Senior Advanced Critical Care Practitioner Job Vacancy in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK

University Hospital Crosshouse

NHS Scotland is committed to encouraging equality and diversity among our workforce and eliminating unlawful discrimination. The aim is for our workforce to be truly representative and for each employee to feel respected and able to give their best. To this end, NHS Scotland welcomes applications from all sections of society.

Applications are invited for a post as a Senior Advanced Critical Care Practitioner (ACCP) working in Critical Care in NHS Ayrshire and Arran. You should be enthusiastic and forward thinking with extensive experience of working as an ACCP in intensive care.

The ACCP programme is a new and exciting development in Ayrshire and Arran. We have a progressive ACCP structure supporting on-going ACCP development in-line with the needs of the service. We will incorporate a combination of band 7, trained ACCPs; and Senior ACCPs working at band 8b level within our team. Senior ACCPs would have an extended role and responsibilities. You would be expected to undertake additional on-the-job training in areas as described by the Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine within the Optional Skills Framework modules. You would provide a managerial and leadership role towards other ACCPs within the team.

The ACCP role incorporates the traditional medical staff role of delivering a holistic approach to critical care, with expert clinical skills, managing patients and providing support to their families within the critical care service and on an outreach basis. You will be expected to work strategically and in collaboration with the Consultant Intensivists.

You must have an expert knowledge base and clinical competence, leading clinical assessments, initiating investigations, determining differential diagnosis and undertaking appropriate first line interventions as well as initial assessment and resuscitation for the critical care patient. You will be supporting multi-professional teams within NHS Ayrshire & Arrans critical care areas and ensuring a high standard of clinical care, in accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and Health and Safety legislation.

It is expected that with commensurate training and experience, you will provide expert clinical care, at an advanced level, to patients under the critical care team, making complex, autonomous diagnosis and management decisions about patient care up to and including end of life discussions. You will utilise advanced skills and knowledge to that of a middle grade doctor. You would be expected to obtain advanced airway skills including intubation, laryngeal mask insertion and management of tracheostomy tubes and so be able to undertake intra- and inter-hospital transfer of intubated patients. There would be support to gain skills in Focused Ultrasound in Intensive Care (FUSIC).

You will be supported in undertaking an additional period of in-house training, building on the experience already gained through working in an ACCP role. During the additional training period you would work in a similar way to a new start anaesthetist and develop competencies as per the Initial Assessment of Anaesthetic Competencies as well as those competencies required for Transfer of the Critical Care patient. On successful attainment of these competencies you would operate as a Senior ACCP. You will be based within the Intensive Care Unit at University Hospital Crosshouse (UHC), but the role could include a limited proportion of their work being on the University Hospital Ayr (UHA) site.

The Band 8b ACCP has a role in development of educational programs for the multi-professional team, ensuring evidence based practice, as well as promoting and using simulation for teaching and improving processes throughout the clinical areas. You will be expected to participate and lead in complex audit and quality improvement projects as well as presenting them. 

You would be expected to contribute to ACCP team management, working closely with the ACCP lead consultant and clinical director. You would have a leadership role with responsibilities including governance of the team, supporting yearly appraisals and management duties.

The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine

The Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine provides services in both University Hospital Crosshouse (UHC) and University Hospital Ayr (UHA), with the majority of critical care beds being located in UHC.

UHC is a 539-bedded general hospital located on the outskirts of Kilmarnock and includes the co-located Ayrshire Maternity Unit. UHC provides a comprehensive service for Orthopaedics and Trauma, General Surgery (including Upper GI Surgery and Colorectal surgery), Breast Surgery, and also hosts several area-wide services such as all Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, ENT, Maxillofacial Surgery and one national service the Cochlear Implant Service.

UHA, lies to the east of Ayr and provides a range of both elective and emergency surgical and medical services. Surgical specialties on site include general surgery, urology and ophthalmology. A focus on elective orthopaedic surgery is being developed on the site, with expertise and innovative practice being used to drive improved quality and efficiency.

NHS Ayrshire and Arran operates a critical care facility on each of UHC and UHA. Recent changes to the way critical care is to be delivered across NHS Ayrshire and Arran will see all level 3 (ICU) beds located on the UHC site, housed within an 18-bed combined critical care unit. A critical care unit focusing on HDU, level 2 care, will operate from within UHA. The post will involve participation in the Intensive Care resident medical rota at UHC incorporating both day- and night-shift work. There would be the expectation that the appointee could be asked to contribute to the provision of the critical care service on the UHA site too. This encompasses providing outreach across the hospital site and undertaking intra- and inter-hospital transfer of critically unwell patients.

Both sites have excellent transport links to the vibrant city of Glasgow which is only 30-45 minutes away, and are also within 15 minutes of Prestwick Airport. Ayrshire is great place to live and work, with a fantastic a coastal location. This offers exciting leisure opportunities including water-based activities such as sailing and kite-surfing, exceptional road and off-road cycling opportunities in the Ayrshire Alps and 7 Stanes cycling areas, along with several championship golf courses within 30 minutes of the hospitals.

Full driving licence is required.

For information and informal visits, please contact Dr J Allan, Clinical Director, @or Dr J Selfridge (ACCP Lead) Tel: 01563 827172 (Secretary) or 01563 521133 (Switchboard).

Applications are welcome from UK, EEA and non-EEA candidates.
As part of the recruitment process, you will be required to produce proof of your EU Settlement status from 1st July 2021 to demonstrate your Right to Work in the United Kingdom. Further information: settled-status-eu-citizens-families. Existing employees may be asked to provide evidence of their EU Settlement Status from 1st July 2021.

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