County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
Urgent Care Practitioner
The closing date is 22 May 2025
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Urgent Care Practitioner to join an established team working in Urgent Treatment Centres in County Durham and Darlington.
The Centre operates 24/7 with shift patterns including day and night shifts.
Advanced clinical, leadership, and organizational skills are required, along with 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, depending 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-oriented Registered NMC or HCPC professional seeking a new challenge and fulfill the requirements above, please apply for this role.
Main duties of the job
Candidates will work autonomously, assessing, diagnosing, treating, or referring patients of all ages with a broad spectrum of minor illnesses and injuries.
The successful applicant will work alongside GPs and an experienced team of Nurse and Paramedic Practitioners, with responsibilities for mentoring and developing junior Practitioners and HCAs.
About us
To continue with the application process, you must accept an interview slot in the system, even if you have arranged it with the manager.
You must be able to produce ALL certificates stated as essential in the person specification to complete pre-employment checks.
We provide hospital services from Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham, along with community-based care across various locations.
We welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates, as they are currently underrepresented.
Full Job Descriptions are available in the adverts supporting documents.
Over-reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged, as it may diminish the applicant's chances of success.
For the latest information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online.
From April 9th, 2025, Healthcare Assistants must have at least two years of NHS experience for Trust sponsorship consideration, which will only be considered if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within three months.
Job responsibilities
Assess, diagnose, and manage patients from first contact to discharge or referral, ensuring evidence-based practice.
Prioritize patients via telephone triage or face-to-face assessments, including home visits.
Prescribe medications within scope of practice (as an Independent Prescriber or via PGDs).
Communicate effectively with patients, carers, and health/social care providers, following protocols.
Maintain accurate records according to guidelines and policies.
Prioritize workload effectively during high demand periods.
Manage resources within the Urgent Treatment Centre daily.
Lead by example, demonstrating leadership behaviors and fostering service improvement and innovation.
Engage in Clinical Governance activities, including reporting, investigating, and resolving issues.
Practice cost-effective healthcare within budget constraints.
Contribute to developing guidelines, policies, and protocols.
Participate in recruitment and staff development as required.
Support the Team Manager in promoting excellence and best practice.
Person Specification
Special Requirements
* Excellent interpersonal skills
* Positive, enthusiastic attitude
* Flexibility and adaptability for shift patterns and working across UTC bases
Qualifications
* Registered Nurse (NMC) or AHP (HCPC) with 3+ years post-registration experience
* Masters-level qualification in clinical assessment
* Paediatric clinical skills
* Non-Medical Prescribing qualification or commitment to undertake it; experience with PGDs
* Self-motivated with leadership skills
* Structured Learning in Minor Injuries and commitment to degree or higher qualification (depending on center)
Special Skills & Knowledge
* Autonomous practitioner with decision-making authority
* Ability to manage patient journeys independently
* Broad understanding of minor illness and injury management in adults and children
* Caseload management considering priorities and staff skills
* Collaborative working with managers for compliance and best practice
* Computer literacy (e.g., SystmOne, Excel, Word, Teams)
* Relevant clinical experience in urgent, primary, or unscheduled care
Experience
* Working in high-pressure, dynamic environments
* Advanced communication skills
* Experience in budget control
* Leadership experience
Statutory Registration
* NMC or HCPC registration
Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This role requires a DBS check due to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975.
Salary: £46,148 to £52,809 per annum, pro rata, under annex 21 scheme.
#J-18808-Ljbffr