Job summary This service is a collaboration between Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) and the Sussex Federations: Brighton & Hove Federation, Alliance for Better Care (ABC) and South Downs Health & Care. The Federations will be delivering the GP-led aspect of the Virtual Ward at a place-level to match SCFTs Urgent Community Response service across Sussex. ABC are contracted for delivery within the areas of Mid Sussex (including Crawley, Horsham, East Grinstead, Haywards Heath and Burgess Hill and surrounding villages), Worthing and Chichester. SCFT have delivered Virtual Wards (Hospital at Home) in line with the NHS Englands national definition that a virtual ward is a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care that support patients to receive the acute care and treatment they need in their own home. As of August 2024, SCFT re-modelled the Virtual Ward delivery and mobilised General Virtual Wards within Urgent Community Response (UCR), which supports Sussex patients with a higher level of acuity to be safely managed at home. This could be patients on either an admission avoidance pathway or early supported discharge pathway. The Virtual Ward activity is now prioritising admission avoidance. It is delivered 365 days per year, 8am 8pm. UCR teams provide urgent support to help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and ultimately keeping patients safely at home. There is a consistent service that is made up of General Practitioners, Nurses, Pharmacists, Therapists and Carers. Main duties of the job The UCR Hub Based GP will be required to work alongside the UCR MDT to support clinical decision making for a virtual ward of 30-50 beds.The UCR Hub Based GP will work within their assigned place based SCFT UCR base.We are recruiting for three separate places of Mid Sussex, Worthing and Chichester, with a GP required for each place.The GP will present within the allocated UCR base working face to face with the SCFT MDT delivering GVW (including supervision of ACPs and team development). Patient visits may be required. (Monday, Wednesday and Friday morning) GPs will need to meet regularly with other VW GPs across the SCFT footprint for shared training and supervision. Some of this can be done remotely, but this role will require some travel across Sussex. About us Alliance for Better Care CIC is a GP Federation that unites 47 NHS GP practices across 12 Primary Care Networks in Sussex and Surrey. We support our Primary Care colleagues as well as their patients, to transform how healthcare is managed within the community. As a membership organisation, our focus is to work in partnership with our members and help them to improve the provision of General Practices in the local area. We work with and listen to our GP Practices, PCNs, Hospitals, Community Organisations and the Third Sector. These vital partnerships ensure that, together, we deliver a truly integrated approach that offers the support and expertise needed to effectively serve our communities. More about our organisation: www.allianceforbettercare.org Our Values We innovate We are honest We care We are inclusive We deliver Services that ABC Provide Anti-Viral COVID medication (nMABs)Anticipatory Care Anticipatory Care ARI Peads Hubs BP At Home COVID At Home eHubs Enhanced Access Refugee and Asylum Seeker Support Urgent Primary Care Support Vaccination Programme Wound Care Service For more information, please see attached job description. Date posted 17 January 2025 Pay scheme Other Salary £11,000 to £13,000 a session Contract Fixed term Duration 12 months Working pattern Part-time Reference number B0141-25-0004 Job locations Worthing Hospital Worthing West Sussex BN11 2DH St Richard's Hospital Spitalfield Lane Chichester West Sussex PO19 6SE Mid Sussex/Crawley Area Crawley RH11 0PR Job description Job responsibilities Primary duties and areas of responsibility The Virtual Ward GP role is to act as the senior clinical decision maker within the UCR Team and providing daily clinical leadership. The following duties are the core responsibilities of the Virtual Ward GP: adhering to the timetable of daily scheduled clinical activities holding the responsibility for medical decisions made during the contracted service hours appreciating the complexity of patients with multi-morbidity, frailty and polypharmacy where involving specialists is necessary providing care in line with recommended best practice as established through clinical guidelines providing medical advice and supporting decision-making to the members of the wider MDT through all stages of the patient journey: at triage of new referrals or admission to the virtual ward during daily handovers and Board rounds in an urgent / on-call capacity support pharmacists with medication reviews when needed upon discharge with a written discharge summary supporting and guiding the development of patient management plans, including: RESPECT forms DNAR forms Personalised Care and Support Plans Ceiling of care reviewing and prescribing medications, with clinical input from the VW Pharmacy Team proposing the use of digital monitoring where it may be appropriate, and: setting thresholds for escalation acting upon signs of deterioration work with the MDT to support clinical decision-making based on readings from POC/remote monitoring equipment. requesting diagnostic investigations and managing test results providing virtual consultations or home visiting where clinically required keeping accurate and contemporaneous documentation, including: keeping accurate and up to date records on SystmOne supporting with writing of discharge summaries liaising with other health professionals / providers for advice, such as: the patients primary care team / GP acute medical teams where advice may need to be sought palliative care teams mental health teams identifying deteriorating patients and escalating care when needed and in line with patient wishes support the development of the multidisciplinary team by: identifying opportunities for development supporting or signposting to training providing supervision instilling a culture of self-directed learning and professional development Working with the B&HF Clinical Lead and SCFT Leads on matters related to clinical governance and service improvement, for example: audit quality improvement complaint handling promoting a culture of continuous improvement to promote a culture of collaborative team working There may be a requirement to carry out other tasks dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels, and the job role may evolve over the two-year pilot. For more information, please see attached job description. Please note, this advert may close early if there are suitable candidates. Job description Job responsibilities Primary duties and areas of responsibility The Virtual Ward GP role is to act as the senior clinical decision maker within the UCR Team and providing daily clinical leadership. The following duties are the core responsibilities of the Virtual Ward GP: adhering to the timetable of daily scheduled clinical activities holding the responsibility for medical decisions made during the contracted service hours appreciating the complexity of patients with multi-morbidity, frailty and polypharmacy where involving specialists is necessary providing care in line with recommended best practice as established through clinical guidelines providing medical advice and supporting decision-making to the members of the wider MDT through all stages of the patient journey: at triage of new referrals or admission to the virtual ward during daily handovers and Board rounds in an urgent / on-call capacity support pharmacists with medication reviews when needed upon discharge with a written discharge summary supporting and guiding the development of patient management plans, including: RESPECT forms DNAR forms Personalised Care and Support Plans Ceiling of care reviewing and prescribing medications, with clinical input from the VW Pharmacy Team proposing the use of digital monitoring where it may be appropriate, and: setting thresholds for escalation acting upon signs of deterioration work with the MDT to support clinical decision-making based on readings from POC/remote monitoring equipment. requesting diagnostic investigations and managing test results providing virtual consultations or home visiting where clinically required keeping accurate and contemporaneous documentation, including: keeping accurate and up to date records on SystmOne supporting with writing of discharge summaries liaising with other health professionals / providers for advice, such as: the patients primary care team / GP acute medical teams where advice may need to be sought palliative care teams mental health teams identifying deteriorating patients and escalating care when needed and in line with patient wishes support the development of the multidisciplinary team by: identifying opportunities for development supporting or signposting to training providing supervision instilling a culture of self-directed learning and professional development Working with the B&HF Clinical Lead and SCFT Leads on matters related to clinical governance and service improvement, for example: audit quality improvement complaint handling promoting a culture of continuous improvement to promote a culture of collaborative team working There may be a requirement to carry out other tasks dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels, and the job role may evolve over the two-year pilot. For more information, please see attached job description. Please note, this advert may close early if there are suitable candidates. Person Specification Qualifications Essential Qualified GP General Practitioner (Certificate of Completion of Training CCT) Full GMC Registration National Performers List registration Appropriate defence indemnity (MPS/MDU) Desirable MRCGP Diploma in Geriatric Medicine Diploma in Immediate Medical Care Diploma in Urgent Medical Care Clinical Knowledge & Skills Essential Outstanding level of clinical knowledge and skills commensurate with that of an experienced GP Understands the importance of evidence-based practice and clinical effectiveness Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) Strong IT skills (competent in the use of Office and Outlook) Effective time management (Planning & Organising) Ability to work as a team member and autonomously Excellent interpersonal skills Problem solving & analytical skills Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure Ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required Experience with clinical risk management Understanding of Clinical Governance and quality issues as well as health and social policy Desirable Knowledge of the current issues facing primary care and the wider NHS EMIS and SystmOne user and Docman skills Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes Ability and success in the implementation of change and/or service development within an organisation Personal Qualities Essential Adherence to the GMC Standards/Duties The duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council - ethical guidance - GMC (gmc-uk.org) Motivated, forward thinker Ability to work under pressure Commitment to ongoing professional development Flexibility of working hours to meet the needs of the service Car driver Experience Essential Experience of working in a primary care environment Experience of continued professional development Experience and knowledge of Sussex ICB and referral systems Desirable Experience of working with Urgent Care, A&E and Out of Hours Five years post-CCT in general practice Previous post CCT experience of working in virtual wards or other acute care settings Experience of working effectively in collaboration with other organisations Experience of providing supervision/support to an MDT Person Specification Qualifications Essential Qualified GP General Practitioner (Certificate of Completion of Training CCT) Full GMC Registration National Performers List registration Appropriate defence indemnity (MPS/MDU) Desirable MRCGP Diploma in Geriatric Medicine Diploma in Immediate Medical Care Diploma in Urgent Medical Care Clinical Knowledge & Skills Essential Outstanding level of clinical knowledge and skills commensurate with that of an experienced GP Understands the importance of evidence-based practice and clinical effectiveness Excellent communication skills (written and verbal) Strong IT skills (competent in the use of Office and Outlook) Effective time management (Planning & Organising) Ability to work as a team member and autonomously Excellent interpersonal skills Problem solving & analytical skills Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure Ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required Experience with clinical risk management Understanding of Clinical Governance and quality issues as well as health and social policy Desirable Knowledge of the current issues facing primary care and the wider NHS EMIS and SystmOne user and Docman skills Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes Ability and success in the implementation of change and/or service development within an organisation Personal Qualities Essential Adherence to the GMC Standards/Duties The duties of a doctor registered with the General Medical Council - ethical guidance - GMC (gmc-uk.org) Motivated, forward thinker Ability to work under pressure Commitment to ongoing professional development Flexibility of working hours to meet the needs of the service Car driver Experience Essential Experience of working in a primary care environment Experience of continued professional development Experience and knowledge of Sussex ICB and referral systems Desirable Experience of working with Urgent Care, A&E and Out of Hours Five years post-CCT in general practice Previous post CCT experience of working in virtual wards or other acute care settings Experience of working effectively in collaboration with other organisations Experience of providing supervision/support to an MDT 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 Alliance for Better Care CIC Address Worthing Hospital Worthing West Sussex BN11 2DH Employer's website https://allianceforbettercare.org/ (Opens in a new tab)