Advanced Clinical Practitioners driving change in care

As organisations across the BSW Partnership work together in a more seamless way, new roles have started to emerge which will help to improve and drive change through partnership working.

Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) are a great example of this. They typically come from a range of professional backgrounds such as nursing, pharmacy, paramedics and occupational therapy and have developed the skills and knowledge to allow them to take on expanded roles and scope of practice caring for patients.

Two Lead ACPs have been recently appointed by the BSW Partnership. Dr Ben Davies and Neal Aplin will be working together, and with our partner organisations, to help develop BSW wide strategies for advanced practice development.

We caught up with Neal to find out more about the role.

What is the role of the Lead ACPs? 

We are here to help assist advanced practice development, promote standardisation and support ACPs across the different provider organisation of the BSW Partnership. 

Why is the role important to the development of partnership working?

There are lots of different health professionals who could develop into advanced practitioner roles such as nurses, paramedics, pharmacists, physiotherapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, dieticians, speech and language therapists and podiatrists. Together, these health professionals will play an important role in the BSW Partnership in developing patient safety, making sure we do things in the same way across our area.

What’s the best part of the role?

Networking with those from differing partner organisations across BSW to promote and develop advanced practitioner roles.  There are a number of ACP’s currently working across the BSW Partnership, in acute trusts, hospices and community services. 

To find out more about ACPs email Neal at naplin@nhs.net or Ben at ben.davies@virgincare.co.uk