Job Description

The Neonatal Advanced Clinical Practitioner will work hand in hand with a multidisciplinary team to provide expert care and management of infants and their families in the Neonatal unit. The post holder will demonstrate a high level of expertise using advanced skills and knowledge in accordance with unit guidelines and protocols to provide advice, education and support to staff, patients, their families and carers.



The post holder will be practising autonomously as an advanced clinical practitioner within the designated speciality area to provide patient-centred clinical care. This will encompass the skills of advanced clinical assessment, examination, diagnosis and treatment within an agreed scope of practice throughout the directorate.



The post holder will support new ways of working that emphasises a more efficient and patient focused service, and will ensure the safe treatment, referral and discharge of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations in their area.



Responsibility for leading the on-going development of clinical practice and standards of care within the service, including the development of policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines in collaboration with multidisciplinary colleagues



The post holder will deliver a 90% clinical component to their role and 10% related to appraisal, clinical audit, teaching, continuous professional development and research.



Attends high risk deliveries ensuring that neonates receives effective resuscitation, stabilisation and safe transfer. Work autonomously in providing specialist care and systematically manage caseload of patients to deliver individualised patient care in areas of responsibility according to agreed protocols, units' guidelines and professional scope of practice. Direct responsibility for assessment, examination, investigation and diagnosis of patients on admission. Including referral to appropriate specialists as required. Initiate treatment, including drug therapy, intravenous fluids including parenteral nutrition, arrange further investigations, make appropriate referral and formulate treatment plan to ensure safe management and continuity of care whilst admitted in the neonatal unit. To ensure that all follow ups' where necessary have been arranged and that all specialists team involve in baby's care have been informed. Obtain, interpret and monitor laboratory investigations and take actions as necessary. Requests, interpret and responds to other investigations such as x-rays, ECGs, ultrasound scans and other blood tests. Order and prescription of blood products in accordance to clinical guidelines and scope of practice. Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings, attends ward rounds and hand over. Utilise scope of practice to undertake Non-Medical Prescribing role and provide advice on medicine management issues associated with neonates.



King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of the UK's largest and busiest teaching Trusts with a turnover of c1.8 billion, 1.5 million patient contacts a year and more than 15,000 staff based across South East London. The Trust provides a full range of local and specialist services across its five sites. The trust-wide strategy of Strong Roots, Global Reach is our Vision to be BOLD, Brilliant people, Outstanding care, Leaders in Research, Innovation and Education, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion at the heart of everything we do. By being person-centred, digitally-enabled, and focused on sustainability, we aim to take Team King's to another level.



We are at a pivotal point in our history and we require individuals who are ready to join a highly professional team and make a real, lasting difference to our patients and our people.



King's is committed to delivering Sustainable Healthcare for All via our Green Plan. In line with national Greener NHS ambitions, we have set net zero carbon targets of 2040 for our NHS Carbon Footprint and 2045 for our NHS Carbon Footprint Plus. Everyone's contribution is required in order to meet the goals set out in our Green Plan and we encourage all staff to work responsibly, minimising their contributions to the Trust's carbon emissions, waste and pollution wherever possible.



1. Attends high risk deliveries ensuring that neonates receives effective resuscitation, stabilisation and safe transfer.



2. Work autonomously in providing specialist care and systematically manage caseload of patients to deliver individualised patient care in areas of responsibility according to agreed protocols, units' guidelines and professional scope of practice.



3. Direct responsibility for assessment, examination, investigation and diagnosis of patients on admission. Including referral to appropriate specialists as required.



4. Initiate treatment, including drug therapy, intravenous fluids including parenteral nutrition, arrange further investigations, make appropriate referral and formulate treatment plan to ensure safe management and continuity of care whilst admitted in the neonatal unit.



5. Performs formal discharge examinations and determines whether a baby is fit for discharge. To ensure that all follow ups' where necessary have been arranged and that all specialists team involve in baby's care have been informed.



6. Obtain, interpret and monitor laboratory investigations and take actions as necessary



7. Requests, interpret and responds to other investigations such as x-rays, ECGs, ultrasound scans and other blood tests.



8. Order and prescription of blood products in accordance to clinical guidelines and scope of practice.



9. Participates in multidisciplinary team meetings, attends ward rounds and hand over.



10. Utilise scope of practice to undertake Non-Medical Prescribing role and provide advice on medicine management issues associated with neonates. Work within Trust policy for Medicines Management



11. Utilise advanced knowledge and skills relating to the speciality to provide specialist advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team on the basis of patient assessment.



12. Provide a seamless, high quality service from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review, referring to other specialists as required. Provide guidance to staff, patients and their families and carers on pathway navigation



13. Lead in the development and updating of referral guidelines and policies for the service.



14. Use highly developed communication skills to effectively communicate with colleagues, patients and their relatives/carers, making reports and liaising as required with medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team both verbally and in writing.



15. Use professional judgement to act as an advocate for patients to ensure a patient focused approach to the delivery of care. Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management. Escalate any concerns via the nursing / professional structures as required



16. Work towards safe and timely discharge and/ or transfer of care of patients from or between hospitals and services and healthcare professionals, ensuring barriers to discharge / transfer are identified and acted upon appropriately.



17. Report and raise concerns related to Safeguarding, accessing advice and support as required. Be conversant with Trust policies for safeguarding including the assessment of mental Capacity, and consideration of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards(DOLS) and the application of the principles of Prevent (counter terrorism awareness)



18. Ensure effective and accurate verbal or written handover of patients between healthcare professionals



19. Ensure that high standards of all documentation are maintained, with accurate, complete and up-to-date information regarding patient care are kept in accordance with Trust standards.



20. Monitor the quality and standard of care provided by all members of the team and all staff in clinical areas. Identifying any skills or training gaps and escalating to the appropriate Senior Nurse or Matron.



21. Undertake training to develop further advanced clinical practice roles required by the service in order to provide a high standard of patient care.



22. Practice within the scope of professional registration (NMC)