Emergency Care Practitioner

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust; Consett; On-site; GBP 47,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A regional health service provider in Consett seeks an experienced Emergency Care Practitioner to join their team in Urgent Treatment Centres. Applicants will work autonomously to assess and manage a variety of patient presentations and collaborate with GPs and other healthcare professionals. A Master's degree in clinical assessment and NMC or HCPC registration are essential. Salary ranges from £47,810 to £54,710 annually, pro rata.

Qualifications

• 3 years post-registration experience.
• Evidence of budgetary control.
• Experience in high-pressure dynamic situations.

Responsibilities

• Assess, diagnose and manage patients from the first contact through to discharge.
• Prioritise patients through triage.
• Prescribe medications within scope of practice.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Advanced communication

Leadership

Computer literacy

Education

Masters level qualification in clinical assessment

Registered Nurse with valid NMC registration or HCPC registration

Non-Medical Prescribing qualification

Tools

Systm One

Excel

Word

Job description

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

Emergency Care Practitioner

The closing date is 01 December 2025

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Emergency Care Practitioner to join an established team working in Urgent Treatment Centres in County Durham and Darlington, with a nominal base at Shotley Bridge Urgent Treatment Centre. Permanent and fixed‑term roles available.

The Centre operates as follows:

• 24/7 and shift patterns include day and night shifts.
• Advanced clinical, leadership and organisational skills are required as is a commitment to service development and excellence in practice.
• This appointment will be made at Band 7 if the successful applicant meets all of the essential criteria.
• Depending on qualifications and experience, you may be appointed under Band 7 Annex 21 conditions. Once you have successfully completed all of the essential qualifications within an agreed timeframe, you will progress to permanent Band 7 banding. The contract ends if an applicant does not successfully complete the essential qualifications within this timeframe under the Annex 21 scheme.

If you are a confident, enthusiastic, positive, team‑oriented Registered NMC or HCPC professional seeking a new challenge and you fulfil the requirements above, please apply for this role.

Main duties of the job

Candidates will work autonomously, assessing, diagnosing, treating or referring onward patients of all age ranges with a broad spectrum of minor illness and injury presentations.

The successful applicant will be working alongside GPs and an experienced team of Nurse and Paramedic Practitioners, as well as having responsibility for mentoring and developing junior Practitioners and HCAs.

About us

We particularly welcome applications from disabled and Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) candidates as BAME and disabled people are currently under‑represented.

We provide hospital services from two acute sites – Darlington Memorial Hospital and University Hospital of North Durham. We have a centre for planned care in Bishop Auckland and provide care from community hospitals in Chester‑Le‑Street, Shotley Bridge, Barnard Castle, Sedgefield and Weardale as well as over 80 other community‑based settings and providing care in patients' homes.

Full Job Descriptions can be found in the adverts supporting documents.

For the most up‑to‑date information on visa requirements and eligibility, please check online to determine whether you can apply.

From April 9th 2025 – Healthcare Assistants: You must have a minimum of two years experience working within the NHS as an HCA for the Trust to be considered for sponsorship (we will only consider sponsorship if you meet this criteria and have a current visa expiring within 3 months).

Job responsibilities

• To assess, diagnose and manage patients from the first point of contact through to discharge or referral, ensuring evidence‑based practice underpins care delivery.
• Prioritise patients either through telephone triage or face-to-face. Carry out clinical assessment within Urgent Treatment Centre or patients' home.
• Prescribe the required medications within scope of Professional Practice (as an Independent Prescriber or via Patient Group Directions).
• Ensure effective, timely communication with patients, carers and all health and social care providers, following referral protocols/pathways.
• Keep accurate and comprehensive records in accordance with NMC/HCPA guidelines and Trust Policies.
• Accurately prioritise workload according to the needs of patients particularly at times of high demand for the service.
• Manage and coordinate resources within the Urgent Treatment Centre on a day-to-day basis.
• Lead by action and inspire others demonstrating leadership behaviours and values identified by the Trust, creating improvement, transformation and innovation of Unscheduled Care.
• Actively engage in Clinical Governance, to include reporting, investigating and resolving complaints, safeguards and risks.
• Practice cost‑effective healthcare, working within budget and available resources.
• Contribute to the development of guidelines, policies and protocols as required to support service delivery.
• Participate in, as required, the recruitment, selection and interviewing of staff in line with Trust policy.
• Support the Team Manager in developing and promoting a service based on excellence and best practice.

Special Requirements

• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Positive and enthusiastic attitude
• Flexible and adaptable with regard to shift patterns and working across other UTC bases as required

Experience

• Working in high pressured dynamic situations.
• Advanced communication with all disciplines.
• Evidence of budgetary control.
• Evidence of inspirational leadership.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse who holds an NMC registration or AHP who holds an HCPC registration with 3 years post registration experience
• Masters level qualification in clinical assessment
• Paediatric clinical skills
• Non-Medical Prescribing qualification or commitment made to undertake this. Have experience with use of a wide range of PGDs
• Self‑motivated with inspirational leadership skills.
• Minor Injuries Structured Learning and experience with commitment to Degree or above level Qualification (depending on centre)

Statutory Registration

• NMC (valid UK NMC PIN) or HCPC registration

Special Skills & Knowledge

• Evidence of working as an autonomous practitioner (having the authority to make decisions and the freedom to act in accordance with one's professional knowledge base).
• The ability to manage the patient's journey independently from assessment to discharge or onward referral.
• Broad understanding of the knowledge and skills required to assess manage minor illness and injury in adults and children.
• Ability to manage a caseload of patients taking into consideration clinical priority / staff skills and experience and the dynamic nature of urgent and unscheduled care.
• Ability to work collaboratively with Team Managers to ensure compliance with Clinical Governance and best practice, including appraisal, audit and deputising as appropriate.
• Computer literate with ability to use relevant systems e.g. Systm One, Excel, Word, Teams.
• Evidence of relevant clinical experience, e.g. Urgent, Primary or unscheduled Care or similar.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

£47,810 to £54,710 a year pro rata per annum