Advanced Practice
Advanced Clinical Practice (ACP) is not a specific role, but is a level of practice delivered by experienced registered health and care practitioners, whatever their profession. It involves a high degree of autonomy and the ability for complex decision making. Advanced practitioners must demonstrate the ability to integrate capabilities across four pillars, all underpinned by a Masters level award or equivalent:
- Clinical
- Leadership
- Education
- Research
The South West Faculty for Advancing Practice was established in August 2020, with the aim of providing support and guidance to aspiring and current advanced practitioners, organisations, Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships (STPs) and Integrated Care Systems (ICS) and further information can be found here.
Accredited Programmes
NHSE now has a list of accredited programmes that upon successful completion, the individual will gain their digital badge accreditation as an Advanced Clinical Practitioner. This means that the title and qualification will follow the individual wherever they are employed. Accredited programmes can be found here.
Governance of Advanced Practice
NHSE has developed a ‘Maturity Matrix’ for all employers of Advanced Clinical Practitioners. Completing the matrix should be regarded as an ongoing evolving snapshot of where the organisation is in terms of maturity in employing/supervising Advanced Clinical Practitioners. All employers will need to undertake an annual ‘stock take’ using the Maturity Matrix before receiving any funding support from NHSE. The Maturity Matrix can be accessed here.
Funding support
All applications in Primary Care for NHS England SW Advanced Practice funding must go through the local Primary Care Training Hub. Eligibility criteria, funding information and the list of NHS England accredited programmes in the South West can be found in our SW handbook.
It would be best to have a conversation with your employer, sharing the above funding handbook with them. NHSE does not accept applications direct from individuals, it will need to be made in conjunction with your employer so that NHSE know appropriate support will be provided and that the development of Advanced Practice in this area is part of your organisation’s workforce planning.
Funding is offered on an annual basis, and the next opportunity to apply for funding would be February/March 2026 for the 2026-2027 cohort. Expressions of interest for funding can be sent to the Training Hub now to go onto our ‘contact’ list by emailing: kevinforeman@nhs.net
