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. Detailed examples of job descriptions can be found here, which have been mapped to the Agenda for Change.

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 the medical rota encompassing days, nights and weekends.
Senior ACCP	Either 8a or 8b Banding to be decided locally	Both of: 1) Senior clinical work: Working on the senior part of the medical rota encompassing days, nights and weekends. May supervise junior medical staff and trainee ACCPs. 2) Undertakes extended skills following core training, such as: Completion of FUSIC ultrasound course (or equivalent) and working towards the required number of supervised scans. Fully engaged in and taking an active role in at least 2 of: quality improvement, audit or research. Usual expectation is to work on a doctor or ACCP rota.
Lead ACCP	8b	All three of: 1) Senior clinical work: Working on the senior part of the medical rota encompassing days, nights and weekends. 2) Undertakes extended skills following core training, such as: Completion of FUSIC ultrasound course (or equivalent) and working towards the required number of supervised scans. Fully engaged in and taking an active role in at least 2 of: quality improvement, audit or research. Usual expectation is to work on a doctor or ACCP rota. 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. Responsibility for supervising junior medical staff. 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 above: Completion of higher training according to the requirements of the critical care unit and the organisation. Able to lead a critical care ward round (with consultant oversight), incorporating technical and non-technical skills. Has written or been a significant contributor to a Trust/Board level business case. Is able to lead a resuscitation or intubation with confidence. Adoption of senior leadership role within the organisation, such as significant contributor to divisional management, Trust 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.