Job Description

Virtual wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to get the acute care, remote monitoring, and treatment they need in their own home, which can include care homes. Patients with a range of acute conditions will be supported to prevent unnecessary admissions and to reduce length of stay where the patient has been identified in the hospital, whilst maintaining the same level of support and care the person would have received in an acute bed.



The post holder will work as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team, working closely with acute and community practitioners, taking referrals from Primary and Secondary care across Gloucestershire localities, and reviewing patients who can be supported and managed clinically at home. The role offers the opportunity to be part of a new and developing service model, working within the NHS@Home virtual ward hub providing acute care within the community.



This role will work flexibly across key services including Vascular, Trauma & Elective Orthopaedics, our Surgical SDEC (Surgical Assessment Unit), Elective Colo-Rectal, to name a few pathways to ensure robust service offer and to build expertise in these key areas. The post holder will work collaboratively with members of the MDT including operational leads, GPSI, Specialist Nurses and clinical teams, taking part in a rota that covers a seven-day service during the hours of 8am and 6pm.



Responsible for the holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based care for patients referred to the virtual ward / hospital@home service. Responsible for delivering, evaluating and supporting training of patients and carers enabling them to be cared for virtually Utilise remote monitoring as part of the clinical care delivery Work collaboratively with an appropriate range of multi professional resources, developing, maintaining and evaluating relations to manage risk and issues across organizational boundaries and settings Participate and contribute to new models of care and service design in response to feedback, evaluation and review, working across organizational boundaries and broadening sphere of influence Work in partnership with other clinical colleagues from different specialties and professions, assisting with the development and implementation of pathways of care supporting both step up and step-down pathways Deliver safe care within a challenging and often changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources effectively and responsibly Participate in admission, discharge, and transfer of patients to and from the service Take responsibility for ensuring care plans/ pathways are reviewed and updated with ongoing changes in treatment and recording progress

The role of the Surgical Virtual Ward Clinical Practitioner is dynamic, and the post holder will be highly proactive in continually developing and embedding the role beyond the traditional scope of non-medical practice, with the rest of the team.



The post holder will work within locally and nationally agreed protocols and guidelines to provide assessment, investigation, diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment planning, supporting admission avoidance and facilitation of early hospital discharge for patients referred to our Virtual Ward Hub and supporting patients who require acute level care delivered within their own home environment.



The overarching team includes Registered Nurses, Paramedics, Pharmacists, Consultants, Advanced Practitioners and GPs., which offers a wide and diverse opportunity for cross professional working and knowledge and skills acquisition



Responsible for the holistic assessment, planning, implementation and evaluation of evidence-based care for patients referred to the virtual ward / hospital@home service Responsible for delivering, evaluating and supporting training of patients and carers enabling them to be cared for virtually Provide high quality care for patients including coordination of the multidisciplinary team Utilise remote monitoring as part of the clinical care delivery Manage clinical events often requiring unpredictable and high levels of mental and physical initiation and leadership, and exercise clinical judgement to manage risk appropriately Periodically support the review of organizational and local policies, SOPs and standards Be aware of own professional development needs, participate in the appraisal process for the team and maintain own personal development plans and governing body requirements Identify education and development needs of others involved in the care of virtual ward / hospital@home patients Role model high standards of patient care, communication, commitment and professionalism for others to learn from Participate and contribute to new models of care and service design in response to feedback, evaluation and review, working across organizational boundaries and broadening sphere of influence Demonstrate team leadership, resilience, managing situations that may be unfamiliar, complex or unpredictable and seek to build confidence in others Deliver safe care within a challenging and often changing clinical environment, using equipment and resources effectively and responsibly * Manage the day-to-day operational needs of the Surgical Virtual Ward / Hospital@Home