Band 7/8a - Rotational Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Virtual Hospital in Watford

We are looking for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, for a rotational post, to help us develop, and participate in, the Virtual Ward delivering a collaborative, integrated model of care that delivers a range of monitoring, interventions, and care in the community to avoid and reduce hospital admissions.

The Virtual Hospital is a collaboration between CLCH and West Herts Virtual Hospital, and has attracted national attention with Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHSE, visiting last year. The post will rotate between the partnership organisations to support the collaborative approach our teams maintain. There are four key pathways under our Virtual Hospital – General Medicine, Respiratory (ABC), Heart Failure and Frailty, with this ACP role specifically supporting the General Medicine virtual ward.

As this role is a rotational post, working across the acute (West Hertfordshire, Watford General site) and community partnership (Central London Community Hospital Trust, BRE building, Bricket Wood), the post holder needs to be able to travel to all sites and drive to patient addresses to help provide care at their place of residence, within our geographical catchment area. The working pattern is 8am-8pm shifts, with 1 in 4 weekend working.

You will be a key Clinical Lead within the service delivery and governance and will drive the successful management of the provision to provide care for those patients identified as being suitable for the virtual ward environment. We welcome applications from experienced Band 7 practitioners and are committed to supporting progression to Band 8a upon successful completion of all required competencies.

Main duties of the job

The post will be structured around the four pillars of advanced clinical practice as set out in the multi professional consultant level practice capability and impact framework (Health Education England www.hee.nhs.uk 2021):

• Expert clinical practice
• A professional leadership and consultancy function
• Education, training, and development
• Research, evaluation, and service development across the system.

The definition of a virtual ward is 'a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care that is enabled by technology. Virtual wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to receive the acute care, monitoring and treatment they need in their own home' (NHS England and NHS Improvement, 2022). The NHS is focussed on increasing capacity in virtual wards to support people at the place they call home, including care homes. In a virtual ward, support can include remote monitoring using apps, technology platforms, wearables and medical devices, such as pulse oximeters. Support may also involve face-to-face care from multi-disciplinary teams based in the community, which is sometimes called Hospital at Home.

Working for our organisation

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award-winning virtual hospital and re-imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare. Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive.

If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form. We reserve the right to close this advert early due to the volume of applicants. Please apply as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. If you do not hear back within 3 weeks of your application, please assume you have been unsuccessful on this occasion.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

To act as a high-level autonomous practitioner and role model, delivering advanced practice and promoting clinical effectiveness and patient centred care. The post-holder will be required to work autonomously in delivering independent assessment for the patients on virtual ward. They will work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team and will play an integral role in the operational development of the service. They will promote education and facilitate evidence-based practice taking a lead on clinical audit, research and service development. The post holder will also provide expert advice delivering advanced clinical practice, clinical leadership and supervision, support and mentorship for multidisciplinary professionals including other ACPs, junior medical staff and clinical nursing staff of all grades. They will also be responsible for enhancing the quality of the service by providing education and support to all practitioners and acting as a role model.

The post holder will demonstrate a high level of advanced expertise, specialist knowledge, demonstrate high levels of judgement, discretion and decision making in the delivery of clinical care. The post-holder will work collaboratively with a range of multi-disciplinary services to facilitate admission avoidance or early supported discharge. The post-holder will be expected to work within the four clinical pillars of advanced practice, clinical practice, facilitating learning, leadership and evidence, research and development. This will be demonstrated within their portfolio. The role will be structured around four functions, delivering expert practice, professional leadership/consultancy, education, training and development, service development, research and evaluation.

Person specification

Education

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration or Physiotherapist or Paramedic with HCPC registration
• MSc in advanced Practice
• Independent Non-Medical Prescriber
• Evidence of teaching demonstrated by a suitable qualification or accredited experience
• Leadership course
• ALS Provider

Knowledge

• Advanced Clinical Knowledge in Acute and Community Medicine
• Comprehensive understanding of safeguarding issues working with a diverse community
• Demonstrating an understanding of both the health and social care agenda
• Understanding of the legal framework for working at an advanced level
• Good working understanding of the changing NHS environment
• Advanced knowledge in clinical reasoning, history taking, physical examination, diagnostic skills and prescribing/treatment
• Clinical knowledge across a range of acute and chronic conditions
• Highly competent in the physical examination of patients presenting with a range of clinical conditions depth knowledge of pharmacology.
• Detailed knowledge of Primary Health Care and collaborative working with other care providers, e.g. social care and voluntary services
• Knowledge of evidence-based practice and able to implement in practice
• Knowledge of clinical governance processes, assessing and managing risk
• Involvement in National agenda
• Ability to influence and advise senior managers

Experience

• Evidence of continuing professional development and practical application of new skills to the workplace
• Experience of delivering training and education for healthcare professionals
• Involvement in audit/ Quality improvement
• Evidence of using clinical Governance framework to influence care and improve outcome.

West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust provides acute healthcare services to a core catchment population of approximately half a million people living in west Hertfordshire and the surrounding area. The Trust also provides a range of more specialist services to a wider population, serving residents of North London, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and East Hertfordshire. As an employer of nearly 6,000 people the Trust is one of the biggest employers in the area and sees nearly a million patients each year.

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.