Job Description

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Advanced Clinical Practitionerto join the Community Assessment and Treatment Unit (CATU) as part of a 3-month fixed-term test of change across the West Essex Health Care Partnership.
CATU is a short-stay, community-based assessment and treatment service providingmultidisciplinary assessment and intervention for adults with acute or sub-acute conditions and frailty syndromes who require urgent clinical input but do not require admission to an acute hospital.
The service offers a clinically safe alternatives to acute admission, supporting system priorities to prevent avoidable hospital attendances, reduce length of stay, improve flow during winter pressures, and deliver high-quality care closer to home.
As an ACP within CATU, you will provide expert autonomous clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and medical optimisation, working across organisational boundaries to support a Home First approach in line with the West Essex Integrated Delivery Plan (IDP).
Main duties of the job
Undertake advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, and management of adults with frailty syndromes and acute/sub-acute conditions within a community setting.
Provide autonomous clinical decision-making within scope of practice, including prescribing and requesting/interpreting diagnostics where appropriate.
Lead and contribute to Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) for patients aged 65+, ensuring shared documentation via FReDA to support continuity across acute, community, and primary care.
Act as a senior clinical decision-maker within CATU, supporting rapid triage outcomes and safe patient flow.
Work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) including CATU clinicians, Hospital at Home (HatH), Integrated Neighbourhood Teams (INTs), mental health services, and social care.
Support proactive discharge planning from the point of admission, ensuring timely transitions to home, reablement, domiciliary care, HatH, or other community pathways as appropriate.
Participate in daily virtual MDT huddles with INTs and HatH to ensure wrap-around care and continuity following discharge.
Contribute to service evaluation, learning, and quality improvement as part of the CATU test-of-change period.
About us
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.

• Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
• Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
• If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
• We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.

Benefits

• 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service.
• Excellent pension of up to14.5% of your pensionable pay.
• Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
• 8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us
• Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.

Work that wraps around your needs

• Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
• Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.

Details
Date posted
23 December 2025
Pay scheme
Agenda for change
Band
Band 8a
Salary
55,690 to 62,682 a year Per annum + 5% High Cost Allowance
Contract
Fixed term
Duration
3 months
Working pattern
Full-time, Part-time, Compressed hours
Reference number
364-A-9659
Job locations
St Margaret's Hospital
Epping
CM16 6TN
Job description
Job responsibilities
The ACP will play a key role in delivering a streamlined community pathway for West Essex residents aged 18 and over who meet CATU inclusion criteria, including:
NEWS
4 (or NEWS 5 following consultant review)
Clinically suitable for community-level diagnostics and interventions
Likely to be discharged home within 96 hours
Key responsibilities include:
Receiving and managing patients triaged through the single CCC referral route, with referrals originating from ED, OPAL, AAU, SDEC, EEAST (Call Before Convey), UCR, RIS, GPs, INTs, HatH, IUTC, NHS 111 and other system partners.
Delivering timely assessment and treatment, contributing to a target triage outcome within 20 minutes where appropriate.
Ensuring patient care aligns with CATUs expected length of stay of 296 hours.
Providing senior clinical oversight to ensure patient safety, escalation when required, and appropriate onward referral.
Supporting system flow by preventing default ED attendance and facilitating alternatives to acute admission.
Maintaining accurate, high-quality clinical documentation and contributing to shared records to support system-wide visibility.
Upholding clinical governance standards, evidence-based practice, and professional accountability at all times.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and influence an innovative community model, working at pace across organisational boundaries to improve outcomes for patients with frailty and acute needs. Job description
Job responsibilities
The ACP will play a key role in delivering a streamlined community pathway for West Essex residents aged 18 and over who meet CATU inclusion criteria, including:
NEWS
4 (or NEWS 5 following consultant review)
Clinically suitable for community-level diagnostics and interventions
Likely to be discharged home within 96 hours
Key responsibilities include:
Receiving and managing patients triaged through the single CCC referral route, with referrals originating from ED, OPAL, AAU, SDEC, EEAST (Call Before Convey), UCR, RIS, GPs, INTs, HatH, IUTC, NHS 111 and other system partners.
Delivering timely assessment and treatment, contributing to a target triage outcome within 20 minutes where appropriate.
Ensuring patient care aligns with CATUs expected length of stay of 296 hours.
Providing senior clinical oversight to ensure patient safety, escalation when required, and appropriate onward referral.
Supporting system flow by preventing default ED attendance and facilitating alternatives to acute admission.
Maintaining accurate, high-quality clinical documentation and contributing to shared records to support system-wide visibility.
Upholding clinical governance standards, evidence-based practice, and professional accountability at all times.
This role offers a unique opportunity to shape and influence an innovative community model, working at pace across organisational boundaries to improve outcomes for patients with frailty and acute needs.
Person Specification
Skills
Essential

• Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
• Ability to work as an independent practitioner

Desirable

• Drives a car

Education/Knowledge
Essential

• Registered health professional (NMC, HCPC or equivalent).
• Master's level qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice or demonstrable progress toward MSc ACP with portfolio evidence.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• Experience contributing to discharge planning and pathways that support a Home First approach.

Desirable

• Independent prescribing experience in a community, urgent care, or frailty setting.
• Previous experience working in a short-stay assessment unit, Hospital at Home, UCR, SDEC, or ED interface service.
• Understanding of system flow, admission avoidance, and length-of-stay management.
• Additional qualifications in urgent care, frailty, long-term conditions, or leadership.

Person Specification
Skills
Essential

• Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills
• Ability to work as an independent practitioner

Desirable

• Drives a car

Education/Knowledge
Essential

• Registered health professional (NMC, HCPC or equivalent).
• Master's level qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice or demonstrable progress toward MSc ACP with portfolio evidence.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary teams across organisational boundaries.
• Experience contributing to discharge planning and pathways that support a Home First approach.

Desirable

• Independent prescribing experience in a community, urgent care, or frailty setting.
• Previous experience working in a short-stay assessment unit, Hospital at Home, UCR, SDEC, or ED interface service.
• Understanding of system flow, admission avoidance, and length-of-stay management.
• Additional qualifications in urgent care, frailty, long-term conditions, or leadership.

Skills Required