Advanced Practice
What is Advanced Practice (AP)?
NHS England defines advanced practice as a defined level of practice within clinical professions such as nursing, pharmacy, paramedics and occupational therapy. This level of practice is designed to transform and modernise pathways of care, enabling the safe and effective sharing of skills across traditional professional boundaries.
Resources for Advanced Practitioners (APs)
October 2023 update: new documents approved at ICS level which can be used as resources:
NHS England have developed a range of resources including a Multi-professional framework for advanced practice in England which can be helpful to understand how the role works.
You can also use the Advanced Practice Toolkit which contains information and resources suitable for both employers, commissioners and clinicians.
View the Regional Faculty for Advancing Practice – Midlands website to keep up-to-date with important developments at NHS England.
Information and supporting links for those seeking to undertake Supported e-portfolio Route (for recognition of education and training equivalence.)
The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire ICS AP Steering Group has authored a Memorandum of Understanding document that contains the recommended minimum standards for qualified APs. This document, having gained approval and sign-off from the ICS Clinical and Care Executive Group, can be used by APs and their employers as guidance.
NHS England has several resources available to support advanced practice clinical supervision. The most recent publication is the Advanced Practice Supervisor Capabilities.
Resources for people interested in becoming an Advanced Practitioner (AP)
If you have not already been in touch and have any experienced registered healthcare professional staff who you are keen to develop into advanced practitioners, by starting a Masters at any stage in the year, please get in touch with us at NATH. We suggest that you first use the ‘readiness checklist’ that is attached and then, if all answers are yes, complete the Expressions of Interest Form (for which the link is provided at the base of the checklist).
System-wide AP Development in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS)
You can download a PDF version of the 'What does 'system working' mean for Advanced Practice' poster here.
I have been looking at examples of AP information on other ICS’s websites and came across yours. The video is brilliant – you all come across as a team that would be great to work for/with and as an ACP I would feel the support emanating from you. The MOU is superb, the routes into and through AP is gorgeous and simple, the posters are inspired! It looks amazing and I would love to learn a bit more of how you executed your project.
Senior Project Manager in Workforce Development for Advanced Practice, Independent Prescribing & Health Care Science.
Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System | NHS Surrey Heartlands
We’re so pleased Sophie reached out to us to learn more about our AP Project and to hear such nice feedback! If you would like to know more as well, contact us at alliance.hub1@nhs.net
Useful Links
Join our ICS Primary Care AP Network
The ICS Primary Care AP Network Group is now up and running. If you are training or working in advanced practice within Primary Care and would like to join via the link below.
Aims for the Network:
Promote collaborative working
Provide educational and supervisory support for the advanced practitioners
Promote effective and safe practice within the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Integrated Care System (ICS)
Advanced Pharmacy Practice
Work in pharmacy?
We have a dedicated page specifically for Advanced Pharmacy Practice which provides:
Overview of Advanced Practice
Routes into Advanced Practice for Pharmacists
Details on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) Core Advanced Pharmacist Curriculum
Routes Into and Through Advanced Practice
Healthcare Workforce
Nurses
Allied Health Professions (AHPs)
Pharmacists
Health Care Scientists
Doctors
Physician Associates (PAs)
Physician Associate PA degree
Unregistered healthcare workers
For more information on the different levels of practice (e.g. Initial, Enhanced, Advanced, Consultant), read the Multi-professional framework for advanced clinical practice in England.
Initial Level Practice
Enhanced Level Practice
Professional regulation
ADVANCED PRACTICE
Role
Advanced Practitioners (APs)
Level
Various job titles
To work at AP level, you need to maintain your:
Personal portfolio (compulsory)
Accreditation (optional) – this could be through Royal Colleges
Consultant Level Practice
NHS England Centre of Advancing Practice National Directory of APs, e.g. accredited programme, HEE supported portfolio
The 4 Pillars of AP and Potential Career Pathways
Clinical Practice
Research and Innovation
Clinical Academic Careers
Leadership
Healthcare Organisation Managers
Education
Professorship
Programme Director
NHS England resources for curriculum and competencies
Acute Medicine
Older Person
Learning Disabilities and Autism
Surgery
Mental Health
Royal Colleges, e.g.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN)
Royal College of Emergency Medicine (RCEM)
Faculty of Intensive Care Medicine (FICM)
Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS)
Royal College of Physicians (RCP)
Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)
Royal Pharmaceutical Society