Lead Advanced Practitioner for Emergency Medicine & Urgent Care: Laura Ridgard-Mason
laura.ridgard-
About The Role
The primary aim of the role is to ensure that a high-quality urgent care service is delivered to patients attending both the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Dewsbury Integrated Urgent Care Stream (IUCS) in a timely manner. The role is multidimensional and requires the post holder to integrate and fulfil all the identified elements. As an Advanced Practitioner (AP), all activities provide opportunities for acting as a role model for staff. The post holder will have expert working knowledge of urgent care services.
The Urgent Care AP will act as an autonomous, accountable practitioner working on their own initiative and in collaboration with the urgent care MDT (nursing, medical and allied health professionals). They will have the ability to assess individual patients who present with urgent and primary care conditions, initiate investigations, determine a differential diagnosis and initiate appropriate holistic and evidence-based individualised treatment and care to a high standard.
This vacancy is for Pontefract Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Dewsbury Integrated Urgent Care Stream within MYTT. There will be an expectation of the role to work over both UTC and IUCS sites, covering a 7-day service.
Main duties
Clinical Practice
To work as an autonomous practitioner, with sound competence in the assessment and treatment of patients presenting with a range of undifferentiated and undiagnosed illnesses underpinned by extensive knowledge of a range of chronic and acute conditions
Be accountable for the direct delivery and implementation of clinical care on a day-to-day basis across the full spectrum of illnesses within urgent care
To always work within scope of practice, and know when to escalate appropriately
To be competent in providing an initial clinical diagnosis and in the decision to refer to an appropriate speciality when clinically indicated
To be competent in the ability to discharge patients following appropriate assessment and treatment
To be competent in the initial immediate assessment and treatment of patients with a range of life-threatening presentations such as cardiac arrest and acute major illness
Autonomous decision-making including judgments involving complex facts or situations which require the analysis, interpretation, and comparison of a range of options in relation to the care/ management needs of the patients on a day-to-day basis within the clinical environment
Use of advanced clinical skills and autonomous judgement to prescribe drug treatments for patients following interpretation of clinical findings through requested bloods (where/when appropriate) and investigations.
Be a safe and competent non-medical prescriber, providing responsible prescribing and adapting medication therapies to meet the needs of patients. If not already an independent prescriber, successful completion will be expected in a timely manner; either within the first year of being in post, or as part of the trainee-qualified ACP route
Provide personal care plans to patients and develop, implement and evaluate care including independently prescribed medications, monitoring therapeutic programmes and providing health education and promotion
Provide health education and advice to patients
Administration of medicines in line with NMC Guidance or equivalent, and Trust Policy
Demonstrate skills required to communicate effectively and sensitively, establish and maintain therapeutic and professional relationships and gain cooperation from others. Use a variety of communication methods to ensure inclusion of those with learning difficulties or patients for whom English is not their first language
Ability to use relevant networks and clinical systems/programs e.g. Systemone, radiology systems (XERO), and email.
Essential Person Specification Requirements
Appropriate approved professional degree qualification (e.g. nursing, physiotherapy, paramedic science)
Current relevant registration with professional body (such as NMC or HCPC)
Masters level qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice, with completed dissertation and/or digital badge status to achieve Band 8a
Qualified and registered independent non-medical prescriber
Recognised teaching and assessing qualification and/or relevant experience
Recent and relevant continuous professional development and portfolio
Evidence of continued professional development following MSc completion (where appropriate), including evidence of any relevant supplemented urgent care training and competencies
Extensive recent post-registration experience in an acute and/or urgent care setting
Experience of working autonomously as an advanced practitioner
Leadership and management experience
Evidence of experience in audit, quality improvement and/or evidence-based practice
Evidence of multi-disciplinary team working
Be part of MY team
We are an acute trust caring for over one million people in Wakefield and Kirklees. Our 10,000 staff work in patients' homes, the community, and our three hospitals in Pontefract, Dewsbury, and Pinderfields (Wakefield). We prioritise our people and values so we can deliver the best possible care to patients. Our team is friendly, passionate, and innovative, always seeking better ways to work.
We support work-life balance and foster a diverse, inclusive environment where everyone belongs. Our staff networks offer safe spaces to share ideas and concerns so we can increase awareness and appreciation of equality, diversity, and inclusion. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and especially encourage members of the LGBTQ+ community, ethnic minority groups, and people with disabilities or neurodivergence to apply, as they are currently underrepresented in the Trust.
If you value caring, high standards, improvement, and respect, join the MY team to make a difference every day.
Application Guidance
We understand that more applicants are using AI technology to help with their applications. While these tools can be useful, they cannot fully capture your skills, knowledge, and experience. It's important that you personalise your application. Relying solely on AI is not recommended, as it may reduce your chances of success. Our screening process is thorough, so if you have used AI, please make sure to disclose this on your application form.
Our Benefits
Access to the NHS pension plan
Generous holiday allowance of 27 days plus bank holidays, increasing with 5 and 10 years of service
Exceptional employee health and wellbeing services
Extensive benefits and support, including:
Onsite nurseries and childcare salary sacrifice scheme
Cycle to work scheme
Home electronics scheme
Car lease salary sacrifice scheme
Working carers support and advice, carers network and carers passport
Flexible working options and family and carer-friendly policies
Established staff networks, including LGBTQ+ and Race Equality
Career progression, training and support
Skilled worker sponsorship
You can find out more about skilled worker and health and care visas on our .