Job summary

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been selected to take part in one of four national Fit Note Reform Pilots commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, helping to test a new approach that aims to improve support for people whose health affects their ability to work. The pilot is designed to address a recognised challenge within the current system, where fit notes often focus on certifying sickness absence rather than providing practical support to help people remain in work or return to work safely.

MBPCC is delivering one of these pilots taking fit note generation out of practices within the Barrow and Mid Furness PCN areas. Patients will be referred directly from general practice into a new service called Enable where they will be offered a personalised Workability Plan setting out what they can do, the adjustments that would help, and the support available to them to aid them return to work.

The Advanced Nurse Practitioner is the senior clinical decision maker within the Enable service. The post holder carries clinical accountability for decisions, holds the most complex and highest risk caseload, and acts as the definitive point of clinical escalation short of the Clinical Lead.

Main duties of the job

Undertake advanced, autonomous work and health assessments for patients referred into the pilot, employing an extended scope of practice including advanced consultation, history taking and, where within the post holders assessed competence, physical assessment.

Assess undifferentiated presentations in the context of work, applying systematic clinical reasoning to distinguish between patients whose needs can be met by a Workability Plan, those requiring parallel clinical management, and those requiring urgent escalation.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise independent judgement in determining whether a period away from work is clinically appropriate, and articulate that judgement in terms that withstand challenge from patients, employers, referring clinicians and, potentially, an employment tribunal.

Recognise deteriorating or high risk presentations, including physical deterioration, mental health crisis, safeguarding concern and undisclosed serious pathology, and escalate without delay through agreed routes.

Issue fit notes for patients

Request, review and interpret investigations where clinically indicated and within agreed pilot scope, communicating and acting on findings appropriately.

About us

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative is the largest employer of Primary Care colleagues in South Cumbria, we are a not-for-profit Community Interest Company, and work to support, guide and underpin primary medical care across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

We deeply value education and learning, hosting the Lancashire and South Cumbria Training Hub. We have a great team on our board that guide our organisation, and you will be supported to excel in your role.

Details

Date posted

29 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£52,000 to £65,000 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0160-26-0020

Job locations

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Post: Advanced Nurse Practitioner or Advanced Clinical

Practitioner with relevant experience

Service: MBPCC Enable Service

Accountable to: Service & Clinical Lead

Responsible to: Service

Lead

Hours: 37.5 per week

Salary: £52,000 £65,000 (30% enhanced hourly rate for

Saturday working)

Contract Type Fixed term 12 months.

Secondment applications welcome.

Base: Hybrid and

flexible with home working occasional Barrow and Mid

Furness PCN sites

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical practice

Advanced assessment

and clinical decision making

Undertake advanced, autonomous work and health

assessments for patients referred into the pilot, employing an extended scope

of practice including advanced consultation, history taking and, where within

the post holders assessed competence, physical assessment.

Assess undifferentiated presentations in the context

of work, applying systematic clinical reasoning to distinguish between patients

whose needs can be met by a Workability Plan, those requiring parallel clinical

management, and those requiring urgent escalation.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability

Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the

practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise independent judgement in determining whether

a period away from work is clinically appropriate and articulate that judgement

in terms that withstand challenge from patients, employers, referring

clinicians and, potentially, an employment tribunal.

Recognise deteriorating or high risk presentations,

including physical deterioration, mental health crisis, safeguarding concern

and undisclosed serious pathology, and escalate without delay through agreed

routes.

Issue fit notes for patients

Request, review and interpret investigations where

clinically indicated and within agreed pilot scope, communicating and acting on

findings appropriately.

Complex casework and

clinical consultancy

Hold the most clinically complex, contested and high

risk cases within the service, including multiple comorbidity, mental health

presentations, contested employer relationships and cases with potential legal

exposure.

Act as the definitive clinical point of reference for

colleagues, providing case advice, joint assessment and decision support, and

taking clinical handover of cases beyond their scope.

Provide specialist advice on reasonable adjustments,

graduated return, workplace modification, redeployment and ill health

capability, informed by the Equality Act 2010 and relevant health and safety

legislation.

Assess mental capacity where relevant, obtain and

record valid informed consent, and work within the applicable legal framework.

Acknowledge the limits of personal competence and of

the pilot service, and accept responsibility only for activity where competence

can be assured.

Leadership and management

Provide senior clinical leadership to the assessment

function, setting and modelling the standard of practice for the service.

Own, develop and maintain the clinical assessment

protocols, triage criteria, escalation thresholds, business rules, assessment

templates and standard operating procedures, ensuring they are version

controlled and approved through the agreed governance route in collaboration

with other team members.

Exercise professional judgement to create precedent

and resolve ambiguous or novel clinical problems where no protocol exists, and

ensure those decisions are subsequently reflected in protocol.

Provide clinical supervision to clinical staff within

the service, and clinical oversight to non-clinical work and health coaches,

ensuring they operate within safe boundaries and escalate appropriately.

Deputise for the Clinical Lead in their absence on

clinical matters, escalating to the Clinical Lead where a decision falls

outside delegated authority.

Lead the clinical governance arrangements for the

assessment function, including clinical audit, incident and complaint

investigation, and the clinical risk register.

Advise on the clinical implications of proposed

operational changes, including capacity, appointment length, skill mix and

caseload distribution, and contribute to the workforce model for any successor

service.

Contribute to recruitment, induction, competency

assessment and development planning for clinical members of the team, and

identify and address unwarranted variation in practice.

Support the wellbeing of the clinical team in a

service dealing with distressed patients and emotionally demanding material.

Education

Act as the clinical educational resource for the

service, building capability in workability assessment across clinical and

non-clinical colleagues.

Design and deliver training, briefings and awareness

sessions for primary care colleagues, work and health coaches, employers and

partner organisations.

Provide mentorship, coaching and reflective

supervision, and support the development of any trainee or developmental posts

within the service.

Build constructive relationships with referring GPs,

providing feedback that improves referral quality and sustains clinical

confidence in the pilot model.

Take responsibility for personal continuing

professional development, maintain registration and revalidation requirements,

and arrange personal clinical and professional supervision.

Contribute to the wider dissemination of learning from

the pilot, including written outputs, case studies, presentations and

contributions to professional networks.

Research and evaluation

Design and lead clinical audit and case note review,

report findings and ensure recommendations are implemented and re-audited.

Lead clinical test-and-learn cycles, proposing,

testing and evaluating changes to the assessment model during the pilot period.

Act as a clinical point

of contact for the national evaluation, including interviews, case note review

and data queries, within the limits of patient confidentiality

5. FREEDOM TO ACT

The post holder practises competently and autonomously

without direct clinical supervision, in accordance with the NMC Code and local

policy.

The post holder assumes clinical accountability for

patients referred into a non-medically led pathway.

The post holder exercises professional judgement and

expertise to create precedent and deal with ambiguous or novel problems,

applying evidence-based practice and rigorous analytical judgement in the

absence of specific guidance.

The post holder holds delegated authority to determine

clinical assessment practice within the service, subject to ratification by the

Clinical Lead

Matters with implications for patient safety, service

scope, contractual obligation or the national pilot design are escalated to the

Clinical Lead

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a fixed term post for 12 months, funded

through the national pilot. Continuation beyond the pilot period cannot be

guaranteed and is subject to national decisions on the future of the model.

A flexible and agile approach to working is expected.

The service operates a blended model of face to face clinics, remote

consultation and home working, and the balance between these will vary with

service demand and patient need.

Home working is supported for remote assessment,

report writing, supervision and administrative activity, subject to a suitable,

confidential home working environment and compliance with information

governance requirements. Home working is an operational arrangement, not a

contractual entitlement, and does not remove the requirement to attend sites.

The leadership, supervisory and educational elements

of the role require a regular on-site presence sufficient to maintain

visibility, support the team and sustain relationships with referring

practices.

Regular travel across Barrow and Mid Furness is

required. Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving licence, or an equivalent

means of meeting the travel requirements of the post, is necessary.

Some flexibility over working hours may be needed to

accommodate patients who are in work and employers who are only available

outside core hours such as Saturday working.

The post holder will be expected to work in a rapidly

evolving service where processes, systems and documentation change during the

pilot period, and to lead others through that change.

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification

Job description

Job responsibilities

Post: Advanced Nurse Practitioner or Advanced Clinical

Practitioner with relevant experience

Service: MBPCC Enable Service

Accountable to: Service & Clinical Lead

Responsible to: Service

Lead

Hours: 37.5 per week

Salary: £52,000 £65,000 (30% enhanced hourly rate for

Saturday working)

Contract Type Fixed term 12 months.

Secondment applications welcome.

Base: Hybrid and

flexible with home working occasional Barrow and Mid

Furness PCN sites

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical practice

Advanced assessment

and clinical decision making

Undertake advanced, autonomous work and health

assessments for patients referred into the pilot, employing an extended scope

of practice including advanced consultation, history taking and, where within

the post holders assessed competence, physical assessment.

Assess undifferentiated presentations in the context

of work, applying systematic clinical reasoning to distinguish between patients

whose needs can be met by a Workability Plan, those requiring parallel clinical

management, and those requiring urgent escalation.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability

Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the

practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise independent judgement in determining whether

a period away from work is clinically appropriate and articulate that judgement

in terms that withstand challenge from patients, employers, referring

clinicians and, potentially, an employment tribunal.

Recognise deteriorating or high risk presentations,

including physical deterioration, mental health crisis, safeguarding concern

and undisclosed serious pathology, and escalate without delay through agreed

routes.

Issue fit notes for patients

Request, review and interpret investigations where

clinically indicated and within agreed pilot scope, communicating and acting on

findings appropriately.

Complex casework and

clinical consultancy

Hold the most clinically complex, contested and high

risk cases within the service, including multiple comorbidity, mental health

presentations, contested employer relationships and cases with potential legal

exposure.

Act as the definitive clinical point of reference for

colleagues, providing case advice, joint assessment and decision support, and

taking clinical handover of cases beyond their scope.

Provide specialist advice on reasonable adjustments,

graduated return, workplace modification, redeployment and ill health

capability, informed by the Equality Act 2010 and relevant health and safety

legislation.

Assess mental capacity where relevant, obtain and

record valid informed consent, and work within the applicable legal framework.

Acknowledge the limits of personal competence and of

the pilot service, and accept responsibility only for activity where competence

can be assured.

Leadership and management

Provide senior clinical leadership to the assessment

function, setting and modelling the standard of practice for the service.

Own, develop and maintain the clinical assessment

protocols, triage criteria, escalation thresholds, business rules, assessment

templates and standard operating procedures, ensuring they are version

controlled and approved through the agreed governance route in collaboration

with other team members.

Exercise professional judgement to create precedent

and resolve ambiguous or novel clinical problems where no protocol exists, and

ensure those decisions are subsequently reflected in protocol.

Provide clinical supervision to clinical staff within

the service, and clinical oversight to non-clinical work and health coaches,

ensuring they operate within safe boundaries and escalate appropriately.

Deputise for the Clinical Lead in their absence on

clinical matters, escalating to the Clinical Lead where a decision falls

outside delegated authority.

Lead the clinical governance arrangements for the

assessment function, including clinical audit, incident and complaint

investigation, and the clinical risk register.

Advise on the clinical implications of proposed

operational changes, including capacity, appointment length, skill mix and

caseload distribution, and contribute to the workforce model for any successor

service.

Contribute to recruitment, induction, competency

assessment and development planning for clinical members of the team, and

identify and address unwarranted variation in practice.

Support the wellbeing of the clinical team in a

service dealing with distressed patients and emotionally demanding material.

Education

Act as the clinical educational resource for the

service, building capability in workability assessment across clinical and

non-clinical colleagues.

Design and deliver training, briefings and awareness

sessions for primary care colleagues, work and health coaches, employers and

partner organisations.

Provide mentorship, coaching and reflective

supervision, and support the development of any trainee or developmental posts

within the service.

Build constructive relationships with referring GPs,

providing feedback that improves referral quality and sustains clinical

confidence in the pilot model.

Take responsibility for personal continuing

professional development, maintain registration and revalidation requirements,

and arrange personal clinical and professional supervision.

Contribute to the wider dissemination of learning from

the pilot, including written outputs, case studies, presentations and

contributions to professional networks.

Research and evaluation

Design and lead clinical audit and case note review,

report findings and ensure recommendations are implemented and re-audited.

Lead clinical test-and-learn cycles, proposing,

testing and evaluating changes to the assessment model during the pilot period.

Act as a clinical point

of contact for the national evaluation, including interviews, case note review

and data queries, within the limits of patient confidentiality

5. FREEDOM TO ACT

The post holder practises competently and autonomously

without direct clinical supervision, in accordance with the NMC Code and local

policy.

The post holder assumes clinical accountability for

patients referred into a non-medically led pathway.

The post holder exercises professional judgement and

expertise to create precedent and deal with ambiguous or novel problems,

applying evidence-based practice and rigorous analytical judgement in the

absence of specific guidance.

The post holder holds delegated authority to determine

clinical assessment practice within the service, subject to ratification by the

Clinical Lead

Matters with implications for patient safety, service

scope, contractual obligation or the national pilot design are escalated to the

Clinical Lead

WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a fixed term post for 12 months, funded

through the national pilot. Continuation beyond the pilot period cannot be

guaranteed and is subject to national decisions on the future of the model.

A flexible and agile approach to working is expected.

The service operates a blended model of face to face clinics, remote

consultation and home working, and the balance between these will vary with

service demand and patient need.

Home working is supported for remote assessment,

report writing, supervision and administrative activity, subject to a suitable,

confidential home working environment and compliance with information

governance requirements. Home working is an operational arrangement, not a

contractual entitlement, and does not remove the requirement to attend sites.

The leadership, supervisory and educational elements

of the role require a regular on-site presence sufficient to maintain

visibility, support the team and sustain relationships with referring

practices.

Regular travel across Barrow and Mid Furness is

required. Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving licence, or an equivalent

means of meeting the travel requirements of the post, is necessary.

Some flexibility over working hours may be needed to

accommodate patients who are in work and employers who are only available

outside core hours such as Saturday working.

The post holder will be expected to work in a rapidly

evolving service where processes, systems and documentation change during the

pilot period, and to lead others through that change.

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• -Substantial post registration experience, including significant experience at an advanced or senior autonomous level.

• -Experience of assessing undifferentiated presentations and managing the associated clinical uncertainty and risk.

• -Experience of holding clinical accountability for a complex caseload without direct supervision.

• -Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring or case advice to other practitioners.

• -Experience of writing or owning clinical protocols, pathways or standard operating procedures.

• -Experience of leading clinical audit, service evaluation or quality improvement, including implementing and re-auditing findings.

• -Experience of service development, transformation or working within a new or pilot service.

• -Experience of producing clear written advice or reports for non-clinical audiences.

• -Experience of working across organisational boundaries and building networks with external stakeholders.

Desirable

• -Experience of working within Occupational Health services, or a demonstrable interest in occupational health, workplace wellbeing, health surveillance, and supporting employees to remain healthy and productive at work

• OR

• -Previous Occupational Health experience or a strong interest in employee health and wellbeing, including supporting attendance, rehabilitation, and workplace health initiatives.

• -Practical experience of issuing, advising on or contributing to fit notes.

• -Experience of sickness absence management, vocational rehabilitation or return to work planning.

• -Experience of advising employers, HR or line managers directly, including where views differ.

• -Experience of working in primary care, community services or a WorkWell service.

• -Experience of deputising for a senior clinician or service lead.

• -Experience of investigating incidents or complaints.

• -Experience of presenting to boards, commissioners or at regional or national level.

• -Experience of remote or telephone consultation.

Qualifications

Essential

• -Current registration as a Registered Nurse on Part 1 of the NMC register (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability), unrestricted, and compliance with NMC revalidation requirements.

• -MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice, or an equivalent masters level award encompassing the four pillars, or demonstrable equivalence agreed through portfolio review at the application stage.

• -Postgraduate module or equivalent evidenced competence in advanced health assessment and clinical reasoning.

• -Portfolio of accredited continuing professional development relevant to the role.

• -Willingness to undertake pilot specific training in workability assessment, fit note practice and work and health conversations.

Desirable

• -Occupational health qualification, or SCPHN (Occupational Health) registration.

• -Training in fit note completion

• -Teaching, assessing or clinical supervision qualification.

• -Leadership, quality improvement or project management qualification.

• -Motivational interviewing, health coaching or case management training

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• -Advanced clinical reasoning and the ability to reach and defend a clinical judgement on limited information and in the absence of precedent.

• -Advanced ability to assess functional capacity and relate health conditions to the demands of work.

• -Understanding of the principles of fitness for work assessment and the health benefits of good work.

• -Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to reasonable adjustments and ill health capability.

• -Sound understanding of consent, capacity, confidentiality, disclosure and information governance, and the ability to advise others on them.

• -Knowledge of clinical governance and risk management, with the ability to lead their application within a small service.

• -Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults at risk.

• -Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to convey complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to patients, employers, clinicians and non-clinical colleagues.

• -Negotiation, influencing, motivational and de-escalation skills, including where professional opinions differ.

• -Ability to critically appraise evidence and translate it into practice.

• -Ability to interpret and critically analyse service data.

• -Competent use of clinical record systems and Microsoft 365, including Teams for virtual consultation and meetings.

Desirable

• -Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.

• -Understanding of the national fit note reform policy context and the Workability Plan model.

• -Familiarity with EMIS

• -Knowledge of local employment support, WorkWell and VCFSE provision.

• -Presentation and facilitation skills for clinical and non-clinical audiences.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• -Substantial post registration experience, including significant experience at an advanced or senior autonomous level.

• -Experience of assessing undifferentiated presentations and managing the associated clinical uncertainty and risk.

• -Experience of holding clinical accountability for a complex caseload without direct supervision.

• -Experience of providing clinical supervision, mentoring or case advice to other practitioners.

• -Experience of writing or owning clinical protocols, pathways or standard operating procedures.

• -Experience of leading clinical audit, service evaluation or quality improvement, including implementing and re-auditing findings.

• -Experience of service development, transformation or working within a new or pilot service.

• -Experience of producing clear written advice or reports for non-clinical audiences.

• -Experience of working across organisational boundaries and building networks with external stakeholders.

Desirable

• -Experience of working within Occupational Health services, or a demonstrable interest in occupational health, workplace wellbeing, health surveillance, and supporting employees to remain healthy and productive at work

• OR

• -Previous Occupational Health experience or a strong interest in employee health and wellbeing, including supporting attendance, rehabilitation, and workplace health initiatives.

• -Practical experience of issuing, advising on or contributing to fit notes.

• -Experience of sickness absence management, vocational rehabilitation or return to work planning.

• -Experience of advising employers, HR or line managers directly, including where views differ.

• -Experience of working in primary care, community services or a WorkWell service.

• -Experience of deputising for a senior clinician or service lead.

• -Experience of investigating incidents or complaints.

• -Experience of presenting to boards, commissioners or at regional or national level.

• -Experience of remote or telephone consultation.

Qualifications

Essential

• -Current registration as a Registered Nurse on Part 1 of the NMC register (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability), unrestricted, and compliance with NMC revalidation requirements.

• -MSc in Advanced Clinical Practice, or an equivalent masters level award encompassing the four pillars, or demonstrable equivalence agreed through portfolio review at the application stage.

• -Postgraduate module or equivalent evidenced competence in advanced health assessment and clinical reasoning.

• -Portfolio of accredited continuing professional development relevant to the role.

• -Willingness to undertake pilot specific training in workability assessment, fit note practice and work and health conversations.

Desirable

• -Occupational health qualification, or SCPHN (Occupational Health) registration.

• -Training in fit note completion

• -Teaching, assessing or clinical supervision qualification.

• -Leadership, quality improvement or project management qualification.

• -Motivational interviewing, health coaching or case management training

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• -Advanced clinical reasoning and the ability to reach and defend a clinical judgement on limited information and in the absence of precedent.

• -Advanced ability to assess functional capacity and relate health conditions to the demands of work.

• -Understanding of the principles of fitness for work assessment and the health benefits of good work.

• -Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to reasonable adjustments and ill health capability.

• -Sound understanding of consent, capacity, confidentiality, disclosure and information governance, and the ability to advise others on them.

• -Knowledge of clinical governance and risk management, with the ability to lead their application within a small service.

• -Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults at risk.

• -Highly developed communication skills, including the ability to convey complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to patients, employers, clinicians and non-clinical colleagues.

• -Negotiation, influencing, motivational and de-escalation skills, including where professional opinions differ.

• -Ability to critically appraise evidence and translate it into practice.

• -Ability to interpret and critically analyse service data.

• -Competent use of clinical record systems and Microsoft 365, including Teams for virtual consultation and meetings.

Desirable

• -Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.

• -Understanding of the national fit note reform policy context and the Workability Plan model.

• -Familiarity with EMIS

• -Knowledge of local employment support, WorkWell and VCFSE provision.

• -Presentation and facilitation skills for clinical and non-clinical audiences.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job summary

Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) has been

selected to take part in one of four national Fit Note Reform Pilots

commissioned by the Department for Work and Pensions, helping to test a new

approach that aims to improve support for people whose health affects their

ability to work. The pilot is designed to address a recognised challenge within

the current system, where fit notes often focus on certifying sickness absence

rather than providing practical support to help people remain in work or return

to work safely.

MBPCC is delivering one of these pilots, taking fit note generation out

of practices within the Barrow and Mid Furness PCN areas. Patients will be

referred directly from general practice into a new service called Enable where

they will be offered a personalised Workability Plan setting out what they can

do, the adjustments that would help, and the support available to them to aid

them return to work.

The Occupational Health Nurse is one of the senior clinical assessment

resource within the Enable team. The post holder will undertake work and health

assessments for patients referred into the pilot, form an occupational health

judgement about functional capacity and fitness for work, and produce

Workability Plans that are clinically defensible, practical for employers and

genuinely useful to the patient.

This is a test-and-learn service. The post holder is expected not only

to deliver assessments, but to help shape the clinical model itself

Main duties of the job

Clinical assessment and workability planning

Undertake structured work and health assessments with

patients referred into the pilot, face to face, by telephone or by video,

according to patient need and clinical appropriateness.

Assess the interaction between a persons health

condition, their functional ability and the demands of their role, taking

account of all appropriate physical, psychological, social and workplace

factors.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability

Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the

practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise autonomous professional judgement in

determining whether a period away from work is clinically appropriate, and

articulate that judgement clearly, proportionately and defensibly.

Provide specialist advice on reasonable adjustments,

graduated return to work, workplace modification and phased hours, informed by

an understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant health and safety

legislation.

Review and update Workability Plans at agreed

intervals, adjusting recommendations as recovery,

circumstances or employer response change.

Recognise the limits of the pilot service and of

personal professional competence and escalate promptly and appropriately

Please see full Job Description and Person Specification

About us

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative is the largest employer

of Primary Care colleagues in South Cumbria, we are a not-for-profit Community

Interest Company, and work to support, guide and underpin primary medical care

across Lancashire and South Cumbria.

We deeply value education and learning, hosting the Lancashire

and South Cumbria Training Hub. We have a great team on our board that guide

our organisation, and you will be supported to excel in your role.

Details

Date posted

29 August 2026

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

£41,590 a year

Contract

Fixed term

Duration

12 months

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

B0160-26-0021

Job locations

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Job description

Job responsibilities

Post: Occupational Health Nurse

Service: MBPCC

Enable Service

Accountable to: Clinical Lead

Responsible to: Advanced

Nurse Practitioner

Hours: 37.5 per week

Salary:

£41,590 (30% enhanced hourly rate for Saturday

working)

Contract Type Fixed term 12 months.

Secondment applications welcome.

Base: Hybrid and

flexible with home working occasional Barrow and Mid Furness PCN sites

2.

SERVICE CONTEXT

The pilot operates across Barrow and Mid Furness

Primary Care Networks and is delivered by Morecambe Bay Primary Care

Collaborative on behalf of participating practices.

The service is multidisciplinary. The post holder

works alongside the Clinical Lead, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, allied health

professionals, administrative staff

Participation is voluntary for patients. The service

operates within an agreed clinical governance framework, defined escalation

routes back to general practice, and a Data Sharing Agreement covering all

information flows.

The pilot is time limited and subject to independent

national evaluation. Data capture, consistency of practice and adherence to

agreed protocols are therefore integral to the role rather than administrative

afterthoughts.

The post holder does not replace the patients GP and

does not assume responsibility for the management of underlying clinical

conditions. Where clinical need is identified, it is escalated to the

registered practice through agreed pathways.

3. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

Service Lead day to day management, absence and

sickness, appraisals

Clinical Lead, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, allied

health professionals, Enable administrator

External

Referring GPs, practice managers

and primary care teams across Barrow and Mid Furness.

Patients and, with consent, their employers, line

managers, HR

Local employers,

Jobcentre Plus, VCSE [Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise] partners,

therapy and mental health services, and other statutory agencies

4. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical assessment and workability planning

Undertake structured work and health assessments with

patients referred into the pilot, face to face, by telephone or by video,

according to patient need and clinical appropriateness.

Assess the interaction between a persons health

condition, their functional ability and the demands of their role, taking

account of all appropriate physical, psychological, social and workplace

factors.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability

Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the

practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise autonomous professional judgement in

determining whether a period away from work is clinically appropriate, and

articulate that judgement clearly, proportionately and defensibly.

Provide specialist advice on reasonable adjustments,

graduated return to work, workplace modification and phased hours, informed by

an understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant health and safety

legislation.

Review and update Workability Plans at agreed

intervals, adjusting recommendations as recovery,

circumstances or employer response change.

Recognise the limits of the pilot service and of

personal professional competence and escalate promptly and appropriately.

Triage, caseload and pathway management

Contribute to the triage of incoming referrals,

applying agreed criteria to determine the appropriate assessment route, practitioner and priority.

Manage a personal caseload, prioritising

effectively against service standards and pilot appointment targets.

Identify patients whose needs fall outside the pilot

model including those requiring urgent clinical assessment, safeguarding

intervention or mental health crisis support and escalate through agreed

routes without delay.

Refer and signpost to wider support, including WorkWell coaching, therapy services, musculoskeletal

pathways, social prescribing, debt and housing advice and employment support.

Support colleagues in the wider team with clinical

advice on complex or borderline cases, within scope of practice.

Employer and stakeholder liaison

With patient consent, participate in three way

conversations between the patient, their employer and the service to agree

practical adjustments and maintain workplace connection from day one of

absence.

Produce clear, objective written advice for employers

and managers that answers the question asked, respects medical confidentiality

and avoids unnecessary clinical detail.

Communicate sensitively with employers who may hold

differing views, using negotiation and persuasion to reach workable outcomes

for the patient.

Build constructive relationships with referring

practices, providing feedback that supports referral quality and confidence in

the pilot model.

Clinical governance, safety and record keeping

Practice at all times within the NMC Code,

professional standards, pilot protocols and standard operating procedures.

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and legible records

in the approved clinical system, in line with the Data Sharing Agreement and

information governance requirements.

Obtain and record valid informed consent for

assessment, for information sharing and for any contact with employers or third

parties.

Discharge safeguarding responsibilities for children

and adults at risk, escalating concerns in accordance with agreed policy.

Report incidents, near misses, complaints and risks

through the pilot governance framework, and contribute to learning from them.

Participate in clinical supervision, case review and

multidisciplinary discussion, including reflective review of complex or

contested cases.

Maintain professional indemnity and NMC registration

and comply with revalidation requirements.

Service design, data and evaluation

Contribute to the development and refinement of

assessment templates, triage criteria, escalation thresholds, business rules

and standard operating procedures as the pilot matures.

Capture the agreed management information and

evaluation data set accurately and at the point of care, understanding that

incomplete data weakens the national evidence base.

Participate in audit, service evaluation, quality

improvement and test-and-learn cycles, and act on the findings.

Support the independent national evaluation, including

interviews, case note review and data collection, within the limits of patient

confidentiality.

Education, promotion and professional development

Promote the pilot to practices, patients, employers

and partners in a positive way

Provide informal supervision, coaching and clinical

advice to non-clinical members of the team.

Maintain and extend personal expertise in occupational

health, work and health policy and fitness for work assessment; undertake

training identified as necessary for the role, including any pilot specific

training.

Participate in appraisal, personal development

planning and mandatory training.

5. WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a fixed term post for 12 months, funded

through the national pilot. Continuation beyond the pilot period cannot be

guaranteed and is subject to national decisions on the future of the model.

A flexible and agile approach to working is expected.

The service operates a blended model of face to

face clinics, remote consultation and home working, and the balance between

these will vary with service demand and patient need.

Home working is supported for remote assessment,

report writing and administrative activity, subject to a suitable, confidential

home working environment and compliance with information governance

requirements. Home working is an operational arrangement, not a contractual

entitlement, and does not remove the requirement to attend sites.

Regular travel across Barrow and Mid Furness is

required. Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving licence is necessary.

Some flexibility over working hours may be needed to

accommodate patients who are in work and employers who are only available

outside core hours such as Saturday working

The post holder will be expected to work in a rapidly

evolving service where processes, systems and documentation change during the

pilot period.

6. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Mandatory Training & Compliance

The post holder will be required to complete and remain compliant with

all mandatory training as defined by the organisation.

Evidence of current training may be requested prior to commencement, and

refresher training must be completed within specified timeframes.

MBPCC will consider the ability to passport training records if post

holder has evidence of completion from other relevant employment

Additional Information

This role includes being partly home-based, which requires a high level

of self-management.

Candidates must ensure a secure working environment in line with data

protection policies.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Post: Occupational Health Nurse

Service: MBPCC

Enable Service

Accountable to: Clinical Lead

Responsible to: Advanced

Nurse Practitioner

Hours: 37.5 per week

Salary:

£41,590 (30% enhanced hourly rate for Saturday

working)

Contract Type Fixed term 12 months.

Secondment applications welcome.

Base: Hybrid and

flexible with home working occasional Barrow and Mid Furness PCN sites

2.

SERVICE CONTEXT

The pilot operates across Barrow and Mid Furness

Primary Care Networks and is delivered by Morecambe Bay Primary Care

Collaborative on behalf of participating practices.

The service is multidisciplinary. The post holder

works alongside the Clinical Lead, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, allied health

professionals, administrative staff

Participation is voluntary for patients. The service

operates within an agreed clinical governance framework, defined escalation

routes back to general practice, and a Data Sharing Agreement covering all

information flows.

The pilot is time limited and subject to independent

national evaluation. Data capture, consistency of practice and adherence to

agreed protocols are therefore integral to the role rather than administrative

afterthoughts.

The post holder does not replace the patients GP and

does not assume responsibility for the management of underlying clinical

conditions. Where clinical need is identified, it is escalated to the

registered practice through agreed pathways.

3. KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

Service Lead day to day management, absence and

sickness, appraisals

Clinical Lead, Advanced Nurse Practitioner, allied

health professionals, Enable administrator

External

Referring GPs, practice managers

and primary care teams across Barrow and Mid Furness.

Patients and, with consent, their employers, line

managers, HR

Local employers,

Jobcentre Plus, VCSE [Voluntary, Community, and Social Enterprise] partners,

therapy and mental health services, and other statutory agencies

4. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical assessment and workability planning

Undertake structured work and health assessments with

patients referred into the pilot, face to face, by telephone or by video,

according to patient need and clinical appropriateness.

Assess the interaction between a persons health

condition, their functional ability and the demands of their role, taking

account of all appropriate physical, psychological, social and workplace

factors.

Formulate and co-produce personalised Workability

Plans focused on functional capability, phased return, adjustments and the

practical support required to sustain work.

Exercise autonomous professional judgement in

determining whether a period away from work is clinically appropriate, and

articulate that judgement clearly, proportionately and defensibly.

Provide specialist advice on reasonable adjustments,

graduated return to work, workplace modification and phased hours, informed by

an understanding of the Equality Act 2010 and relevant health and safety

legislation.

Review and update Workability Plans at agreed

intervals, adjusting recommendations as recovery,

circumstances or employer response change.

Recognise the limits of the pilot service and of

personal professional competence and escalate promptly and appropriately.

Triage, caseload and pathway management

Contribute to the triage of incoming referrals,

applying agreed criteria to determine the appropriate assessment route, practitioner and priority.

Manage a personal caseload, prioritising

effectively against service standards and pilot appointment targets.

Identify patients whose needs fall outside the pilot

model including those requiring urgent clinical assessment, safeguarding

intervention or mental health crisis support and escalate through agreed

routes without delay.

Refer and signpost to wider support, including WorkWell coaching, therapy services, musculoskeletal

pathways, social prescribing, debt and housing advice and employment support.

Support colleagues in the wider team with clinical

advice on complex or borderline cases, within scope of practice.

Employer and stakeholder liaison

With patient consent, participate in three way

conversations between the patient, their employer and the service to agree

practical adjustments and maintain workplace connection from day one of

absence.

Produce clear, objective written advice for employers

and managers that answers the question asked, respects medical confidentiality

and avoids unnecessary clinical detail.

Communicate sensitively with employers who may hold

differing views, using negotiation and persuasion to reach workable outcomes

for the patient.

Build constructive relationships with referring

practices, providing feedback that supports referral quality and confidence in

the pilot model.

Clinical governance, safety and record keeping

Practice at all times within the NMC Code,

professional standards, pilot protocols and standard operating procedures.

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and legible records

in the approved clinical system, in line with the Data Sharing Agreement and

information governance requirements.

Obtain and record valid informed consent for

assessment, for information sharing and for any contact with employers or third

parties.

Discharge safeguarding responsibilities for children

and adults at risk, escalating concerns in accordance with agreed policy.

Report incidents, near misses, complaints and risks

through the pilot governance framework, and contribute to learning from them.

Participate in clinical supervision, case review and

multidisciplinary discussion, including reflective review of complex or

contested cases.

Maintain professional indemnity and NMC registration

and comply with revalidation requirements.

Service design, data and evaluation

Contribute to the development and refinement of

assessment templates, triage criteria, escalation thresholds, business rules

and standard operating procedures as the pilot matures.

Capture the agreed management information and

evaluation data set accurately and at the point of care, understanding that

incomplete data weakens the national evidence base.

Participate in audit, service evaluation, quality

improvement and test-and-learn cycles, and act on the findings.

Support the independent national evaluation, including

interviews, case note review and data collection, within the limits of patient

confidentiality.

Education, promotion and professional development

Promote the pilot to practices, patients, employers

and partners in a positive way

Provide informal supervision, coaching and clinical

advice to non-clinical members of the team.

Maintain and extend personal expertise in occupational

health, work and health policy and fitness for work assessment; undertake

training identified as necessary for the role, including any pilot specific

training.

Participate in appraisal, personal development

planning and mandatory training.

5. WORKING ARRANGEMENTS

This is a fixed term post for 12 months, funded

through the national pilot. Continuation beyond the pilot period cannot be

guaranteed and is subject to national decisions on the future of the model.

A flexible and agile approach to working is expected.

The service operates a blended model of face to

face clinics, remote consultation and home working, and the balance between

these will vary with service demand and patient need.

Home working is supported for remote assessment,

report writing and administrative activity, subject to a suitable, confidential

home working environment and compliance with information governance

requirements. Home working is an operational arrangement, not a contractual

entitlement, and does not remove the requirement to attend sites.

Regular travel across Barrow and Mid Furness is

required. Access to a vehicle and a full UK driving licence is necessary.

Some flexibility over working hours may be needed to

accommodate patients who are in work and employers who are only available

outside core hours such as Saturday working

The post holder will be expected to work in a rapidly

evolving service where processes, systems and documentation change during the

pilot period.

6. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Mandatory Training & Compliance

The post holder will be required to complete and remain compliant with

all mandatory training as defined by the organisation.

Evidence of current training may be requested prior to commencement, and

refresher training must be completed within specified timeframes.

MBPCC will consider the ability to passport training records if post

holder has evidence of completion from other relevant employment

Additional Information

This role includes being partly home-based, which requires a high level

of self-management.

Candidates must ensure a secure working environment in line with data

protection policies.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• -Registered Nurse on the NMC register, Part 1 (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability) or Registered Midwife, with a current unrestricted registration.

• -Evidence of continuing professional development and compliance with NMC revalidation.

• -Willingness to undertake pilot specific training in workability assessment, fit note practice and work and health conversations.

Desirable

• -Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Occupational Health) registration, or an occupational health degree, diploma or certificate.

• -Degree or postgraduate study in occupational health, public health or a related field.

• -Training in fit note completion or DWP work and health assessment.

• -Teaching, assessing or mentoring qualifications.

• -Motivational interviewing, health coaching or case management training.

Experience

Essential

• -Significant post registration experience as an autonomous practitioner.

• -Experience of undertaking structured clinical assessments and formulating advice or recommendations independently.

• -Experience of managing a personal caseload and prioritising competing demands without close supervision.

• -Experience of producing clear written reports or care records for a non-clinical audience.

• -Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• -Experience in occupational health, or a demonstrable interest in occupational health and the work and health agenda.

• -Practical experience of issuing, advising on or contributing to fit notes.

• -Experience of management referral or case management consultations.

• -Experience of sickness absence management, rehabilitation or return to work planning.

• -Experience of liaising directly with employers, HR or line managers.

• -Experience of working in primary care, community services or a WorkWell or vocational rehabilitation service.

• -Experience of contributing to service design, pilots, audit or quality improvement.

• -Experience of remote or telephone consultation.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• -Ability to assess functional capacity and to relate health conditions to the demands of work.

• -Understanding of the principles of fitness for work assessment and the health benefits of good work.

• -Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to patients, employers and non-clinical colleagues.

• -Negotiation, motivational and de-escalation skills, including where professional opinions differ.

• -Sound understanding of consent, confidentiality, information governance and the boundaries of disclosure to third parties.

• -Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults at risk.

• -Competent use of clinical record systems and Microsoft 365, including Teams for virtual consultation and meetings.

• -Ability to record data accurately and consistently for reporting and evaluation purposes.

Desirable

• -Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

• -Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.

• -Understanding of the national fit note reform policy context and the Workability Plan model.

• -Familiarity with EMIS or occupational health information systems

• -Understanding of audit and quality improvement methodology.

• -Knowledge of local employment support, WorkWell and VCFSE provision.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• -Registered Nurse on the NMC register, Part 1 (Adult, Mental Health or Learning Disability) or Registered Midwife, with a current unrestricted registration.

• -Evidence of continuing professional development and compliance with NMC revalidation.

• -Willingness to undertake pilot specific training in workability assessment, fit note practice and work and health conversations.

Desirable

• -Specialist Community Public Health Nurse (Occupational Health) registration, or an occupational health degree, diploma or certificate.

• -Degree or postgraduate study in occupational health, public health or a related field.

• -Training in fit note completion or DWP work and health assessment.

• -Teaching, assessing or mentoring qualifications.

• -Motivational interviewing, health coaching or case management training.

Experience

Essential

• -Significant post registration experience as an autonomous practitioner.

• -Experience of undertaking structured clinical assessments and formulating advice or recommendations independently.

• -Experience of managing a personal caseload and prioritising competing demands without close supervision.

• -Experience of producing clear written reports or care records for a non-clinical audience.

• -Experience of working within a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable

• -Experience in occupational health, or a demonstrable interest in occupational health and the work and health agenda.

• -Practical experience of issuing, advising on or contributing to fit notes.

• -Experience of management referral or case management consultations.

• -Experience of sickness absence management, rehabilitation or return to work planning.

• -Experience of liaising directly with employers, HR or line managers.

• -Experience of working in primary care, community services or a WorkWell or vocational rehabilitation service.

• -Experience of contributing to service design, pilots, audit or quality improvement.

• -Experience of remote or telephone consultation.

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• -Ability to assess functional capacity and to relate health conditions to the demands of work.

• -Understanding of the principles of fitness for work assessment and the health benefits of good work.

• -Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to convey complex clinical information clearly and sensitively to patients, employers and non-clinical colleagues.

• -Negotiation, motivational and de-escalation skills, including where professional opinions differ.

• -Sound understanding of consent, confidentiality, information governance and the boundaries of disclosure to third parties.

• -Knowledge of safeguarding responsibilities for children and adults at risk.

• -Competent use of clinical record systems and Microsoft 365, including Teams for virtual consultation and meetings.

• -Ability to record data accurately and consistently for reporting and evaluation purposes.

Desirable

• -Knowledge of the Equality Act 2010 as it applies to reasonable adjustments in the workplace.

• -Knowledge of relevant health and safety legislation.

• -Understanding of the national fit note reform policy context and the Workability Plan model.

• -Familiarity with EMIS or occupational health information systems

• -Understanding of audit and quality improvement methodology.

• -Knowledge of local employment support, WorkWell and VCFSE provision.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Additional information

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This 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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see

NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Morecambe Bay Primary Care Collaborative

Address

The Strand

Barrow in Furness

Cumbria

LA14 2HG

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://mbpcc.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)