Advanced Nurse Practitioner / Advanced Paramedic in Ayr

This post is open to applicants from either a nursing or paramedic background, providing they meet advanced practice and prescribing criteria. Informal enquiries about hours and experience welcome.

The Ayrshire Hospice delivers specialised palliative care to the community of Ayrshire and Arran. As an integral part of our team, you will utilise advanced practice skills to assess, diagnose, and manage complex patient needs across both in-patient and community care settings. Strong leadership abilities will be crucial as you provide guidance, supervision, and support to colleagues, ensuring the delivery of exceptional care. Your outstanding communication and interpersonal skills will facilitate effective collaboration within our multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of compassion and excellence. Committed to ongoing professional development, you will contribute to the advancement of palliative care practices, working collaboratively with stakeholders to implement innovative approaches to care delivery. Flexibility to participate in on-call duties and contribute to various projects as needed is essential. This role presents a unique opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of patients and families facing life-limiting illness within the Ayrshire and Arran community.

Main Responsibilities

• Clinical Practice: Demonstrate high levels of autonomy by conducting practitioner led admissions and discharges; assess, diagnose, plan and implement programmes of evidence-based care and treatment for patients with the support from the medical team. Review the outcomes of treatment and care in conjunction with the other members of the multi-disciplinary team and demonstrate ethical decision-making and advanced communication skills. Provide a visible clinical profile, having both an advisory and clinical input into patient care thus providing support to the multi-disciplinary team. Act as an independent non-medical prescriber. In undertaking this role, the post holder will follow the Ayrshire Hospice Independent Prescribing policy and ensure safe custody, prescribing and administration of drugs in accordance with good practice and in line with the NMC or the HCPC, Professional Standards of Practice. Promote a multi-professional interagency approach to care by facilitating communication and co-operation across all Ayrshire localities and professional boundaries to incorporate values-based palliative care into practice. Influence practice development through critically evaluating relevant research findings and incorporate critical reflections to develop current and future practice. Contribute to the medical out of hour’s rota, acting as first on call for the hospice In-patient unit. This role will be carried out under the guidance and support from the hospice senior medical team. Regularly assess and manage risk. Maintain own awareness of, and comply with, policies and procedures relating to Health and Safety, whether statutory or Hospice, and assist in ensuring the compliance of other staff.
• Research: Assist staff in developing their skills in the understanding and use of research to inform practice. Develop as a proactive member of the team, leading on audits and evaluation of work that support the development and improvement of palliative and end of life care. Participate in the formal review of palliative care services across Ayrshire. Apply highly developed evaluation skills to review clinical practice and ensure continual quality improvement.
• Education: Be aware of professional responsibilities and comply with standards and guidance surrounding Advanced Practice. Be aware of own continuous professional development needs and maintain an annual personal development plan. Continually develop knowledge and skill to act as a resource and advisor in relation to palliative and end of life care for patients across all care sectors in Ayrshire and Arran. Contributes to medicines management and incident review quarterly meetings providing report and recommendations to clinical governance committee. Promote and create a positive learning environment in the in-patient unit and community setting. Utilise skills and techniques to motivate staff and others through training, supervision and coaching.
• Professional Leadership: Provide clinical excellence and leadership in palliative care, acting as a role model and resource for the multidisciplinary team. Demonstrate vision and encourage innovation to develop services and influence change through seeking opportunities to lead and support quality improvement initiatives. Demonstrate skills for influencing the care provided by other members of primary and secondary care services to support the patient and their carers in any care setting. Develop a repertoire of interpersonal skills and apply those skills in response to the different needs of other professionals involved in patient care. Develop relationships and maintain links to ensure effective networking and communication with Medical, Nursing and AHP colleagues across Ayrshire and with other hospices. Improve patient safety through developing a case for change. Work closely with clinical service managers to deliver on the strategic priorities contained within the Ayrshire Hospice Strategic Plan.

Person Specification

• Education / Qualifications: Essential Qualified Nurse with current registration on part 1 of the NMC register or Qualified Paramedic with Current registration on the HCPC register. Qualified as an independent non-medical prescriber. Successfully completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Practice. Full UK Driving Licence and access to your own vehicle.
• Knowledge/Experience: Essential Experience working at ANP level. Experience of formal and informal teaching. Desirable Experience in a palliative and end of life care. Understanding of the current palliative care issues across all care settings.
• Ability/Skills: Essential Strong communication skills. Ability to network and build rapport. Ability to plan, organise, prioritise and take a delegated shared responsibility for managing complex services. Leadership skills and team working abilities. Motivational skills both for self and others.
• Personal Qualities: Essential Positive, motivated and enthusiastic individual. Values driven.

Closing date Tuesday 19th May 2026 at 4:30pm. Interview date TBC.