Sustainable Careers for Advanced Critical Care Practitioners (ACCPs)

Published 10/01/2023

Career pathway

The following represents broad guidance and there must be allowance for the fact that ACCPs may take on other professional roles not listed in the table below. Appropriate recognition of these roles must occur to facilitate ACCPs to move between the career structure in keeping with the agenda for change and advanced practice criteria.

Title

Band

Requirements

Trainee ACCP

7

  • Registered healthcare professional with appropriate critical care experience eligible to undertake non-medical prescribing.
  • In a recognised ACCP training programme and working towards completion of an appropriate MSc/ PGDip via a recognised Healthcare Education Institution.
  • Following the FICM ACCP syllabus and curriculum.
  • Be supernumerary for two years whole time equivalent in clinical practice.

ACCP

8a

  • Completion of the academic and clinical competencies to the standard required by the FICM (PGDip ACCP programme).
  • Successful application for FICM membership.
  • Fully completed an MSc.
  • Completion of an annual appraisal in line with the FICM ACCP appraisal process and in line with individual Trust/Health Board values.
  • Usual expectation is to work on a resident rota encompassing days, nights, and weekends.

Senior ACCP

Either 8a or 8b (banding to be decided locally)

Both of:

1) Senior clinical work:

  • Continuing to work on a resident rota encompassing days, nights, and weekends.
  • May supervise tACCPs and support junior medical staff new to ICM for skills and activities that fall within the scope of practice as an ACCP, under local ACCP standard operating procedures and appropriate governance arrangements.

 2) Extended skills:

  • Undertakes extended skills post core FICM ACCP training in line with local service needs e.g. PICC line insertion, point of care ultrasound etc.
  • Demonstrates active engagement in the four pillars of advanced practice

Lead

ACCP

8b

All three of:

1) Senior clinical work:

  • Working on a resident rota encompassing days, nights, and weekends.

2) Undertakes extended skills following core training,

  • Fully engaged in and taking an active role in at least 2 of: quality improvement, audit, or research activities.

3) Undertakes managerial tasks such as:

  • Line management of trainee/junior ACCPs.  
  • Oversees the development and annual appraisals of trainee/junior ACCPs in conjunction with the consultant ACCP supervisor.
  • Leads the development and delivery of ACCP service.
  • Undertakes tasks such as: staffing, rostering, sickness reviews and liaison with the wider organisation.
  • Directly responsible for performance management of all ACCPs in the team and managing team members under local Trust/ Health Board disciplinary policy if required.
  • Participates in business case creation and recruitment of ACCPs (trainee/qualified), including advertisement, selection, interviewing and appointment of appropriate staff members.
  • Carrying out incident and Serious Incident (SI) investigations.
  • Attends and contributes to strategic meetings and development of related policies/procedures.
  • Has involvement in budgets, procurement and financial planning for the ACCP team.

 Consultant ACCP

8c

A highly experienced ACCP who is working in a very senior capacity within the critical care unit. In addition to the above:

  • Completion of higher training according to the requirements of the critical care unit and the organisation.
  • Has written or been a significant contributor to a Trust/Board level business case.
  • Adoption of senior leadership role within the organisation, such as significant contributor to divisional management, Trust/Health Board quality improvement or safety role or serious incident investigation.
  • Actively involved in strategic unit or organisational development
  • There should be an attempt to reduce night-time frequency where the workings of the unit allow this.