AdvancedClinical Practitioner Trainee Review

I attend an MDT meeting with nurses, social workers and doctors. We review the caseload of psychiatric patients within the general hospital and provide updates and share learning and advice. We plan the reviews for the day and then allocate new patients to staff according to their skills and strengths. Then we are deployed throughout the hospital to assess, treat and review our patients. This can range from assessing someone after they have attempted suicide, or providing advice to medical staff on which medications to use to treat anxiety, depression or psychosis. My role also has a strategic and managerial role, so I often attend meetings with Acute Trust colleagues, or contribute to national projects such as the NHS England CQUIN. I also have an active role on suicide prevention programmes, and sit on committees at local universities regarding student mental health. I supervise around 6 staff members so I schedule regular management supervision with them. I also receive regular supervision from my Consultant and operational manager.

I have now completed two stand alone modules in clinical examination and diagnostics. This allows me to examine all of the body systems and make a provision diagnosis and / or pick up on signs of ill health. My specialty is psychiatry and I have just completed a 6 month programme which allows me to independently prescribe psychiatric medication.

I love it. It is the perfect blend of learning new clinical skills, working with medics, supporting my nursing colleagues, prescribing medication, updating my skills on physical health. I also love the project management and leadership aspects of my role as I feel like a respected member of the senior leadership team.

Really well. The University programme is really varied with choices of elective modules to represent all our different specialties. We attend University one day a week, and on any days without a taught day we are given this as an independent study day. The taught classes overlap really well with my workplace and my employer is supportive in allowing me to access additional learning opportunities.

As above - my employer is supportive in allowing me to access additional learning opportunities. I have a supportive Consultant supervisor who trusts me with complex cases but appreciates that I am in a learning phase. I get good support from the operational leadership side too and I am encouraged to step up and take on new responsibility.

Good support. There have been a few teething problems as we were the first class on this Apprentice programme so there were a few frustrations with changes to the paperwork requirements. On the whole teaching staff are supportive, responsive and friendly. Really enjoy the academic side of things at University.

It is absolutely essential. At this level and with this amount of responsibility it is essential that the qualification equips us for the role since some aspects of the role are literally life or death. Without the underpinning, intensive University support I would not be able to transition into this new role.

There are lots of social clubs through work, including professional networking events such as LGBT Staff Network, or BAME staff network. I think on a more local team level sports groups and social activity occurs but we are a large organization (over 5000 staff) spread across Greater Manchester.

Yes

I love my career and I have been fortunate to advance quite quickly with good opportunities. I know this is not the case for everyone, and some roles within the NHS are quite challenging and under-resourced. However if you are passionate about healthcare, people, and patients then the NHS has lots of different roles, and they don't always have to involve patient contact. So many professions and roles come under the umbrella of the NHS and it's definite one of the few organizations that people definitely feel proud to be a part of!

Do it! As above, there are so many opportunities from OT, nursing, mental health, medicine, OB/GYN, children, learning disability, dementia, admin, scientist, researcher. It is a national treasure that people should want to contribute to and be a part of. I am proud to be a mental health ANP.