Advanced Practitioners - Recruitment Support

Advanced clinical practice (ACP) is a defined level of practice designed to transform and modernise pathways of care, enabling the safe and effective sharing of skills across traditional professional boundaries.

Advanced practitioners are professionals registered with either the NMCHCPC or GPhC.  They are educated to master’s level or equivalent, with advanced skills and knowledge. This extra learning allows them to expand their scope of practice to better meet the needs of the patients they provide care to.

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This type of role is defined by the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England;

“Advanced clinical practice is delivered by experienced, registered health and care practitioners. It is a level of practice characterised by a high degree of autonomy and complex decision making. This is underpinned by a master’s level award or equivalent that encompasses the four pillars of clinical practice, leadership and management, education and research, with demonstration of core capabilities and area specific clinical competence.

Four pillars of advanced practice

To be a recognised advanced practitioner, statutory registered healthcare professionals must undergo training to align to the NHS England multi-professional framework and demonstrate the necessary knowledge, skills, and behaviours that align with the four pillars of advanced practice. This can be by undertaking an NHS England accredited Level 7 advanced practice Masters or by successfully completing the ePortfolio route. NHS England have a list of accredited advanced practice Masters programmes.

Advanced practitioners are role models within their environment. Leadership, resilience, and determination are key qualities for advanced practitioners to be able to manage complex and unpredictable situations. After undertaking the advanced practice Masters there are courses and resources available to further develop this pillar including NHS Leadership Academy. Advanced practitioners may choose leadership careers such as advanced practitioner lead roles.


Clinical practice requires advanced practitioners to be responsible for and provide high quality, safe and effective person-centred care. Development in this area depends on the scope of practice of the role which can be acquired by undertaking an NHS England accredited Level 7 advanced practice Masters and practical experience through supervision, mentoring, and peer review.

Research is essential for advanced practitioners to inform their practice. It is also about critically engaging in research activity and using evidence-based strategies to improve and enhance the quality of patient care. Advanced practitioners may also progress towards healthcare research careers. 

As an advanced practitioner it is important to assess and address learning needs to develop across the four pillars of practice. Engaging in self-directed learning and reflecting on progress and development areas through appraisal can aid growth. It is important to allow the wider team to identify their educational needs and support inter-professional learning. Advanced practitioners may also consider pursuing an education role in healthcare. 

Resources

Generic Advanced Practice Job Description and Person Specification
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Multi-Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England
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Core Capabilities Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice (Nurses)
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