Specialist Practitioner (prescriber/non prescriber)

Integrated Care System; Bristol; On-site; GBP 21,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading health service provider in Bristol seeks a Specialist Practitioner to deliver person-centred care and harm reduction directly to individuals affected by drug and alcohol use. The role involves engaging with those experiencing homelessness and working within a dynamic outreach team. Candidates must have NMC registration and experience in A&E or practice nursing. Competitive salary and support for professional development are offered.

Benefits

Competitive salary of £23.50 per hour

Generous annual leave entitlement

Comprehensive wellbeing support

Qualifications

• Current NMC registration is essential.
• Post qualifying experience working with clients experiencing substance misuse.
• Competency in conduct of venepuncture required.

Responsibilities

• Deliver person-centred care in outreach and community settings.
• Manage health assessments and care plans for individuals.
• Work autonomously in nurse-led clinics addressing diverse health needs.

Skills

NMC registration

Experience in A&E or practice nursing

Competency in venepuncture

Working with people affected by homelessness

Knowledge of trauma-informed care

Education

Post qualifying experience in A&E or minor injuries

Working towards MSc in Advanced Practice

Job description

As a Specialist Practitioner, you will deliver person-centred care and harm reduction interventions directly to individuals affected by drug and alcohol use--in the community, on the streets, and within outreach settings. You'll engage with people who may be experiencing homelessness, trauma, or social exclusion, helping reduce barriers to care.

You'll work with individuals who may be rough sleeping, living in hostels, or transient accommodation--often with co-occurring physical, mental health, and substance use challenges.

Working as part of a dynamic outreach team delivering healthcare in partnership with BDP's harm reduction services, working closely with peer workers, prescribing teams, and local support services.

Main duties of the job

Who We're Looking For

Essential Clinical Skills

• NMC registration
• Experience in A&E, minor injuries, or practice nursing
• Competency in venepuncture and complex wound management

Experience

• Venipuncture Working with people affected by homelessness and substance misuse
• Contribution to MDTs and multi-agency working
• Delivery of health promotion and healthcare advice

Knowledge & Approach

• Understanding of trauma-informed care and safeguarding
• Legal and ethical responsibilities in autonomous practice
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities

About us

Recognising Your Value

• Part - time 15 hours per week (2 days per week to be agreed)
• Competitive salary £23.50 per hour (£45,957.37 per annum pro rata), NHS pension, enhanced pay rates
• Generous annual leave entitlement (25 days + bank holidays)
• Comprehensive wellbeing support, NHS discounts, cycle-to-work scheme, employee assistance programme, and annual discretionary bonuses
• Support for your professional development with training and career growth opportunities

Join a Leading Social Enterprise As part of BrisDoc, an employee-owned social enterprise, you'll be empowered as a co-owner to shape the future of healthcare delivery. We're deeply committed to equity, diversity, inclusion, sustainability, and innovation--ensuring your career grows in a direction aligned with your values.

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• Work as an autonomous practitioner within nurse led, drop-in clinics and hostel outreach sessions using evidence-based nursing practice and client care
• Provide individual health assessments involving holistic consideration for an individuals physical, mental and emotional health
• Produce patient specific care plans, assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating in collaboration with the client and other professionals
• Assessment and management of complex wounds including those requiring compression bandaging
• Perform doppler measurements as part of assessment of patients with leg ulceration
• Identify, manage and refer appropriately, service users at risk of potentially life-threatening conditions including sepsis, acute alcohol withdrawal and suicide
• Provide emergency care to patients on and off-site including liaising with emergency medical services and supporting non-clinical staff
• Safe Administration of PGD medication including IM Naloxone as required
• Administer appropriate immunisations in line with PGDs (Patient Group Directions)
• Keep accurate, confidential and contemporaneous records of interventions
• Ensure prompt referrals to appropriate services e.g. GP, A&E, AWP, Blood Borne Virus (BBV) Nurse
• Participate in partnership working with statutory and voluntary staff e.g. BBV team, St Mungos, Housing and One25
• Effective liaison and communication with clients, carers, primary and secondary health services and other agencies
• Participate in clinical, team and other meetings as appropriate to services
• Maintain clinics and other work places and ensure adequate stocks are available at all times

Education and Health Promotion

• Act as a facilitator to student nurses and medical students who spend time with the team
• Develop and participate in health promotion initiatives with team members and other agencies as appropriate
• Help to educate local and statutory organisations to the needs of the homeless and to facilitate the assimilation of clients who are homeless into mainstream services

Prescribers Only

• Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within scope of practice

Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, languages, and preferred ways of communication
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
• Maintain effective communication with all multi-disciplinary team members, as well as with external stakeholders
• Act as an advocate for patients and carers
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g., PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate
• To be able to maintain accurate electronic written patient records for users of services provided
• To be aware of responsibilities under the Data Protection Act

Other responsibilities

The primary focus of this role is to provide clinical services to patients, however there are a wealth of opportunities to engage with and drive initiatives, take leadership development roles and contribute to service improvement.

Ability to adhere to organisational policies

Maintain active NMC or HCPC registration

Continue to develop and expand own personal clinical expertise as autonomous/independent practitioner.

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time

In partnership with others, challenge and critically evaluate the boundaries of autonomous practice, such that patient access, choice and outcomes will improve

Help in the development and evaluation of clinical guidelines, policy, competency tools and continuous improvement opportunities to support in the expansion of Health care professional roles in the delivery of optimal care

Identify and perform audit relevant to clinical area in order understand current practice, review evidence-based research and drive improvement

Develop own areas of specific clinical expertise to link acute, primary, community and emergency care sectors in expanding nursing and AHP practice across BrisDoc

Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines

Person Specification

Qualifications & Training

• Current NMC registration
• Post qualifying experience of working in A&E, minor illness/injury or practice nurse role.
• Post qualifying experience of working with clients who experience problematic substance misuse and / or homelessness
• Venapuncture competency or willingness to undertake training
• Working towards MSc in Advanced / Specialist Practice or evidence of accumulation of relevant experience / knowledge (essential for prescribing rates)

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.

Depending on experiencehourly rate dependant on experience