Assistant Practitioner

Purpose

The assistant practitioner is responsible for providing a high standard of nursing care within their scope of practice, as delegated by the nurse on duty, which encompasses resident choice and makes best use of valuable resources. In the absence of the nurse, the assistant practitioner will manage the unit, ensuring clinical support, leadership and governance is gained from registered professionals within the home.

Reporting to: RGN on shift/Clinical Lead/Deputy Manager

What does the role involve?

The assistant practitioner (AP) role requires job holders to undertake a comprehensive and challenging two-year training programme incorporating the Level 5 qualification.

Day to day, the AP oversees a team of care assistants and is responsible for the general delivery of care. At the beginning of each shift, he or she conducts a joint handover with the nurse and organises the care staff for the shift, delegating duties based on their knowledge of the residents and the skills and abilities of each member of staff.

A key part of the role involves supporting the nurse on duty with personal care, dispensing medication and undertaking such clinical duties as phlebotomy, bladder wash outs, urine testing, general wound care, blood glucose and blood pressure monitoring. The AP often liaises with medical and non-medical external partners regarding resident referrals and attends meetings to advocate on their behalf.

It is vital to make the nurse in charge aware of any changes in resident care needs or changes in physical or emotional well-being, recording changes in care plans and liaising with external professionals as required. The AP talks to residents about their care, ensuring that their views and choices are fully recorded, and sometimes also completes assessments for potential new residents.

Although the main focus is on providing compassionate, person-centred care directly to residents, the AP spends part of the day teaching and assessing competencies for student nurses and care staff. He or she may also conduct one or two supervisions of staff and/or return to work interviews as part of managing the team.