Mersey Care has invested in an Advanced Clinical Practice team that sits within the Executive Nursing and Therapies team across the Trust. We have two ACP Leads within the Trust who focus on Education and Clinical aspects of Advanced Practice respectively. Their aim is to develop and embed a strategy for Advanced Practice at MCFT, building a faculty of ACP and succession plan to change practice and enhance multidisciplinary working as we transform the way we work. This is a key component towards our Trust vision of being one team working together for excellent patient care helping to build high-quality, integrated services so that more of our patients can be seen and treated in the right place at the right time.

The ACP Leads provide strategic oversight and work with the Associate Directors of Nurses and Therapies to support both Advanced Clinical Practitioners and Trainee Advanced Clinical Practitioners to develop their skills, knowledge, and competency in line with service need and national guidelines. They also provide advice and support to service leads and senior clinical teams to develop ACP roles, ensuring that the workforce fit for purpose, and compliant with the national agenda for Advanced Clinical Practice.

They are currently developing a network of ACPs and a register of practitioners to ensure education, training and the commissioning of places meets a strict criterion. They also work closely with the ICS and NHSE.

Hannah is a Speech and Language Therapist who completed her ACP degree in 2022.

Since then she has taken up the role of Professional Lead for Speech and Language Therapy in Community Division and, more recently, ACP Lead for Clinical.

Hannah is passionate about ACP, and particularly about raising the profile of this within Allied Health Professionals. She enjoys Advanced Practice because it allows for a high level of autonomy, giving you the opportunity to make meaningful clinical decisions and directly impact patient care. Advanced Practice enables you to blend clinical skills with leadership, research, and education, creating a diverse and challenging role. It’s also a career path that supports continuous learning and growth while achieving a fulfilling and respected role in your profession.

You can contact Hannah by emailing: Hannah.hawthorne@merseycare.nhs.uk

Rosie is ACP Lead for Education.