An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated, experienced, and enthusiastic Advanced Clinical Practitioner to become part of the clinical review team at our Christie Radiotherapy satellite centre based at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.
Ideally educated to Masters level, you will be expected to practice autonomously at an advanced level in the delivery of high quality, safe and supportive care to patients including assessing and managing radiotherapy side effects and prescribing independently.
The Christie NHS Foundation Trust is a highly specialised oncology treatment hospital. At The Christie at Salford satellite centre we deliver both radical and palliative radiotherapy to approximately 70 patients a day. The department is equipped with a CT simulator and two treatment machines, offering radiotherapy treatments to patients closer to home.
You must have the necessary skills to be able to react to and manage acute/emergency situations. You will be a key member of the clinical team, which includes Advanced Clinical Practitioners and will be a part of a large cross-trust multi-disciplinary team. You will be involved in the clinical training and development of qualified AHP’s and support staff.
Due to the nature of the small team we are not able to accept applications from candidates without a complete ACP qualification.
The Advanced Clinical Practitioner is a skilled practitioner who demonstrates highly developed specialist knowledge and skills in the assessment and management of patients. They will formulate clinical decisions and complex treatment plans to manage acute and chronic illness and will respond to actual and potential health problems appropriately. Non-Medical prescribing, strategic planning, education, research and audit are key components of the role.
The postholder will have a role in the clinical assessment of patients attending the hospital, working autonomously to assess the clinical situation, assessing symptoms determining a working diagnosis and appropriate supportive management. They will oversee the management of patients on outpatient treatment pathways and those attending for radiotherapy, identifying issues and altering treatment plans in line with consultant colleagues. They will order investigations, make appropriate/timely referrals and maintain relevant clinical records. They will work alongside medical colleagues maintaining good communication and collaboration between the various multidisciplinary teams. Evidence based care will be inherent in their practice, ensuring that best practice is disseminated throughout the clinical areas.
The Christie is one of Europe’s leading cancer centres, treating over 60,000 patients a year. We are based in Manchester and serve a population of 3.2 million across Greater Manchester & Cheshire, but as a national specialist around 15% patients are referred to us from other parts of the country. We provide radiotherapy through one of the largest radiotherapy departments in the world; chemotherapy on site and through 14 other hospitals; highly specialist surgery for complex and rare cancer; and a wide range of support and diagnostic services. We are also an international leader in research, with world first breakthroughs for over 100 years. We run one of the largest early clinical trial units in Europe with over 300 trials every year. Cancer research in Manchester, most of which is undertaken on the Christie site, has been officially ranked the best in the UK.
The Christie at Salford opened in 2011 and is one of three Christie satellite centres delivering Radiotherapy to patients closer to their homes. The Christie at Salford is the only NHS Christie Centre currently offering Stereotactic Radiosurgery Treatments to patients across the Greater Manchester catchment area.
Working hours must be flexible to fit the needs of the service and individuals will be expected to participate in all shift patterns and will be contracted to work between 6am and 11pm.
Although this role is advertised at 30 hours, there may be scope in the future to increase this to 37.5 hours. The current 30 hours is to be worked over 4 days, non-working day can be any day except Friday and can be discussed at interview.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Advanced Clinical Practice
1.0 Plan and manage own workload and the workload of the service, in a flexible manner, ensuring that service provision meets the need of patients.
1.1 Recognises and appropriately responds to limitations and gaps in knowledge seeking support where necessary. Demonstrates critical self-reflection, self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and openness to change.
1.2 Develops and undertakes advanced clinical skills in assessing and managing patients. This includes obtaining informed consent, history taking, screening, systematic physical examination, requisition and interpretation of appropriate clinical investigations and formulation of clinical management plans.
1.3 Maintain and develop expertise and competence within the field of oncology to enable collaboration with senior colleagues and medical staff, and to facilitate the management of patients.
1.4 Use evidence-based research to support clinical decisions and management plans.
1.5 Prescribe within the capacity of non-medical prescribing, adhering to Trust policy and existing frameworks including first and subsequent cycles of chemotherapy (as per Medicines Practice Operational Policy April 2023, unlicensed medication and drug used within clinical trials as qualified Independent Non-Medical Prescriber. Prescribe appropriate blood products as per Trust policy.
1.6 Communicate highly complex and sensitive information to patients and their significant others, this may include diagnosis, results of scans or other investigations, management options and prognosis.
1.7 Work collaboratively with an appropriate range of multi-agency and multi-professional resources, developing, maintaining, and evaluating links to manage risk and issues across organisations and settings.
1.8 Prepare accurate and concise records and reports, both verbal and written. Communicate with the patient’s referring specialist, GP, and other community. and hospice-based services at regular intervals as appropriate.
1.9 Contribute to clinical and research governance processes, including adverse incident reporting and the investigation and the management of complaints as appropriate.
1.10 Educate patients and their carers on issues surrounding health promotion and illness prevention. Promote and facilitate changes to lifestyle where appropriate.1.11 Perform clinical procedures safely according to defined protocols.
1.12 Develop patient specific information and ensure patients receive appropriate information, advice, and support in relation to their illness and treatment. Provide an environment that encourages patient centred involvement.
1.13 Be an active member of relevant Trust committees and groups contributing to developing/implementing local/national strategy.
1.14 Act as an expert resource and provide advice and support to ward/departmental areas and the wider community.
1.22 Demonstrate professionalism in terms of attitude, communication, and appearance at all times.
LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT
2.0 Contribute as appropriate to the development of strategies within the Division and wider Trust.
2.1 Be a visible role model for advanced clinical practice in research demonstrating a person-centered approach to service delivery and development within the Trust and externally at a National & International level.
2.2 Promote the role of advanced clinical practitioner locally, nationally and internationally.
2.3 Pro-actively initiate and develop effective relationships to empower and inspire staff members, to promote productive working and enhance patient care.
2.4 Provide professional, clinical and academic leadership and supervision to other professionals as appropriate within the scope of the role
2.5 Lead on clinical audit, including service evaluation and clinical service re-design including evaluation of own practice, demonstrating the impact of advanced practice on service function and effectiveness, (e.g. outcomes of care, experience and safety).
2.6 Critically apply advanced clinical expertise to provide consultancy across professional and service boundaries, such as the development of clinical protocols, standards and guidelines to enhance quality and promote sharing and adoption of best practice.
2.7 Actively seek feedback and involvement from patients, families and carers by engaging with Patient Participation and Involvement (PPI) groups in all aspects of patient care and research service delivery i.e., focus groups.
2.8 Demonstrate resilience and determination in managing situations which are complex or unpredictable.
2.9 Demonstrate receptiveness to challenge and preparedness to constructively challenge others, escalating concerns that
affect individuals, families, carers, communities and colleagues safety and well-being when necessary.
2.10 Participate in innovative and research-based practice to promote excellence in patient care.
2.13 Maintain professional registration and practice through CPD and relevant professional bodies revalidation/renewal processes.
2.14 Maintain professional portfolio to demonstrate competency in line with the trust competency framework.
2.15 Maintain personal standards of conduct and behaviour consistent with Trust and relevant professional bodies guidelines.
2.16 Recognise and acts as an advocate for patients, carers and service organisation. Lead change as required and ensure resolution of conflict.
EDUCATION
3.0 Critically assess and identify own learning and development needs in line with service requirements. Negotiate an annual personal development plan that reflects the breadth of ongoing professional development across the four pillars of advanced clinical practice and undertake professional development accordingly.
3.1 Engage in self-directed learning, critically reflecting to maximise clinical skills and knowledge. Participate in the on-going advanced clinical practice training and education program both within the organisation and beyond e.g., national/ international conferences.
3.2 Promote and contribute to a culture of organisational learning to inspire future and existing staff.
3.3 Actively engage in peer review to inform own and others practice, formulating and implementing strategies to act on learning and make improvements.
3.4 Act as an educator, supervisor, coach and mentor, seeking to instil and develop the confidence and skill of others
3.5 Provide specialist training and education locally, nationally and internationally
RESEARCH
4.0 Engage in research activity, adhering to good research practice guidance, so that evidence-based strategies are developed and applied to enhance quality, safety, productivity and value for money.
4.1 Contribute to the delivery of the Trust strategic vision for academic nursing and AHP roles.
4.2 Disseminate best practice/research findings and quality improvement projects through appropriate media. For example, via local team and/or national/international peer reviewed publications.
4.3 Evaluate and audit own and others clinical practice, selecting and applying valid, reliable methods, then acting on findings.
4.4 Use a critical approach to identify gaps in the evidence base and its applications to practice, alerting appropriate individuals and organisations to these and how they might be addressed in a safe and pragmatic way.
4.5 Actively identify potential need for further research to strengthen evidence for best practice. This may involve acting as an educator, leader, innovator and contributor to research activity and/or applying for research funding.
PROFESSIONAL
5.0 Maintain personal standards of conduct and behaviour consistent with Trust values and regulations set within the relevant professional bodies.
5.1 Actively contribute to the growing knowledge base of oncology research through publications and participation in local, national and international conferences.
5.2 Participate in strategic review meetings with senior colleagues as appropriate.
5.3 Maintain clinical competence through regular peer review of evidence based practice with medical consultant supervisor or by undertaking revalidation processes. Demonstrate clinical and professional development and evidence this in a personal portfolio.
5.4 Be aware of the policies, procedures and philosophies of the Trust, understanding health and safety requirements and ensure that all duties and responsibilities are carried out within these guidelines.
5.5 Raise quality issues and report related risks within the trust to address poor standards and incidents.
5.6 Support equality and value diversity
This job description is an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities of the role and is not intended as an exhaustive list. The job will change over time to reflect the changing needs of the Trust and its services, as well as personal development needs of the post holder.
