Anticoagulation Practitioner

University Hospitals Dorset; Bournemouth; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 48,000; Full time

Job summary

University Hospitals Dorset is seeking a Band 6 Anticoagulation Practitioner to deliver autonomous dosing for patients on anticoagulants across hospital and community settings. You will manage a caseload, initiate and adjust therapy, and provide education and specialist advice to patients and families.

The role offers a dynamic MDT environment, opportunities for professional development, and a focus on patient safety and quality of care within the UHD network.

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in post registration Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) at Band 5.
• Good keyboard and telephone skills.
• Experience of using computerised anticoagulation software would be advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide an autonomous clinical dosing service for patients on anticoagulants in hospital and community settings.
• Manage a caseload of patients requiring anticoagulation therapy, including initiation, bridging, conversion, and maintenance.
• Dose Warfarin and DOACs using computerised dosing software in line with Trust and national guidelines.
• Deliver structured education, support, and specialist advice to patients and their families.

Skills

NMC registered nurse

Keyboard skills

Telephone communication

Tools

Anticoagulation software

Job description

As University Hospitals Dorset we are a three site acute trust with ‘university hospital’ status through our partnership with Bournemouth University, working with an annual budget of £730m.

We offer highly regarded health services, employing some 10,000 staff. Our ambitious £500m transformation programme is well on the way to delivering state-of-the-art facilities over the next two years to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the populations we serve.

In an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with over seven miles of sandy beaches you’ll find inspirational opportunities to achieve your perfect work/life balance. With the New Forest and the Purbecks on our doorstep, we’re also less than three hours from London by road or train. The thriving towns of Poole, Bournemouth and Christchurch give way to idyllic villages and unspoilt landscapes just minutes from our hospitals.

We believe that having a diverse workforce, and allowing people to be themselves, is essential in ensuring we offer an inclusive, welcoming and productive place to work.

We especially welcome applications from minority groups in the community who may be underrepresented in our workforce.

At UHD our active staff network groups are the Women's Network, Black Asian Minority Ethnic Group (BAME), Pride Network, European (EU), Pro Ability Staff Network, and the Armed Forces Support Group.

As a Trust we are proudly signed up to the Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant guaranteed interview schemes.

We are aware that some candidates may choose to use AI tools to support the preparation of their application. While this is not discouraged, we kindly remind applicants that submissions should remain an honest and accurate representation of your own experience and suitability. Personal integrity is an important part of the recruitment process.

Job overview

Are you passionate about delivering high-quality, patient-centered care? Join our dynamic Anticoagulation Service as a Band 6 Anticoagulation Practitioner and play a vital role in improving outcomes for patients across the community and hospital settings.

You’ll assist in managing a caseload of over 1,000 patients who take vitamin K antagonists, providing expert support for both inpatients and outpatients, and working across all areas of anticoagulation therapy. This is an exciting opportunity to develop your clinical expertise, work collaboratively within a supportive multidisciplinary team, and make a real difference to patient safety and quality of care. If you’re looking for a role that combines autonomy, variety, and professional growth, we’d love to hear from you.

Interview Date: 19th October

Main duties of the job

• Provide an autonomous clinical dosing service for patients on anticoagulants in both hospital and community settings.
• Manage a caseload of patients requiring anticoagulation therapy, including initiation, bridging, conversion, and maintenance.
• Dose Warfarin and Direct Oral Anticoagulants (DOACs) using computerised dosing software in line with Trust and national guidelines.
• Deliver structured education, support, and specialist advice to patients and their families to promote safe and informed care.
• Conduct telephone consultations and practitioner-led clinics to review and adjust treatment plans.
• Assess patients for anticoagulation therapy, checking indications, contraindications, and safety considerations.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across hospital and community settings to ensure safe and effective anticoagulant management.
• Participate in service development, audits, and evidence-based practice initiatives to improve patient outcomes.
• Maintain accurate patient records and ensure compliance with local and national guidelines.
• Support training and education for new staff and contribute to creating a learning environment within the team.

Working for our organisation

UHD are investing, developing and transforming Trust services in line with the New Hospital Programme. As part of this, some services may move site this year or next, either temporarily or permanently. Recruiting Managers will be happy to answer any service-specific questions at interview.

If a role or service relocates as part of a planned move, excess mileage will not be reimbursed. Travel from home to the new work base will be classed as a normal commute. Any other changes will be managed under Trust or national terms and conditions.

UHD has active networks including Women’s, BAME, Pride, EU, Pro Ability, and Armed Forces. We support Disability Confident and Armed Forces Covenant interview schemes.

AI tools may be used, but applications must honestly reflect your own skills and experience. Integrity is key to our recruitment process.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Providing a clinical dosing service for patients on anticoagulants
contributing to clinical care within the hospital and community

The anticoagulant practitioner will be responsible for providing specialist
knowledge and care to patients. They will undertake a range of duties to
ensure the effective delivery of care, providing specialist advice,
structured education and ongoing support to their anticoagulant patients
based on individual need.

The post holder will be an experienced registered nurse responsible for
the provision of an autonomous service for patients requiring
anticoagulation therapy, but will refer for consultant nurse/haematologist advice when secondary involvement is necessary.

To dose Warfarin and Direct Oral Anticoagulant and associated drugs as
directed by departmental, Trust and national guidelines

To provide support and education to patients receiving anticoagulant
therapy

Person specification

Qualifications

• Relevant experience in post registration Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) at Band 5
• Good keyboard and telephone skills
• Experience of using computerised anticoagulation software would be advantageous

Other requirements specific to the role

• Ability to work independently and within a small team
• Ability to communicate effectively with all service users
• Good written and verbal communications skills
• Good interpretive skills

Language requirement

• Be able to speak English as necessary to undertake the role

Experience

• A good understanding of Anticoagulation and Thrombosis including National Guidelines i.e NICE, BSCH, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Guidelines
• To be able to provide education to patients receiving anticoagulant therapy
• Ability to operate within quality assurance parameters
• Previous anticoagulation/cardiology/stroke experience/training

Knowledge

• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Through sound knowledge base be able to provide clinical advice to patients and other healthcare professionals
• Ability to use IT packages such as Microsoft Office and Outlook
• Knowledge of NHS/Trust IT systems

Personal Attributes

• Able to concentrate for prolonger periods
• Confident
• Flexible

Please note:

Staff recruited are expected to be available to work flexibly across all our Trust locations to meet service demands.

This advert may be closed early if sufficient applications are received.

COVID-19 vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself and our patients from the virus when working in our healthcare settings. Whilst this vaccination is not a condition of employment we do encourage our staff to get vaccinated.

Internal Candidates: staff employed prior to merger who voluntarily change jobs will be appointed to UHD terms and conditions.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.