Job summary
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. In the 2022-23 priorities and operational planning guidance, systems were asked to deliver virtual ward capacity equivalent to 40-50 virtual ward 'beds' per 100k population by December 2023. 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.
***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 Acute Medicine Matron and Operational Manager as well as key stakeholders including Primary care, Community Services, Acute hospital services and others to develop services.
About us
We are a people business - where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care. The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY. If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams. It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Job description
Job responsibilities
1. Planning Individualised Patient Care
2. Be responsible for assessing patients to determine their clinical needs in relation to digital health/care
3. Facilitate digital health provision contributing to multidisciplinary assessment for appropriate early hospital discharge and signposting to relevant Community and Support Services
4. Frequent telephone triage to further identify and determine patients health/care needs
5. Frequent informed clinical decision making and co-ordination of provision to meet patients health/care needs
6. Frequent requirement for periods of concentration when carrying out patient assessments and writing notes
7. Regular interruptions and demands on time whilst carrying out telephone clinical assessments and care provision
8. 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
9. Deal with patient/relatives who are distressed and sometimes confused
10. 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.
11. Deal with patient/relatives who are distressed and sometimes confused
12. Promote effective and appropriate use of Community services.
13. Be responsible for and facilitate others in the knowledge and awareness of appropriate use of digital health/care solutions for patients with long term conditions
14. Use e-mail, telephone and written communication to support the service achieving contractual targets. Keep patients, carers and involved staff informed.
15. Ensure all clinical information is written up accurately, concisely, and timely
16. Responsibility for the specialist assessment, provision and co-ordination of care to individual patients in conjunction with patients and carers.
17. Advises and supports other staff in their planning of patient care.
18. Provides support and advice to patients carers and relatives (with consent) on patients conditions and prognosis where appropriate.
19. Responsibility for reviewing care delivery and maintaining records in accordance with local and with NMC guidelines and /or HCPC
20. Works as part of a multi-disciplinary team
21. Acts as patient representative to facilitate appropriate care pathways which involves effective communication to peers, other specialist practitioners, GPs and Consultants.
DELIVERY OF DIRECT CARE
22. Assess, plan and evaluate care provided for patients including those with complex needs
23. Facilitate the monitoring of evidence-based standards through research, clinical trials, audits and staff initiatives
24. Initiate prescribed care in conjunction with Team Manager/Consultant/GP and other clinicians without direct supervision, reporting directly to Consultant Physician or AGP undertakes care delivery involving an extensive range of activities acquired through additional short courses or equivalent experience, acute and chronic disease awareness/management, assisting the multi-disciplinary team in palliative care, acute/chronic pain management, facilitating appropriate care for elimination needs, wound assessments and management, blood glucose monitoring, health promotion, acting as a formal mentor to pre-registration nursing students, adopting link roles, intravenous drug, fluid therapy, infusions, administration of nebulised drugs, administration of oxygen therapy, computer skills, liaising with and referring on to other agencies and professionals, pulse oximetry and interpretation, venepuncture and venous cannulation, management of central and mid lines, performing ECGs and in-depth history taking
Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
25. Proven knowledge of Government policies relating to Virtual Ward
26. Understanding of Clinical Governance
Desirable
27. Proven knowledge of Secondary & Primary Care Sector
Qualifications
Essential
28. NMC Registered Nurse (Adult) or HCPC Registered Paramedic
29. Recognised teaching or mentorship qualification at degree level or equivalent
30. Management and leadership module or study days/proven evidence of
Desirable
31. Recognised Acute Care Assessments module
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential
32. Have a 'can do' attitude
33. Highly effective communication skills - verbally and written to staff, patients and relatives including in situations of conflict or distress
Desirable
34. Previous recent demonstrable experience of managing change towards improvement in a clinical setting