Lead Advanced Practitioner

Go back Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust

Lead Advanced Practitioner The closing date is 12 March 2026

This post holder will practice as an Advanced Practitioner in Paediatrics, providing clinical expertise while leading the management of the Paediatric AP workforce and overseeing the development and delivery of the Paediatric AP service. They will be an experienced healthcare practitioner with significant experience in Paediatrics and will have completed an MSc in Advanced Practice and can evidence a clinical portfolio and relevant competencies inline with the HEE national framework for advanced clinical practice and the RCPCH competencies.

Main duties of the job The Paediatric AP will work closely with the attending Consultant liaising in a timely manner regarding any complex problems or difficulties. The AP will be well supported by the medical team and Consultant and will be encouraged to work within their competencies and seek help early when required

About us Why Work With Us

Are you an enthusiastic, clinically competent and passionate Paediatric Advanced Practitioner looking to further your career to develop and lead our paediatric advanced practitioner teams?

A new exciting and unique opportunity has arisen to come and join our experienced and dedicated paediatric team at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust. We are looking to recruit into and expand our skill mix and service offer within our paediatric services. We are looking for an experienced clinical practitioner, or those interested in taking the next step in their career. This post holder will practice as an Advanced Practitioner in Paediatrics and lead in the management of the Paediatric AP workforce, and development and delivery of the Paediatric AP. They will be an experienced healthcare practitioner with significant experience within the field of Paediatrics and will have completed an MSc in Advanced Practice and can evidence a clinical portfolio and relevant competencies in line with the HEE national framework for advanced clinical practice and the RCPCH competencies.

The post-holder will work within the Short Stay Paediatric Unit and support the wider paediatric departments within the organisation such as the general paediatric ward and the emergency department. You will work closely with the nursing, medical team and wider multi-disciplinary teams, as well as primary care, to effectively assess and treat children and young people.

Job responsibilities Communication of highly complex information on managing paediatric conditions including risks and benefits and provide details of alternative options where appropriate. The postholder will communicate highly sensitive and contentious information supporting patients and their carers to make informed decisions about their care and treatment. This will require a high degree of empathy and advanced communication skills to support patients and their families. Ensure every person receives personalised care starting with a What matters to you conversation and including shared decision making at the heart of all decisions. Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatments and interventions for patients across the Trust/division/specialty. Perform accurate clinical procedures appropriate to area of practice and within scope and competence of practice, from undertaking history taking and examination of the patient, including further invasive testing, diagnostics and treatments requiring highly developed skills and precision. Request investigations such as blood, urine and other laboratory tests, electrocardiographs (ECGs), diagnostic imaging in accordance with regulatory and governance requirements, and as local policy allows. Interpret and act on investigation results, planning and managing clinical care and interventions as required. Analyse and respond to highly complex information from multiple sources in making clinical judgements and decisions regarding diagnoses, treatment and management plans. This may involve responding to conflicting views and opinions, seeking advice when scope of practice is exceeded. Coordinate referral to other services (e.g. surgeons, cardiologist, neurologist) or any other service Update EPRs and complete discharge and referral letters to GPs and speciality consultants Be accountable for own practice, hence answerable for all actions and ommissions, regardless of advice or direction from another professional Liaise with relevant speciality teams / services, Primary care services, other NHS Trusts and social care organisations, establishing local networks with the appropriate patient and carer groups

Act as a role model and provide leadership, clinical support and expert advice to medical, nursing/midwifery staff, students and other staff in the multidisciplinary team Attend paediatric emergencies across a range of settings and participate or lead in advanced paediatric resuscitation Use highly developed specialist knowledge and advanced clinical skills to undertake a comprehensive health history and examination of patients to diagnose and treat them (including prescribing drugs as necessary) Assess health related needs of children and families by identifying and initiating appropriate steps for effective care exercising higher levels of judgement and clinical decision making using paediatric clinical guidelines Frequently weigh up differential diagnosis and the variety of potentially contentious treatment options, requiring the weighing up of possibilities and justification of clinical rationale Initiate further investigations and treatment plans from a range of options, analysing response and altering plans as necessary as further data becomes available to ensure care is safe and effective Develop comprehensive medical and nursing patient management plans for a caseload of patients that delivers a holistic approach to their care from admission to discharge In collaboration with the senior medical team, recognise abnormalities, early signs of illness and/or deterioration and act accordingly, ensuring appropriate and full range investigations are instigated and follow up action is taken including evaluation of care Carries out Non-Medical prescribing including calculating prescribing, administering and evaluating the effects of drug and fluid therapies in accordance with local policies Exercise judgement in recognising when supervision is required and seek advice, asking for help from medical colleagues as appropriate Apply critical judgements to inform clinical decision-making, recommendations and prescription of treatment, including making referrals as necessary. Utilise highly complex reasoning skills to provide diagnoses, present treatment options and health promotion advice within the area of expertise to patients. Effectively manage conflicting perspectives and reconcile professional differences of opinion. Recognise and adhere to the limits of personal competency. Challenge established practice standards and contributed to constructive change. Demonstrate critical reflection of own practice, fostering self-awareness, emotional intelligence and willingness to embrace change

Conduct comprehensive holistic assessment for patients with specialist care needs, referred to the service, via the requesting/undertaking and interpretation of diagnostic results. Develop highly specialised programmes of care and provide highly specialised advice regarding care. To demonstrate expertise in evidence-based healthcare to assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate care for patients. Be clinically competent and proficient within the acute paediatric setting, independently managing clinical conditions, making autonomous decisions, seeking advice and/or referring and prescribing where appropriate. Can plan, order, interpret and act upon the results of tests and investigations To communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to members of the multidisciplinary team and other healthcare professionals. Participate in the stabilisation and transfer of patients for escalation of care Use initiative and acts independently within the bounds of existing knowledge and skills

Work with clinical and leadership teams to develop new and improved processes and pathways to streamline and improve patient flow and care processes. Lead in the development of new initiatives and ways of working, including AP led services, informed by local and national Policy To develop, coordinate, deliver and evaluate the advanced clinical practitioner service within acute paediatrics. Collaborate with senior clinical colleagues, develop or introduce agreed clinical guidelines for best practice. Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients Facilitate good team spirit through leadership skills and team building. Be conversant with all Trust and departmental policies and procedures and ensure that the requirements are met. To attend departmental, divisional and other meetings where appropriate, maintaining continuous effective communication. Continually assess and monitor risk in their own and others practice and challenge others about wider risk factors within the service Use evidence-based practice to underpin clinical guidelines and integrate research into clinical practice. Develop, implement and evaluate strategies to advance knowledge and practice. Make operational judgements, manage conflicting views, reconcile inter and intra-professional differences of opinion and escalated for senior clinician review when required

Accountable for optimal use of resources balanced against the needs of each individual child or young person Assist in the formulation of business cases to ensure adequate . click apply for full job details