The ACP is accountable for their professional practice and is expected to work autonomously within their defined scope of practice. Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following: Act autonomously in the assessment, diagnosis, interpretation of investigations, and treatment of patients. Use advanced clinical reasoning and decision-making skills to manage patients presenting with acute, chronic, complex, and undifferentiated conditions. Initiate, evaluate, and modify a range of clinical interventions, including: Prescribing medicines Therapeutic interventions Lifestyle and preventative advice Care planning and follow-up Exercise professional judgement to manage clinical risk, including escalation and referral where required.
Implement and evaluate individualised treatment plans, particularly for patients with long-term conditions. Identify, manage, and support patients at risk of developing chronic disease, aiming to prevent deterioration and adverse outcomes. Provide chronic disease clinics and refer patients appropriately to secondary or specialist services. Maintain accurate, timely, and comprehensive clinical records in line with legislation and professional standards, ensuring effective use of SNOMED CT coding.
Deliver opportunistic health promotion and preventative care where appropriate. Provide chaperoning when required. Support the clinical team in managing medical emergencies. Professional Practice, Leadership & Governance Practice in accordance with the relevant professional code of conduct, maintaining accountability for decisions, actions, and omissions.
Demonstrate a critical understanding of professional autonomy and the limits of own competence, particularly when managing complexity, uncertainty, and incomplete information. Apply professional judgement to determine when to seek advice or escalate concerns. Act as a professional role model, demonstrating high standards of clinical practice and professional behaviour. Support safeguarding responsibilities in line with national and local policy.
Understand and apply policies related to substance misuse and addictive behaviours, referring patients appropriately. Contribute to clinical governance processes, including: Significant event and near-miss reviews Root cause analysis Risk management and patient safety initiatives Contribute to achieving organisational and national targets, including QOF, in line with local and regional guidance. Communication & Partnership Working Work in partnership with individuals, families, and carers using a range of assessment and communication approaches. Demonstrate effective communication skills to support shared decision-making, care planning, and behaviour change.
Engage constructively with colleagues and multidisciplinary teams. Seek and value feedback from patients, carers, communities, and colleagues to inform service improvement.