Emergency Care Practitioner

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an Emergency Care Practitioner to join an established team working in Urgent Treatment Centres in County Durham and Darlington to cover maternity leave for fixed term of 12 months.

The Centre operates as follows:

24/7 and Shift patterns include day and nightshifts.

Advanced clinical, leadership and organisational skills are required as is a commitment to service development and excellence in practice.

This appointment will be made at Band 7 if the successful applicant meets all of the essential criteria.

Please note, dependent on qualifications and experience, you may be appointed under Band 7 Annex 21 conditions, as per Agenda for Change once you have successfully completed all of the essential qualifications within an agreed timeframe, you will progress to permanent Band 7 banding, (The contract ends if an applicant does not successfully complete the essential qualifications within this time frame under the Annex 21 scheme)

If you are a confident, enthusiastic positive, team orientated Registered NMC or HCPC professional seeking a new challenge and you fulfill the requirements above please apply for this role.

Main duties of the job

Candidates will work autonomously, assessing, diagnosing, treating or referring onwards patients of all age ranges with a broad spectrum of minor illness and injury presentations.

The successful applicant will be working alongside GPs and an experienced team of Nurse and Paramedic Practitioners, as well as having responsibility for mentoring and developing junior Practitioners and HCAs.

About us

If you are being interviewed you must accept an interview slot in the system to continue, even if you have arranged with the manager.

You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated essential in the person specification or you will not be able to complete pre-employment checks.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites - Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester-le-Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under-represented.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

For the most up-to-date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

Job responsibilities

To assess, diagnose and manage patients from the first point of contact through to discharge or referral, ensuring evidence based practice underpins care delivery.

Prioritise patients either through telephone triage or face to face. Carry out clinical assessment within Urgent Treatment Centre or patients home.

To prescribe the required medications within scope of Professional Practice (as an Independent Prescriber or via Patient Group Directions).

Ensure effective, timely communication with patients, carers and all health and social care providers, following referral protocols/pathways.

Keep accurate and comprehensive records in accordance with NMC/ HCPC guidleines and Trust Policies

Accurately prioritise workload according to the needs of patients particularly at times of high demand for the service.

Manage and co-ordinate resources within the Urgent Treatment Centre on a day to day basis.

Lead by action and inspire others demonstrating leadership behaviours and values identified by the Trust, creating improvement, transformation and innovation of Unscheduled Care.

Actively engage in Clinical Governance, to include reporting, investigating and resolving complaints safeguards and risks

Practice cost-effective healthcare, working within budget and available resources

Contribute to the development of guidelines, policies and protocols as required to support service delivery.

To participate in, as required, the recruitment, selection and interviewing of staff in line with Trust policy.

To support the Team Manager in developing and promoting a service based on excellence and best practice.

Person specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered Nurse who holds a NMC registration or AHP who hold a HCPC registration with relevant post registration experience
• First degree in health related subject
• Masters level qualification in clinical assessment
• Paediatric clinical skills
• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification or commitment made to undertake this. Have experience with use of a wide range of PGDs
• Self-motivated with inspirational leadership skills.
• Minor Injuries Structured Learning and experience with commitment to Degree or above level Qualification. (Depending on centre)
• Mentorship / Supervisor Qualification

Experience

Essential

• Working in high pressured dynamic situations
• Advanced communication with all disciplines

Desirable

• Evidence of budgetary control
• Evidence of inspirational leadership

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of working as an autonomous practitioner (having the authority to make decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with ones professional knowledge base).
• The ability to manage the patients journey independently from assessment to discharge or onward referral.
• Broad understanding of the knowledge and skills required to assess manage minor illness and injury in adults and children
• Ability to manage a caseload of patients taking into consideration clinical priority / staff skills and experience and the dynamic nature of urgent and unscheduled care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Team Managers to ensure compliance with Clinical Governance and best practice, including appraisal, audit and deputising as appropriate

Desirable

• Computer literate with ability to use relevant systems e.g. Systm One , Excel, Word, Teams.
• Evidence of relevant clinical experience, e.g. Urgent, Primary or unscheduled Care or similar

Statutory Registration

Essential

• Registered Nurse (adult or Child) on part 1 of the NMC register or HCPC registration

Special Skills & Knowledge

Essential

• Evidence of working as an autonomous practitioner (having the authority to make decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with ones professional knowledge base).
• The ability to manage the patients journey independently from assessment to discharge or onward referral.
• Broad understanding of the knowledge and skills required to assess manage minor illness and injury in adults and children
• Ability to manage a caseload of patients taking into consideration clinical priority / staff skills and experience and the dynamic nature of urgent and unscheduled care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Team Managers to ensure compliance with Clinical Governance and best practice, including appraisal, audit and deputising as appropriate

Desirable

• Computer literate with ability to use relevant systems e.g. Systm One , Excel, Word, Teams.
• Evidence of relevant clinical experience, e.g. Urgent, Primary or unscheduled Care or similar

Special Requirements

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Flexible and adaptable with regard to shift patterns and working across other UTC bases as required
• Driving posts musty have valid Full UK driving licence