Band 7 Trainee Advanced Critical Care Practitioner, ITU, HH Harefield, England
Job description
An exciting opportunity has arisen for a highly motivated and proactive individual to become part of our Critical Care team. We are currently recruiting into our Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) team. The posts are initially a Band 7 where you will be working as a Trainee ACCP with potential opportunity to become a Band 8a once qualified as an ACCP with FICM accreditation.
The Intensive Care Unit at Harefield Hospital is a busy 24 bedded Cardiothoracic unit. With mentor support, the ACCP will integrate into the existing Critical Care team to carry out extended roles within the Critical Care unit which will include; initial assessment, management and care of level 1-3 patients, including practical procedures. They will act as a highly specialized role model and leader for all members of staff and play a major role in the continuous development of the services within the Trust and as a potential member on a range of trust quality/process improvement project groups.
This unit cares for patients with both cardiac and respiratory illness including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the dynamic nature of our work makes it a very stimulating and exciting place to work. In return you will benefit from excellent training and development opportunities, and superb support from within our encouraging environment.
This post is aimed at developing new ways of working for senior clinical staff as an Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP). With mentor support, the ACCP will integrate into the existing critical care team to carry out extended roles within the critical care unit.
Appointed ACCP trainees will have a nominated Intensive Therapy Unit (ITU) Consultant Educational Supervisor and undertake the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM) Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) competency-based education and training programme. The post holder will be expected to complete a Master’s Degree by an accredited High Education Institution (HEI) and will receive funding and study leave to facilitate this. Progression into an ACCP role upon the completion of the training period will be subject to satisfactory completion of the ACCP program including achievement of a Postgraduate Diploma or Master’s Degree, registration with the FICM ACCP program and a formal interview.
At all times the post holder is required to be accountable for their own actions, to use their initiative and act independently. The post holder will be responsible for their own continuing professional development and for
contributing towards the continuing professional development and performance of the multidisciplinary Critical Care team.
The Intensive Care Unit at Harefield Hospital is a busy 24 bedded Cardiothoracic unit. With mentor support, the ACCP will integrate into the existing Critical Care team to carry out extended roles within the Critical Care unit which will include; initial assessment, management and care of level 1-3 patients, including practical procedures. They will act as a highly specialized role model and leader for all members of staff and play a major role in the continuous development of the services within the Trust and as a potential member on a range of trust quality/process improvement project groups.
This unit cares for patients with both cardiac and respiratory illness including extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and the dynamic nature of our work makes it a very stimulating and exciting place to work.
Appointed ACCP trainees will have a nominated Intensive Care Unit Consultant Educational Supervisor and follow the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) competency-based training program. The successful applicant will be able to further develop their career in this exciting new role and help shape the vision for Critical Care and the role of the ACCP within this environment. They will require a degree level qualification as they will be expected to complete a Post graduate Diploma or master’s degree by a High Education Institution (HEI) accredited institution and will receive funding and study time accordingly.
Main tasks and responsibilities: Communication
- Maintain and promote effective communication with teams in all clinical areas and all the multi-disciplinary team and all units, wards and departments.
- Promote the corporate image of the Trust to all individuals, groups and organisations both internally and externally.
- Deal with sensitive information and communicating unpleasant news both in a professional and compassionate manner.
- Demonstrate skills of motivation and negotiation in an aim to improve quality of patient care.
- To work competently in the role of ACCP, being aware of the boundaries of the role, referring patients appropriately to other healthcare professionals as required.
- To perform advanced physiological assessment of critically ill patients regardless of location (ITU/HDU/Recovery/).
- To analyse and/or collect information from the physiological assessment, patient history, diagnostic data and identify relevant problems.
- Use appropriate clinical decision making to initiate appropriate management/treatment according to agreed protocols and guidelines.
- To safely prescribe and administer medicines, as a Non-Medical Prescriber once all Trust requirements have been met (portfolio: agreed scope of practice, maintenance of reflection log and CPD to maintain competence).
- To undertake advanced clinical skills according to ICM competencies and local Trust specific competencies.
- Achievement of Post Graduate Diploma or Master’s Degree by an accredited High Education Institution (HEI) at the end of program completion.
- Successful completion of assessment of clinical competence in workplace signed off by the Consultant Clinical Lead of ACCP at the end of program completion.
- At least one example of satisfactory evidence of sign-off for every competency required of Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine ACCP Competency Training Program at end of program completion (for some competencies, this requirement may exceed one).
- Evidence of annual completion of minimum assessments of Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine ACCP Competency Training Program:
- Maintain an up to date training record and logbook summary based on Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine ACCP Competency Training Program.
- Meet with the ITU Consultant Lead(s) for ACCP training (or nominated deputy) on a quarterly basis to undergo a formal review of progress and approval of the forth coming targeted learning plan.
- At the end of each year undergo a formal Annual Review of Competency Progression to examine their overall performance and progress
- To work closely with the ITU Clinical Nurse Lead and Practice Education team to develop an educational Strategy and contribute to the multidisciplinary education programme for critical care.
- Attend courses relevant to ACCP training
- Evaluate teaching activity within the service and act on feedback to ensure delivery is appropriate to service needs.
- Foster a supportive working environment, maintain staff morale, and facilitate good and effective communications to the development of a robust team within their area of responsibility, ensuring a workforce fit for purpose.
- To act as a role model and promote advanced nursing opportunities in the Trust
- Encourage and supervise other nurses and junior members of the medical team to develop their clinical skills, assess advanced clinical competencies and nursing knowledge.
- Be responsible for ensuring the agreed programme of work is achieved in the allotted time frame.
- Develop and review systems/policies to ensure good communication and team effectiveness.
- Be responsible for the deployment of HR policies within their sphere of responsibility.
- Implement the recommendation of Improving Working Lives and act on the results of the staff survey.
- Ensure the Critical Care Team are kept informed of the progress of the role and provide the opportunities for suggestion and comments to improve the care delivery.
- Update patients’ health records and ensure record keeping is timely and accurate at all times ensuring patient confidentiality is maintained.
