Urgent Care Practitioner (UCP)

Job summaryThe Urgent Care Practitioner will
provide autonomous clinical care across NEMS urgent care services. The role is
open to suitably qualified UCPs, ECPs and Nurse Practitioners who are
independent non-medical prescribers, and is designed to provide a mix of
telephone and face-to-face consultations across Integrated Urgent Care
Services, urgent treatment centres and other agreed service models.Main duties of the jobThe post holder will be an
experienced registered clinician, able to assess, diagnose, treat, refer and
discharge patients with undifferentiated urgent care presentations. They will
work within their professional registration, agreed scope of practice, NEMS
policies and local clinical pathways.Telephone consultations will
usually be undertaken within Integrated Urgent Care Services. Following
induction, and where agreed by the service, some telephone consultation work
may be undertaken remotely from home, provided that the post holder is meeting
agreed KPIs, quality standards, governance requirements and information
governance expectations.Face-to-face work will include
assessment and management of patients presenting to NEMS urgent treatment
services. The post holder will be expected to recognise serious illness,
clinical deterioration, safeguarding concerns, mental health risk and presentations
requiring escalation or transfer to another service.The role will ideally include a
mix of telephone and face-to-face work. Multisite working may be agreed,
although some NEMS locations provide both from the same base. The post holder
will also contribute to learning, audit, incident review and service improvement,
ensuring that care remains safe, effective, patient centred and financially
sustainable.About usNEMS Community Benefit Services (NEMS) is a not-for-profit social enterprise and a Company Limited by Guarantee. It has been operating in Nottinghamshire for over 25 years, now providing a population of more than 1.2 million with urgent primary health care services. It operates out of 2 registered locations and four bases and deploys a team of more than 370 healthcare professionals, including 150+ sessional GPs, 90+ substantive staff, 30+ agency workers, and 140+ non-healthcare staff.NEMS provides services to a population of circa 1.2 million under the following service portfolio headings;Care Co-ordination and non-clinical call handlingClinical Assessment and Care NavigationSupport to Primary Care including General Practice Out-of-Hours and Urgent Treatment CentresOutbreak ManagementThe Board of Directors comprises non-executive Member directors and executive directors and is responsible for overall strategy and governance of the organisation. The Board of Directors is supported by two sub-committees Quality and People Committee and Finance and Performance Committee. An Operational Executive Team, comprising Executive Board Directors, together with other senior leaders, is being established to oversee the smooth running of the day-to-day activities of NEMS.DetailsDate posted18 September 2026Pay schemeOtherSalary
56,878 to 61,649 a year
Unsocial Hours Enhancements
ContractPermanentWorking pattern

Full-time,

Part-time,

Flexible working

Reference numberU Job locationsForward HouseStation StreetNottinghamNG2 3AJUnited KingdomNEMSQueens Medical CentreDerby RoadNOTTINGHAMNG7 2UHUnited KingdomKings Mill HospitalMansfield RoadSUTTON-IN-ASHFIELDNottinghamshireNG17 4JLUnited KingdomJob descriptionJob responsibilitiesClinical Practice and
Service Delivery Work as an autonomous Urgent Care
Practitioner across NEMS urgent care services, providing both telephone and
face-to-face consultations. Assess, examine, diagnose, treat and safely
discharge or refer patients with undifferentiated urgent care presentations. Make safe decisions around admission,
transfer, referral, follow-up and safety-netting, working within professional
competence and agreed local pathways. Recognise and act on serious illness,
clinical deterioration, safeguarding concerns, mental health risk and
presentations that require escalation to another service. Request and interpret appropriate
investigations, including blood tests, urine tests, ECGs and imaging, in line
with local policy, competence and relevant regulations. Prescribe, review and advise on medicines
within the post holders independent non-medical prescribing qualification,
professional competence and agreed scope of practice. Maintain clear, accurate and timely
clinical records, including assessment findings, clinical reasoning, advice
given, decisions made and onward plans.Telephone Consultations Undertake telephone consultations within
Integrated Urgent Care Services, using safe clinical assessment,
decision-making and documentation. Recognise the limitations of remote
assessment and arrange face-to-face review, ED attendance, ambulance response
or other escalation where clinically required. Provide clear advice and safety-netting to
patients and carers, ensuring that the plan is understood and documented. Undertake remote work from home where
agreed after induction, provided that performance, KPIs, quality standards
and information governance requirements are being met.Face-to-Face Urgent Care Undertake face-to-face consultations across
NEMS urgent care services, including assessment of minor illness, minor
injury and other appropriate urgent care presentations. Carry out clinical procedures where
trained, competent and required for patient care. Provide safe clinical handover to ED,
specialties, GPs, community services or other colleagues where ongoing care
is required. Support patient flow, streaming and
redirection decisions where this forms part of the service model.Team Working and Clinical
Support Work as an experienced member of the
clinical team, supporting colleagues and the safe running of the service. Provide advice and support to trainees,
nurses, AHPs, UCAs and non-registered staff within own competence. Support induction, learning and competency
development where appropriate. Escalate clinical or operational concerns
early, particularly where patient safety, staffing, flow or professional
practice may be affected. Address unsafe practice or poor behaviour
in a professional and proportionate way, escalating concerns where required.Governance, Quality and
Service Improvement Contribute to a culture where incidents,
complaints, audit, feedback and day-to-day operational learning are used to
improve care. Take part in incident reviews, significant
event analysis, complaint responses and shared learning activity where
required. Support audit, quality improvement and
service evaluation work across NEMS urgent care services. Contribute to the development and review of
clinical guidelines, SOPs, pathways and local standards, ensuring they are
practical, evidence-based and relevant to the way services are delivered. Use available data, feedback and clinical
experience to support improvements in patient flow, clinical quality,
productivity and patient experience.Education and Professional
Development Maintain professional registration,
mandatory training, clinical supervision, CPD and revalidation requirements. Maintain an up-to-date portfolio showing
competence, scope of practice, reflective learning and prescribing practice
where applicable. Share learning with colleagues through
teaching, case discussion, supervision, peer review and practical shift-based
support. Support students, trainees and developing
practitioners in a safe and constructive way, recognising their competence
and learning needs.
Professional
Responsibilities Work within relevant NMC, HCPC or
equivalent code of conduct NEMS policies and agreed scope of practice. Communicate clearly with patients, carers
and colleagues, particularly where information is complex, sensitive or
distressing. Involve patients in decisions about their
care and ensure that consent, capacity and best-interest issues are
considered and documented appropriately. Maintain confidentiality and information
governance standards at all times. Work flexibly across NEMS sites and
services where reasonably required, in line with service need, competence and
contractual arrangements. Undertake any other reasonable duties
requested by a manager, where these are appropriate to the role, grade and
competence of the post holder. Act in a manner that reflects and promotes
the values of NEMS.
Job description
Job responsibilitiesClinical Practice and
Service Delivery Work as an autonomous Urgent Care
Practitioner across NEMS urgent care services, providing both telephone and
face-to-face consultations. Assess, examine, diagnose, treat and safely
discharge or refer patients with undifferentiated urgent care presentations. Make safe decisions around admission,
transfer, referral, follow-up and safety-netting, working within professional
competence and agreed local pathways. Recognise and act on serious illness,
clinical deterioration, safeguarding concerns, mental health risk and
presentations that require escalation to another service. Request and interpret appropriate
investigations, including blood tests, urine tests, ECGs and imaging, in line
with local policy, competence and relevant regulations. Prescribe, review and advise on medicines
within the post holders independent non-medical prescribing qualification,
professional competence and agreed scope of practice. Maintain clear, accurate and timely
clinical records, including assessment findings, clinical reasoning, advice
given, decisions made and onward plans.Telephone Consultations Undertake telephone consultations within
Integrated Urgent Care Services, using safe clinical assessment,
decision-making and documentation. Recognise the limitations of remote
assessment and arrange face-to-face review, ED attendance, ambulance response
or other escalation where clinically required. Provide clear advice and safety-netting to
patients and carers, ensuring that the plan is understood and documented. Undertake remote work from home where
agreed after induction, provided that performance, KPIs, quality standards
and information governance requirements are being met.Face-to-Face Urgent Care Undertake face-to-face consultations across
NEMS urgent care services, including assessment of minor illness, minor
injury and other appropriate urgent care presentations. Carry out clinical procedures where
trained, competent and required for patient care. Provide safe clinical handover to ED,
specialties, GPs, community services or other colleagues where ongoing care
is required. Support patient flow, streaming and
redirection decisions where this forms part of the service model.Team Working and Clinical
Support Work as an experienced member of the
clinical team, supporting colleagues and the safe running of the service. Provide advice and support to trainees,
nurses, AHPs, UCAs and non-registered staff within own competence. Support induction, learning and competency
development where appropriate. Escalate clinical or operational concerns
early, particularly where patient safety, staffing, flow or professional
practice may be affected. Address unsafe practice or poor behaviour
in a professional and proportionate way, escalating concerns where required.Governance, Quality and
Service Improvement Contribute to a culture where incidents,
complaints, audit, feedback and day-to-day operational learning are used to
improve care. Take part in incident reviews, significant
event analysis, complaint responses and shared learning activity where
required. Support audit, quality improvement and
service evaluation work across NEMS urgent care services. Contribute to the development and review of
clinical guidelines, SOPs, pathways and local standards, ensuring they are
practical, evidence-based and relevant to the way services are delivered. Use available data, feedback and clinical
experience to support improvements in patient flow, clinical quality,
productivity and patient experience.Education and Professional
Development Maintain professional registration,
mandatory training, clinical supervision, CPD and revalidation requirements. Maintain an up-to-date portfolio showing
competence, scope of practice, reflective learning and prescribing practice
where applicable. Share learning with colleagues through
teaching, case discussion, supervision, peer review and practical shift-based
support. Support students, trainees and developing
practitioners in a safe and constructive way, recognising their competence
and learning needs.
Professional
Responsibilities Work within relevant NMC, HCPC or
equivalent code of conduct NEMS policies and agreed scope of practice. Communicate clearly with patients, carers
and colleagues, particularly where information is complex, sensitive or
distressing. Involve patients in decisions about their
care and ensure that consent, capacity and best-interest issues are
considered and documented appropriately. Maintain confidentiality and information
governance standards at all times. Work flexibly across NEMS sites and
services where reasonably required, in line with service need, competence and
contractual arrangements. Undertake any other reasonable duties
requested by a manager, where these are appropriate to the role, grade and
competence of the post holder. Act in a manner that reflects and promotes
the values of NEMS.Person Specification
Qualifications
EssentialNMC, HCPC or equivalent professional standardsMedico-legal aspects of autonomous urgent care practice and independent non-medical prescribingAssessment and management of urgent care presentations, including recognition of red flags and clinical deteriorationSafeguarding adults and childrenMental capacity, consent and mental health riskConfidentiality and information governanceClinical governance, audit, incident learning and quality improvementDesirableKnowledge of NEMS services, local urgent care pathways and system partnersNational standards relevant to urgent care, out-of-hours and clinical assessment services
Skills and Abilities
EssentialAble to make safe, autonomous clinical decisions and recognise when to seek advice or escalateAble to undertake safe telephone and face-to-face clinical assessmentExplains complex situations in ways that are accessible to patients, carers and colleaguesMaintains clear, accurate and timely clinical recordsAble to work under pressure and manage competing clinical prioritiesAble to work collaboratively with teams across professional and organisational boundariesFlexible and adaptable to changing service needsCommitment to patient centred care and safe service deliveryDesirableCompetent in the use of Adastra, SystmOne, EMIS, Nervecentre or other relevant clinical systemsAble to contribute to audit, service improvement and pathway development
Experience
EssentialExperience of working clinically in a primary, community, urgent care, emergency care or out-of-hospital settingExperience of autonomous assessment and management of patients with undifferentiated urgent care presentationsExperience of telephone or remote clinical assessmentExperience of face-to-face urgent care consultationsExperience of independent non-medical prescribing within professional competence and scope of practiceDesirableExperience working in Urgent Treatment Centres, GP Out-of-Hours, Clinical Assessment Services or Emergency DepartmentsExperience of supervising, supporting or teaching other clinical staff or students
Knowledge
EssentialNMC, HCPC or equivalent professional standardsMedico-legal aspects of autonomous urgent care practice and independent non-medical prescribingAssessment and management of urgent care presentations, including recognition of red flags and clinical deteriorationSafeguarding adults and childrenMental capacity, consent and mental health riskConfidentiality and information governanceClinical governance, audit, incident learning and quality improvementDesirableKnowledge of NEMS services, local urgent care pathways and system partnersNational standards relevant to urgent care, out-of-hours and clinical assessment services
Other
EssentialThe ability to work flexibly when required in line with the demands of the roleAbility to undertake both telephone and face-to-face clinical work across NEMS servicesWillingness and ability to work across more than one NEMS site where this forms part of the agreed working patternAbility to work remotely for telephone consultations where agreed following induction, and where KPIs and quality standards are being metDesirableFull driving licence and the ability to travel between locations where multisite working is agreed
Person Specification

Qualifications
EssentialNMC, HCPC or equivalent professional standardsMedico-legal aspects of autonomous urgent care practice and independent non-medical prescribingAssessment and management of urgent care presentations, including recognition of red flags and clinical deteriorationSafeguarding adults and childrenMental capacity, consent and mental health riskConfidentiality and information governanceClinical governance, audit, incident learning and quality improvementDesirableKnowledge of NEMS services, local urgent care pathways and system partnersNational standards relevant to urgent care, out-of-hours and clinical assessment services
Skills and Abilities
EssentialAble to make safe, autonomous clinical decisions and recognise when to seek advice or escalateAble to undertake safe telephone and face-to-face clinical assessmentExplains complex situations in ways that are accessible to patients, carers and colleaguesMaintains clear, accurate and timely clinical recordsAble to work under pressure and manage competing clinical prioritiesAble to work collaboratively with teams across professional and organisational boundariesFlexible and adaptable to changing service needsCommitment to patient centred care and safe service deliveryDesirableCompetent in the use of Adastra, SystmOne, EMIS, Nervecentre or other relevant clinical systemsAble to contribute to audit, service improvement and pathway development
Experience
EssentialExperience of working clinically in a primary, community, urgent care, emergency care or out-of-hospital settingExperience of autonomous assessment and management of patients with undifferentiated urgent care presentationsExperience of telephone or remote clinical assessmentExperience of face-to-face urgent care consultationsExperience of independent non-medical prescribing within professional competence and scope of practiceDesirableExperience working in Urgent Treatment Centres, GP Out-of-Hours, Clinical Assessment Services or Emergency DepartmentsExperience of supervising, supporting or teaching other clinical staff or students
Knowledge
EssentialNMC, HCPC or equivalent professional standardsMedico-legal aspects of autonomous urgent care practice and independent non-medical prescribingAssessment and management of urgent care presentations, including recognition of red flags and clinical deteriorationSafeguarding adults and childrenMental capacity, consent and mental health riskConfidentiality and information governanceClinical governance, audit, incident learning and quality improvementDesirableKnowledge of NEMS services, local urgent care pathways and system partnersNational standards relevant to urgent care, out-of-hours and clinical assessment services
Other
EssentialThe ability to work flexibly when required in line with the demands of the roleAbility to undertake both telephone and face-to-face clinical work across NEMS servicesWillingness and ability to work across more than one NEMS site where this forms part of the agreed working patternAbility to work remotely for telephone consultations where agreed following induction, and where KPIs and quality standards are being metDesirableFull driving licence and the ability to travel between locations where multisite working is agreedDisclosure and Barring Service CheckThis post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.Employer detailsEmployer nameNEMS Community Benefit Services LtdAddressForward HouseStation StreetNottinghamNG2 3AJUnited KingdomEmployer's websiteEmployer detailsEmployer nameNEMS Community Benefit Services LtdAddressForward HouseStation StreetNottinghamNG2 3AJUnited KingdomEmployer's website