Virtual Ward Senior Practitioner

Job overview

We are looking for experienced Registered Nurses / Advanced Nurse Practitioner / Advanced Clinical Practitioner / Paramedics to join the team on a fixed term contract as a Virtual Ward Senior Practitioner.

The Virtual Ward is an innovative integrated service with the aim to support people to receive the care they need at home, rather than in hospital. There is a growing evidence base that demonstrates patient, system and public benefits to the Virtual Ward model.

Within Milton Keynes the focus has initially been on Frailty, but there are now Respiratory and Cardiology wards open, with higher level pathways in development. The model is a Hospital at Home focus with the main bulk of clinical assessment completed face to face using technology such as Point of Care testing, ECGs and other interventions to enable patients to be assessed and managed safely at home.

The successful applicant will provide high level patient care using advanced assessment skills working in partnership with the acute hospital. They will need to be dynamic, flexible and adaptable to ensure the provision of high quality, holistic evidence based care for patients on ward.

Applicants must have a full UK drivers licence and access to a car.

Main duties of the job

The Registered Nurse / Advanced Clinical Practitioner / Advanced Nurse Practitioner / Paramedic will provide a high level of expertise with regard to advanced triage assessment skills, expert clinical care and nursing/paramedic knowledge, and will provide support and advice to patients and health care professionals.

The post holder will determine an appropriate patient pathway and provide care for acutely ill patients in the community and across virtual wards to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions and support with early discharge from the acute hospital.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• Undertake advanced clinical assessment of patients on the Virtual Ward and develop, implement and evaluate care and treatment plans.
• High level of clinical skill ideally including competencies for IV administration, cannulation, phlebotomy, catheter care, ECGs etc.
• Ensure the day to day operational delivery of high-quality care for those patients admitted to the virtual ward. This role will include working across the wider health system to ensure the delivery of proactive management of this group of patients.
• Confidently lead, and work with, a variety of MDT’s and across the health system to help create clinical management plans to support patients to remain at home. This will include the development of clinical pathways with Milton Keynes University Hospital (MKUH) and the new SDEC centre (Same Day Emergency Care).
• Support the development and delivery of new national initiatives in relation to virtual ward
• Work as a coordinator for the patient pathways within the Virtual Ward, recognising individuals’ specialisms and skill set. Coordinate regular clinical meetings ensuring patient information is accurate and decisions are agreed at the meetings.
• Be responsible for the remote monitoring of patients (using Doccla) across a variety of clinical pathways including respiratory and frailty
• Ensure there is an effective referral pathway for the Virtual Ward including initial triage.
• The Virtual Ward Senior Practitioner will be responsible for overseeing caseload management, ensuring that service delivery is implemented to the highest standard inclusive of best practice and utilises a patient centred approach.
• The post holder will provide patients with a physical health and biopsychological assessment and where necessary will complete frailty assessments for frailty patients within their own homes. In partnership with the Frailty Team ensure monitoring of Clinical Frailty Score for all patients identified with frailty alongside a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.
• Proactively plan for and enable timely discharge of patients from the Virtual Ward, liaising with other agencies to provide ongoing care if required
• The role may include caring for patients and relatives who are anxious, confused or distressed and clear communication skills and empathy is required to offer reassuring and guidance. A part of each working day involves talking to patients either via the telephone or face to face
• Provide a high-quality support service to patients on the Virtual Ward caseload.
• Promote the knowledge and understanding of the range of services available across organisations
• Act as a link person between the team and other agencies, maintaining and promoting positive working relationships with all referring agencies
• Participate in the development of initiatives within the service
• If required, will manage staff including assuring completion of supervision, appraisals and compliance with mandatory training

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.