Virtual Ward Senior Practitioner in Milton Keynes

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We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust.

With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

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Main area Virtual Ward / Hospital at Home Grade NHS Af C: Band 7 Contract 10 months (Fixed term contract covering maternity leave) Hours Part time - 33 hours per week (Weekends and Bank Holidays) Job ref 333-D-MK-CM-1234

Site CNWL MK HQ, Open University Charles Pinfold Building Town Milton Keynes Salary £49,387 - £56,515 per annum pro rata Salary period Yearly Closing 17/09/2026 23:59

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond.

We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken.

It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation.

We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference.

We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare.

We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles.

For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.

We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

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.

Working for our organisation

We can offer regular 1:1 formal and informal supervision, a comprehensive induction and be able to participate in self directed learning, completion of competencies, training opportunities, collaborative working across Milton Keynes Community Health Services and QI project work.

You will have access to a laptop, mobile phone, uniform and have your mileage expenses paid for.

• And if you thought there was something more you were looking for, then CNWL can offer:
• Buying and selling annual leave
• An attractive pension scheme (including a tax-free lump sum on retirement and family benefits from dependents, ill health retirement benefits and life assurance cover of twice your annual pay)
• Employee assistance programme: a free and confidential service to help with personal life
• Staying well at work service for tailored employment related support to staff
• Staff wellbeing zone for free and confidential online health and wellbeing programmes
• The Recovery College offers a range of health and wellbeing courses for staff
• A range of staff networks: The PRIDE@CNWL Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and other sexual and gender minorities (LGBT+) network
• Disabled employee’s network
• Lived Experience of Mental Health staff network
• Carers at Work network
• 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

Qualifications

• Relevant Professional Qualification, current registration
• Demonstrates high level of professional knowledge base, supported by educational development and evidence of continuing professional development
• Advanced Assessment and History taking course or relevant clinical experience working at an advanced level
• Non Medical Prescribing Qualification (V300)

Experience

• Relevant post registration experience with proffesional knowledge base and relevant CPD
• Experience of working in Community/Acute Setting with experience of managing frailty patients with long term conditions / acute illness (1 point for acute, 2 for community)
• Experience of developing relationships with external agencies and working across organisational boundaries
• Knowledge
• Knowledge of local and national agendas for Community Services
• Understanding of admission avoidance and early supported discharge services
• Understanding of frailty and Long-Term Conditions
• Demonstrates the ability to respond effectively to complex, emotional or challenging situations
• Abilities
• Ability to work under pressure and to be flexible to respond to service needs
• Confidence in basic IT skills
• Able to work autonomously without supervision and as part of a team
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to build and maintain relationships with other health care professionals, patients and carers
• Excellent communication skills including the exchange of verbal and written information
• Effective negotiation, influencing and problem-solving skills
• Personal disposition
• Good communicator – written and verbal
• Ability to reflect and critically appraise own performance
• Able to drive and have use of a car
• Able to be flexible in relation to hours worked and locations worked
• Use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI can be used as a support tool, not a replacement for the applicant’s own work.

Applications must remain personal, accurate, and reflective of the candidate’s real experience.

AI-generated content must not misrepresent skills, qualifications, or experience.

Over reliance on AI-generated content is discouraged and may diminish the applicant's chances of success.

We monitor applications for any behaviour that could create an unfair advantage, and we check all references carefully.

You are likely to be tested on your experience at interview, so be honest and make sure all the information in your application is correct.

Please note that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is prohibited during the interview process.

The successful applicant may have contact with patients or service users.

As an NHS Trust we strongly encourage and support vaccination as this remains the best way to protect yourself, your family, your colleagues and of course patients and service users when working on our healthcare settings.

• Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.
• Applications from job seekers who require sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.

Before submitting your application and to avoid disappointment please check that you are eligible under the UKVI points based system

• Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.
• If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.
• Employer certification / accreditation badges

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.

Name Ellie Shelton Job title Virtual Ward Clinical Manager Email address ellie. shelton@nhs. net Telephone number 07773 593848 Additional information
Mel Cahill -Service Manager Home First Unplanned Care on07921 279468

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