Job summary
- Main area
- Geriatric Medicine
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 8a
- Contract
- Permanent: This post includes a commitment to future 7 day working patterns
- Hours
- 37.5 hours per week (Full time, 37.5 hours per week)
- Job ref
- 216-LH-DA7624225-B
- Employer
- University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Derriford Hospital
- Town
- Plymouth
- Salary
- £55,690 - £62,682 £55,690 - £62,682 Per Annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 19/03/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Advanced Practitioner
NHS AfC: Band 8a
Job overview
We are pleased to invite applications for an Advanced Practitioner to join our Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service at University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust. This is a fantastic opportunity to work within a progressive multidisciplinary team supporting people living with frailty at the point of urgent need.
As an Advanced Practitioner, you will work autonomously to assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with undifferentiated or complex presentations. You will use the four pillars of advanced practice—Clinical, Leadership, Education, and Research—to deliver safe, effective and person‑centred care, while also contributing to wider service improvement.
You will:
- Deliver rapid, holistic frailty assessments within Frailty SDEC and other assessment portals.
- Lead admission avoidance, early discharge planning and personalised care
- Work collaboratively across acute, community and virtual ward services
- Support the education, supervision and development of the wider workforce
- Contribute to the development and delivery of evidence‑based frailty pathways
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Please note: Shortlisting will prioritise qualified Advanced Practitioners. Trainee ACP applications will be considered where suitable qualified candidates are not available.
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***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
Applications from Trainee Advanced Practitioners Welcome
We welcome applications from Trainee Advanced Practitioners who are approaching completion of their training programme.
- Trainee ACPs will be appointed at Band 7
- Progression to Band 8a will follow successful completion of an MSc in Advanced Practice and a portfolio aligned to Trust requirements.
We are looking for compassionate, motivated clinicians who:
- Have significant experience relevant to acute care, frailty management or transferrable specialties
- Can work confidently and autonomously in a fast‑paced environment
- Are skilled in complex decision‑making and holistic assessment
- Demonstrate strong communication and teamwork skills
- Are committed to delivering high‑quality care and continuous improvement
- Aspire to develop or strengthen their advanced practice capabilities
Why Join Us?
- Work within a supportive, forward‑thinking and growing frailty service
- Access high‑quality supervision, education and development opportunities
- Influence service transformation and contribute to quality improvement
- Develop your advanced practice portfolio across all four pillars
- Be part of a Trust that lives its values: People First, Ownership, Respect, Compassion, Listen & Learn.
- Trainees will have access to structured supervision, protected development time and support from our Advanced Practice Faculty.
Interviews will be 31/03/2026.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
If you are passionate about improving outcomes for people living with frailty and want to be part of a service that values innovation, leadership and high‑quality care, we warmly encourage you to apply.
Clinical Practice
1. Assess, differentially diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment interventions for patients by virtue of expert clinical judgement and close liaison with members of the MDT.
2. Use expertise and decision-making skills to inform clinical reasoning approaches when dealing with differentiated and undifferentiated individual presentations and complex situations, synthesising information from multiple sources to make appropriate, evidence-based judgements and/or diagnoses.
3. Initiate, evaluate and modify a range of interventions which may include prescribing medicines, therapies, life style advice and care.
4. Exercise professional judgement to manage risk appropriately, especially where there may be complex and unpredictable events and supporting teams to do likewise to ensure safety of individuals, families and carers.
5. Utilise complex decision-making skills to promote high quality care in unpredictable and challenging circumstances.
6. Ensure compliance with their respective code of professional conduct and work within their scope of practice.
7. Works in conjunction with the MDT to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care.
8. Work in partnership with individuals, families and carers, using a range of assessment methods as appropriate
9. Be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of their broadened level of responsibility and autonomy. This includes being critically aware of their limits of their own competence and professional scope of practice, including when working with complexity, risk, uncertainty and incomplete information.
10. Be responsible and accountable for their decisions, actions and omissions at this level of practice.
For further details please see the attached JD & PS
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria
- • Extensive demonstrable experience within speciality or clear identification of transferrable skills based on extensive experience in another field.
- • Proven evidence of practice in line with the HEE (2017) multi-professional framework Management ability and demonstrable leadership experience
- • Excellent clinical and practical skills
Desirable criteria
- Change management skills
- Multi-professional supervision
- Appraisal skills
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- • Masters Degree in Advanced Practice or equivalent (as defined by Trust AP policy)
- • Statutory Professional Registration.
- • Significant contribution to a Portfolio of Evidence
Desirable criteria
- • Management package
- • Instructor on life support courses
- • Independent non-medical prescribing
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria
- Ability to recognise and analyse complex situations and take appropriate action.
- Proven evidence of relevant, recent study and continuing professional development
- Ability to communicate effectively both in written and verbal form
Employer certification / accreditation badges
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Hayley Johns
- Job title
- Support Manager
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01752 437511
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