Huge congratulations to our newly graduated frailty advanced practitioners, Hannah Turner, Peter Gilligan, Charlotte Lloyd (pictured), and India Szoradi.
The four of them graduated recently with an MSC in Advanced Practice from the University of Huddersfield which is accredited by NHS England.
Peter said: “The most rewarding thing for me was challenging myself to explore a new role that was way outside of my comfort zone and completing the course. Also developing skills in prescribing medication which was so different from my original role as a physiotherapist.
“The sheer amount of work required and balancing this with home life was the most challenging part. It took good time management, a supportive partner and the support of my fellow trainee ACPs.
“My advice for someone wanting to do it, is to try to get some time shadowing ACPs to see if the job is really what you want to do. Try to get the independent prescribing qualification in advance of starting the course. If you want to do it then recognise that your life will change for the next three years, so it’s best to know that you have the support at home too.
“It's 100% worth the effort!”
Hannah added: "Joining the frailty team and making a difference to the older population has been the most rewarding aspect of the programme. It's helped to build my confidence in advanced decision-making, particularly around complex comorbidities, polypharmacy, and risk-stratification.
"I did find balancing full time work with academic deadlines, family responsibilities and adjusting to a new team and speciality a challenge. My background has been emergency nursing for the majority of my 20 year nursing career, so acute frailty required a different set of skills and a slower pace to navigate the complexities of the older vulnerable, multi morbid population. This involves piecing together subtle signs and connecting clues, and understanding how small changes can have significant consequences for a frail older adult."
"My advice to colleagues who are keen to take this step is to be prepared for a steep but rewarding learning curve. The ACP pathway is transformative, but it requires commitment, curiosity, and resilience. Make use of your mentors, supervisors, and the MDT. I have found frailty care is inherently collaborative, and you can learn a great deal from colleagues in geriatrics, therapy, and primary/community services.
"A key thing is to stay organised from the start: plan your clinical competencies early, protect time for academic work, and don’t hesitate to ask for support when you need it.
"Most importantly, embrace the shift from task-focused practice to advanced, holistic clinical reasoning. I have enjoyed expanding my thinking and adapting the pace to the needs of frail older adults who are deserving of this service."
Corporate Lead Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Deb Lau, said: “We are very proud to have Hannah, Pete, Charlotte and India working within our CHFT Advanced Practice family.”