Advanced Clinical Practitioner (Nurse) in Tonbridge

TonbridgePCN is seeking to recruit an Advanced Nurse Practitioner to complement our growing PCN team of ANPs, paramedics, pharmacists, and care coordinators to support our practices in the delivery of urgent care. We are looking particularly for an ANP who is confident in triage, management of 'on the day' primary care and communication with GP and MDT colleagues in the ongoing follow up and treatment of patients as required and willing to work in multiple sites around Tonbridge area.

Main duties of the job

The Nurse Advanced Clinical Practitioner will play a key role in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care within the PCN Same Day Access Hub, primarily managing urgent, on-the-day presentations. Working closely with GP supervisors and the wider PCN multidisciplinary team, the Nurse ACP will assess, diagnose and manage patients with acute, long-term and complex health needs. The role may also include cross-cover for the Frailty Visiting Team, providing urgent care to housebound patients in their own homes.

The Nurse ACP will practice autonomously at an advanced level, managing undifferentiated and undiagnosed conditions, identifying red flags and taking appropriate action, including referral and escalation where required. Key responsibilities include same-day triage, clinical assessment, treatment planning, prescribing, and interpretation of diagnostic investigations in line with evidence-based practice and agreed protocols.

The Nurse ACP will proactively support the prevention and management of long-term conditions, using both pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches, and will coordinate care with patients, carers and other professionals to enable personalised and shared decision-making. The post holder will request and interpret investigations, review and optimise medications, and refer patients appropriately to primary care colleagues, secondary care and other services, ensuring safe, effective and integrated care delivery across settings.

About us

About Tonbridge PCN Serving approximately 70,000 patients; Tonbridge PCN strives to develop collaborative working across Tonbridge GP practices and local health and care services. Tonbridge recently won a Kent and Medway award for its Integrated Home Visiting Service, jointly staffed by PCN GPs, paramedics and local community nursing teams. The PCN aims to support and strengthen delivery of primary care, offering high standards of patient care centred on the needs of our population, whilst working to support a happy and resilient workforce through the development of robust multi-disciplinary teams.

A Same Day Access PCN Hub service with GP supervision using ACP clinical skills is currently in development, and we hope this will not only support patient access but provide a greater range of clinical experience for ACPs working at PCN level.

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

• The role will mainly involve working in our Same Day Access Hub seeing patients for urgent on the day issues.
• The role will involve working alongside PCN team of GP supervisor in the PCN Same Day Access Hub seeing patients on the day with urgent issues.
• The post may include cross cover with the award-winning Frailty Visiting Team visiting patients who are housebound for urgent on the day issues.
• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver safe and high-quality care.
• Carry out clinical practice at an advanced level using expert clinical skills, critical judgements & knowledge to deliver appropriate and safe care.
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with acute, long term and complex health needs.
• Manage undifferentiated undiagnosed condition and identify red flags and underlying serious pathology and take appropriate action.
• Triage and treat patients, including same day triage, performing assessment of their needs and makes referrals as necessary to other members of the primary and secondary health care teams as appropriate.
• Interpret investigation findings to determine effective treatment plans & discuss with GPs where a second opinion is required.
• Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition, using both non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatments.
• Co-ordinate the planning and delivery of care ensuring patients and carers or relatives are involved where required.
• Actively take a personalised care approach and population centre care approach to enable shared decision making.
• Prescribing and reviewing medication that is appropriate for patient needs and in accordance with 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.
• Request diagnostic investigations and interpret within agreed protocols e.g. x-ray, blood tests, scans, etc.
• Assess, diagnose and treat patients in practice premises or their own home who require medical attention and/or refer to appropriate agency.
• Refer patients to other members of the multi-disciplinary practice teams, secondary care organisations and other organisations as necessary.

Communication

Communicates effectively with patients, carers, the primary care team and external stakeholders, adapting communication styles to meet individual needs and overcome barriers related to understanding, culture or preferred methods of communication. Ensures patients are fully informed about their care, provides information in accessible formats, and signposts to appropriate support services where required.

Safeguarding Adults and Children

Has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of vulnerable adults and children by recognising and acting on safeguarding concerns in line with local policies and procedures. Maintains up-to-date safeguarding knowledge, attends required training, and supports internal and external safeguarding investigations as appropriate.

Leadership, Management and Team Working

Takes responsibility for personal learning, performance and clinical supervision, acting as a positive role model. Contributes to guideline and protocol development and supports service improvement across the PCN. Works effectively within multidisciplinary teams, managing workload, referrals and service delivery, and leading agreed projects or services. Promotes the Advanced Clinical Practitioner role and supports workforce development.

Education and Research

Provides mentorship and supervision to colleagues and supports education for patients, carers and staff. Uses evidence-based practice to improve quality of care, participates in audit, research, clinical governance and incident investigation, and supports quality improvement activity in line with national standards.

Quality and Governance

Maintains high standards of care in line with NICE, NSF and evidence-based guidance. Contributes to clinical governance, risk management, audit and quality frameworks, raising concerns related to safety and quality and supporting service improvement.

Professional Development

Engages in appraisal, supervision, CPD and mandatory training. Maintains advanced clinical knowledge and skills, participates in teaching and training activities, and works within professional accountability and governance frameworks.

Confidentiality and Data Protection

Maintains strict confidentiality of patient, staff and organisational information in line with data protection legislation and local policies. Reports data breaches or concerns promptly.

Health, Safety and Infection Control

Promotes health, safety and security for self and others, adhering to lone working, infection control and risk management policies. Complies with mandatory training and infection prevention procedures.

Equality, Diversity and Security

Promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, respecting the rights, dignity and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues. Works within local security policies to ensure safety of patients, staff and visitors.

Working Conditions and Relationships

May be required to work across practices within Tonbridge PCN. Works collaboratively with patients, practice teams, PCN leadership, community services, pharmacists, secondary care and care home staff to support integrated care delivery.

No Smoking Policy

Complies with the organisations no smoking or vaping policy. This job description may be reviewed in the light of changing organisational and service needs. Any changes will be fully discussed with the post holder. The post holder may also be required to carry out other work appropriate to the grade of the post.

Person Specification

Knowledge

• A clear understanding of the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England.
• Advanced clinical practice skills.
• Clinical examination skills.
• Accountability of own role and other roles.
• Management of patients with long-term conditions.
• Management of patients with complex needs.
• Local plan and national health policy.
• Clinical governance issues in primary care.
• Patient group directions and associated policy.
• Knowledge/experience in general practice/elderly care or palliative care.
• Able to identify determinants on health in the area.
• Knowledge of public health issues in the area.

Other

• Highly motivated.
• Flexibility.
• Team player.

Qualifications

• Masters degree level in the relevant area of expertise.
• Advanced Clinical Practitioner Nurses have either graduated from a Centre for Advancing Practice accredited MSc advanced practice programme or completed the Centres ePortfolio (supported) Route.
• Clinical supervision training and experience.

Experience

• Recent primary or community experience.
• Management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries.
• Triage.
• Compiling protocols and clinical guidelines.
• Clinical Leadership.
• Audit.
• Research.
• Project management.
• Health-needs assessment.

Skills

• Clinical leadership skills.
• Communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families.
• Negotiation and conflict management skills.
• Change management.
• Teaching and mentorship within a clinical setting.
• Resource management.

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.

£50,952 to £57,349 a year Band 8a depending on qualifications and experience.