Job summary
We are looking for a committed and dynamic Advanced Clinical Practitioner or Minor Illness Nurse to join our team of clinicians.

The successful candidate will be confident in assessing, diagnosing and managing patients presenting with a range of minor illnesses and injuries, while recognising and escalating patients who require further assessment or treatment.

This is an excellent opportunity for a skilled clinician who is committed to delivering safe, effective and compassionate care within a supportive multidisciplinary team.

This position is open to Nurse Practitioners / Paramedic Practitioners, or Minor Illness Nurses.

Our staff are highly valued, and career progression is actively supported and encouraged.

Salary is negotiable depending on experience.

Immediate start available.

Main duties of the job
The Minor Illness Practitioner will work within their scope of clinical practice and undertake the following core responsibilities:

• Clinical Care & Assessment
• Clinical Coordination & Operational Oversight
• Leadership, Supervision & Staff Support
• Governance, Compliance & Quality Assurance
• Communication & MDT Collaboration
• Safeguarding & Risk Management

About us
Folkestone, Hythe and Rural Primary Care Network is an innovative, friendly and forward thinking group.

General Practice is changing at pace and we see this as a positive and opportunistic challenge.

Our PCN includes 7 practices with a combined list size of approx 52,000 patients.

We are proud and enthusiastic to be an inventive front runner in the development of Integrated Neighbourhood Team working.

Job responsibilities
The Clinical Practitioner will provide autonomous, patient-centred care for individuals presenting with acute, or chronic, minor illness symptoms. The post holder will assess, diagnose, treat, and manage patients within a Primary Care Network, working collaboratively with GPs and the wider multidisciplinary team.

The Clinical Practitioner will play a key role in improving access to healthcare services, supporting long-term condition management, and promoting high standards of clinical care.

Key Responsibilities
Clinical Duties

• Undertake comprehensive history taking and clinical assessments.
• Provide clinical triage
• Diagnose and manage acute or chronic minor illnesses.
• Provide same day face-to-face, telephone, or online consultations.
• Develop and implement evidence-based treatment plans.
• Prescribe medications independently within scope of practice. (desirable)
• Manage patients with long-term conditions such as diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and COPD. With a special accent on respiratory care and interpreting spirometry (desirable)
• Identify red flags and refer patients appropriately to secondary or specialist services.
• Provide health promotion, screening, and preventative care advice.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records using electronic clinical systems.
• Provide Home visits

Leadership and Service Development

• Support service improvement and quality initiatives within the practice.
• Contribute to clinical audits, governance, and risk management activities.
• Help improve patient access and workflow efficiency.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and case discussions.

Education and Training

• Participate in continuing professional development (CPD).
• Deliver patient and staff education where appropriate.

Research and Quality Improvement

• Contribute to evidence-based practice and clinical audits.
• Support implementation of local and national healthcare guidelines.

Special Requirements of the Post:

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense.
• A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of care and keep up to date with all aspects of care relevant to the post.
• A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the Clinical lead / Operations Manager
• A commitment to the effective use of Practice and NHS resources.
• An awareness of own limitations and experience.
• To work only in accordance with the NMC / HCPC Code of Conduct and within the Scope of Professional Practice.
• To have a written professional development plan and to maintain an up to date portfolio which meets the requirements of registration with the NMC for revalidation
• Cooperate with annual appraisal meetings

Confidentiality:

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their careers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Reporting potential risks identified

Equality and Diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Minimum of 2 years experience in Minor Illness
• Experience of working within a Minor Illness team

Desirable

• Experience of working within Primary Care

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Advanced consultation and diagnostic skills
• Sound clinical judgement and decision-making ability
• Strong organisational and leadership capability
• Competence using clinical systems and maintaining accurate records
• Ability to manage complexity and uncertainty
• Flexible and adaptable approach
• Commitment to continuous improvement and professional development
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team
• Experience of working under pressure and managing varying workloads and changing demands
• Administration of medications within Patient Group Directions (PGDs)
• Sound knowledge of local primary care services
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate orally and in written form in a confident, articulate manner
• Ability to build relationships with others to enable and support collaborative working

Desirable

• Understanding of patient management in Primary Care setting
• Relevant experience of General Practice IT systems
• Understanding of population health and preventative care
• Experience supervising staff and students

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered General Nurses with NMC registration
• Evidence of ongoing CPD and professional development
• Full driving licence and use of car

Desirable

• Master's level qualification in Advance Clinical Practice/Advanced Nurse Practitioner
• Independent Prescribing qualification
• Qualifications in chronic disease management

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.
Applicants must have current UK professional registration.