Lead Advanced Clinical Practitioner - Urgent and Emergency Care

Detailed job description and main responsibilities The Lead Advanced Practitioner for Urgent and Emergency Care will provide senior clinical, professional and operational leadership across University Hospitals Dorsets Urgent Treatment Centres and front door urgent care pathways. The post holder will work as an expert autonomous practitioner, using advanced clinical knowledge, assessment skills and professional judgement to manage patients with urgent, complex and undifferentiated presentations. The role combines direct clinical practice with leadership of Advanced Practice services, supporting the delivery of safe, effective, timely and patient-centred care. The post holder will work closely with the Nurse Consultant, Clinical Lead, UTC Service Manager and wider multidisciplinary team to support service delivery, workforce development, governance, education, quality improvement and transformation.

Key responsibilities will include

Advanced clinical practice and decision-making The post holder will work autonomously within their scope of practice, undertaking full clinical assessment, history taking, physical examination, diagnosis, investigation, treatment, referral and discharge. They will use advanced clinical reasoning and complex decision-making skills to manage patients safely across a broad range of urgent and emergency care presentations. They will request and interpret relevant investigations, including pathology, ECGs and imaging where appropriately trained, and will prescribe, administer or review medicines within their professional scope of practice. They will recognise and respond to deteriorating patients, clinical emergencies, safeguarding concerns and situations requiring escalation. Clinical and professional leadership The post holder will provide visible, credible and compassionate leadership across the UTCs and urgent care pathways. They will act as a professional role model for Advanced Practice, supporting high standards of clinical care, professional behaviour, documentation and patient safety. They will support the leadership and development of enhanced, trainee and qualified Advanced Practitioners within UHD UTCs, including supervision, appraisal, competency development, mandatory training oversight and support for educational supervisors. The role will include engagement with Higher Education Institutions to support academic modules and workforce development. Governance, quality and patient safety The post holder will contribute to robust governance arrangements across urgent care, including the monitoring of clinical risk, incidents, complaints and LERNs. They will support learning from patient safety events, identify areas for improvement and help implement actions to improve quality, safety and patient experience. They will contribute to the development and review of guidelines, protocols, clinical pathways and standards, ensuring practice is evidence-based and aligned with local and national policy. Service development and transformation The post holder will play a key role in service redesign, pathway development and transformation across Urgent and Emergency Care. They will work with clinical, operational and managerial colleagues to support effective patient flow, efficient use of resources and sustainable models of care. They will contribute to audits, evaluation, research activity and quality improvement projects, using data and evidence to identify gaps in practice, support innovation and improve outcomes for patients and staff. Education, supervision and workforce development The post holder will support a learning culture within the UTCs, developing and delivering education, supervision and competency support for Advanced Practitioners and the wider multidisciplinary team. They will promote reflective practice, clinical supervision, mentorship and coaching, helping staff to develop confidence, competence and professional accountability. They will support the development of in-house training and education opportunities linked to urgent and emergency care, advanced practice and service need. Communication and partnership working The post holder will use highly developed communication skills to work effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and stakeholders across organisational and professional boundaries. They will communicate complex, sensitive or contentious information clearly and compassionately, adapting their approach to meet individual needs. They will build strong working relationships across the multidisciplinary team, wider hospital services, external partners and system colleagues to support integrated working, effective escalation and improved patient outcomes. Resource, performance and operational responsibilities The post holder will support operational delivery across the UTCs, helping to maintain safe flow, effective prioritisation and appropriate deployment of Advanced Practice capability. They will contribute to workforce planning, service performance, resource use and the monitoring of quality and performance standards. They will support effective use of equipment, clinical resources and digital systems, and contribute to decisions around service requirements, staffing, training and clinical spend where appropriate. Overall, the Lead Advanced Practitioner will be expected to demonstrate a high degree of autonomy, accountability, clinical credibility and leadership maturity. They will support the continued development of Advanced Practice within UHD and contribute to the transformation of urgent and emergency care services across Dorset.