improve care.
• Ensures that all medical and emergency equipment is kept in a safe condition, regularly checked and is ready for use when required, and that faulty equipment is reported and/or replaced as necessary.
• To develop an understanding of the delegated budget for the unit, and participate in the procedure for ordering supplies within the agreed budget.

Please view the JD and PS for further information on the role.

Person Specification

Qualifications and/or professional registration

• Completed and obtained RN and has current live PIN on NMC or HCPC register.
• Evidence of relevant postgraduate courses / CPD and reflective practice relevant to clinical speciality.
• Post Registration qualification or training to masters level or equivalent and experience.
• Evidence of a range of clinical competencies appropriate for the role.
• Management qualification or willingness to undertake.
• Non medical prescriber.
• Minor ailments module.

Experience

• Experience in an autonomous practice role.
• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrable skills in leadership and management.
• Significant experience providing clinical leadership to a team.
• Significant experience of supervision.
• Experience of leading within a multiprofessional team / collaborative working.
• Experience of delivering quality improvement, innovation and productivity.
• Evidence of active participation in audit and clinically relevant research.

Skills and knowledge

• Use of advanced reasoning and assessment skills demonstrated in knowledge and experience shown in a wide range of approaches to treatments, management of conditions and situations.
• IT skills, with the ability to use a number of databases, excel, word and internet.
• Demonstrates excellent leadership and ability to empower others in practice.
• Demonstrates ability to delegate to others.
• Demonstrates an ability to create complex care plans based on the needs of the individual.
• Knowledge of clinical governance, clinical audit, clinical supervision and professional codes of conduct.
• Promote independence and choice in undertaking patient care management and its implications for teams and individuals.
• Knowledge of appraisal and supervision skills.
• Demonstrates Public health agenda and making every contact count.
• Knowledge of managing staff issues and escalation processes for this.
• Recognising and managing issues which may impact on the health and wellbeing for self and team members. Referring to senior clinician/ occupational health as indicated.
• Demonstrates self-awareness, and emotional intelligence.
• Demonstrates knowledge of compassionate leadership.
• Support new starters, students of all disciplines, post-registration learners and other visitors to the service to meet learning objectives and access appropriate experiences.
• Create a learning environment through role modelling and supporting staff to continuously develop.
• Enhanced knowledge of safeguarding vulnerable adults, mental capacity act and DoLs.

Other requirements

• Ability to work in flexible way and respond positively to change.
• Ability to work autonomously and make own decisions.
• Ability to travel between sites, car owner/driver, with access to a vehicle for work purposes.
• IT skills, with the ability to use a number of databases, excel, word and internet.
• Indication of relevance of this post to career development.

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.

£47,810 to £54,710 a year per annum pro rata.