What is Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP)?
Health Education England (HEE) defines Advanced Clinical Practice as a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a Masters award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice.
ACPs are experienced, registered healthcare practitioners who have been educated to Masters level. They have developed the skills and knowledge to allow them to take on expanded roles and scope of practice in caring for patients.
What skills does an Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) have?
- Flexible skill set to adapt to and meet the needs of the PCN population/ support public health
- High level of complex decision making to inform diagnosis
- Ability to manage complete episodes of care within a broad scope of practice
What can an ACP do in General Practice?
- Manage undifferentiated, undiagnosed conditions
- Identify red flags & serious underlying pathology and take appropriate action
- Manage medical complexity
- Actively take a person-centred approach to enable a shared management plan with the presenting patient
- Lead audit and research projects
- Lead QOF within areas of capability
- Lead education in their area of expertise
- Enable, facilitate and support change across care pathways and traditional boundaries
Indicative Salary: AfC 8a
The 4 Pillars of Advanced Practice
Resources for Advanced Clinical Practitioners
- The HEE Advanced Practice Toolkit contains information and resources suitable for employers, clinicians and commissioners.
- The HEE Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England is a helpful resource to understand how the ACP role works in practice.
- The HEE Centre for Advancing Practice contains a wealth of useful resources for advanced practitioners.
- The SY&B Faculty of Advanced Clinical Practice oversees the training and ongoing professional development of ACPs within the South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw area.
