Virtual Ward Registered Senior Nurse / Paramedic

Job overview

Are you looking to be part of something new and exciting? If so, we have a fantastic opportunity for a registered professional to bring their demonstrable experience and proven knowledge to the integrated Virtual Ward Team.

Virtual ward is a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care. Virtual wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to receive the acute care and treatment they need in their own home. This includes either preventing avoidable admissions into hospital or supporting early discharge out of hospital.

The delivery of digitally enabled care (virtual care) including virtual wards is a national priority embedded within current health and social care policy. This post provides an opportunity to drive and transform the system by embedding the use of digital technology to release pressure on acute care and improve patient outcomes.

Please note this post is working on site at Derriford Hospital and is not a working from home opportunity.

***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***

Main duties of the job

As we move towards a new era of integrated care and working collaboratively across organisational boundaries, the need for dynamic, focused clinical leadership is vital.

A key part of the role is to act a recognised expert clinician to support the development of various virtual clinical remote monitoring pathways, the first 3 pathways will include frailty, respiratory and acute medicine, and support community teams and hospitals to understand the benefits of Virtual Wards therefore embedding it as a safe alternative to inpatient treatment. Within your role, you will carry out the assessment, planning and implementation of nursing care and evaluation of virtual ward interventions to meet the needs of the patients most effectively, working with the Acute Medical Nursing Team.

The successful applicant will work closely with the Virtual Ward Manager but will link in with Clinical Lead, Acute Medicine Matron and Operational Manager as well as key stakeholders including Primary care, Community Services, Acute hospital services and others to develop services.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Planning Individualised Patient Care
• Be responsible for assessing patients to determine their clinical needs in relation to digital health/care
• Facilitate digital health provision contributing to multidisciplinary assessment for appropriate early hospital discharge and signposting to relevant Community and Support Services
• Frequent telephone triage to further identify and determine patients’ health/care needs
• Frequent informed clinical decision making and co-ordination of provision to meet patients’ health/care needs
• Frequent requirement for periods of concentration when carrying out patient assessments and writing notes
• Regular interruptions and demands on time whilst carrying out telephone clinical assessments and care provision
• Be responsible for assessing and recognising emergencies during telephone triage whilst interpreting information and taking appropriate action and to lead others to do the same
• Deal with patient/relatives who are distressed and sometimes confused
• Demonstrate appropriate practice and specialist advice in the assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of patient care. This includes history taking, +/- physical examination and the requesting of agreed diagnostic procedures/clinical investigations.

For further information please see attached job description