Advancing Practice

Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) refers to a level of healthcare practice where professionals, often nurses, physiotherapists, or allied health practitioners, work autonomously or collaboratively in more complex, specialised roles.

Advanced Clinical Practice often go beyond the traditional scope of care, combining advanced clinical skills with leadership, decision-making, and management abilities.

 

4 Pillars of Advancing Practice

All health and care professionals working at the advanced practice level are expected to have developed the knowledge, understanding and skills required to meet all the capabilities outlined in this framework.

These capabilities define a consistent standard of practice across professions, roles and settings, ensuring uniformity and fostering confidence in the development and deployment of the advanced practice workforce.

 

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4 Pillars of Advancing Practice

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Disclaimer: We recognise that many individuals working in general practice are already operating at an advanced level within specialised roles, even if they do not hold a formal Advanced Practice title or credential. The content and resources provided on this page are designed to support the development, recognition, and ongoing professional growth of all staff working at or towards Advanced Practice level.

The Primary Care workforce is developing at a fast rate and we are able to support Primary Care employers with levy funding for the ACP MSc Apprenticeship pathway. 

The closing dates for the ACP MSc Apprenticeship vary for different Universities, for further information please check on their websites.

Please refer to Midlands Faculty for Advancing Practice for more information and links to conferences and training opportunities for MSc ACP Trainees and Practitioners. Email: thehubplus.ddlmc@nhs.net more information.

Further information regarding can be found on the link below:

The JUCD Advancing Practice is and accredited programme through The Centre for Advancing Practice. This means that by accrediting programmes which prepare health and care professionals for advanced level practice, the Centre can ensure a consistent level of education quality and a consistent level of capability at entry to the advanced practice workforce.

Find out more about Joined Up Carrers Derbyshire by clicking here.

NHS England Regional Faculties of Advancing Practice 

 

Advancing Practice – Midlands – Advanced Practice

Each NHSE Region has a Faculty for Advancing Practice. The Midlands Faculty Lead is Dr Julian Barratt. You can Sign up to their stakeholder database if you would like to receive updates from the Faculty and for any other enquiries or to unsubscribe from the mailing list, please email them at england.apfac.midlands@nhs.net

Advancing Practice

In 2017 Health Education England (HEE) produced the HEE Multi Professional Framework for Advanced Clinical Practice in England.

This framework provides a clear definition and specifies the capabilities for clinicians using the 'advanced' title. This framework supports a level of practice and as such encompasses both those working in 'advanced specialist' and 'advanced generalist' roles.  Clinicians who use the term ‘advanced’ in their title need to have Masters (MSc) level education and be able to evidence capability across the four pillars of advanced practice.

  • Clinical Practice
  • Leadership and Management
  • Education
  • Research

This requires that health and care professionals working at the level of advanced clinical practice will exercise autonomy and decision making in a context of complexity, uncertainty, and varying levels of risk, holding accountability for decisions made. Each clinician needs to work within their scope of competency.

Whilst the HEE framework defines advanced clinical practice as a level of practice, some areas of the country use the term Advanced Clinical Practitioner (ACP) as a role. This is the case in parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire and was driven by workforce needs.

If you require any further help/assistance, please contact ddlmc.thehubplus@nhs.net