Job summary
As a not-for-profit GP Federation, South Downs Health and Care is slightly different in that we are not a GP Practice with our own list of patients. Instead, we provide services at scale such as out of hours NHS GP services on behalf of local practices (pre-booked appointments), Flu and Covid Vaccination Services and much more! SDHC also provide a Private GP service to the local community.
We have an exciting opportunity for a GP to join our Virtual Ward service.
Main duties of the job
You will be required to work alongside an Urgent Community Response (UCR) Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) in Lewes, East Sussex, supporting clinical decision making for the General Virtual Ward (VW). This is a hybrid role consisting of:
- On-site: present within the allocated UCR base, working face to face with the MDT delivering VW (including supervision of ACPs and team development).
- Remote: GP working solely with UCR allocated team, based remotely. Virtual consultation may be required.
- On Call: To give On Call support answering escalations from senior clinicians from the UCR team(s). These would be ad hoc and potential for patient video consultations. (Weekday afternoons)
GPs will need to meet regularly with other VW GPs for shared training and supervision. Some of this can be done remotely, but this role will require some travel across Sussex.
About us
Our vision is Better Health & Wellbeing. Today & Tomorrow.
We enjoy and value a friendly atmosphere across the company with staff who are willing to work collaboratively, with a 'can do' approach and who like to be busy. We operate a culture where staff are encouraged to be accountable and are willing to give and receive feedback directly with each other in a respectful way so that we can all learn together and from each other.
Please read the additional information provided.
PLEASE NOTE WE DO NOT PROVIDE SPONSORSHIP FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY UNLESS YOU HAVE UNRESTRICTED RIGHT TO WORK IN THE UK.
Job description
Job responsibilities
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 and on-call rota proposed
- 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 round/ in an urgent or 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
N.B All clinicians working in the service must:
- Have worked for a minimum of 5 years post Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
- Have Urgent Care / ED experience
Job description
Job responsibilities
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 and on-call rota proposed
- 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 round/ in an urgent or 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
N.B All clinicians working in the service must:
- Have worked for a minimum of 5 years post Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT).
- Have Urgent Care / ED experience
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
- MRCP
- Diploma in Immediate Medical Care
- Diploma in Urgent Medical Care
- Diploma in Geriatric Medicine
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written, oral and presenting)
- Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office & ORACLE)
- Excellent SystmOne user skills
- Effective time management (planning & organising)
- Ability to network and build relationships
- Proven problem-solving & analytical skills
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Motivated and proactive
- Ability to use initiative and judgement
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to motivate teams, enhance morale and maintain a positive working environment, including team-building sessions
- Ability to work a hybrid model of on-site and virtual presence across High Weald Lewes and Havens
- Flexibility to work outside core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Maintains confidentiality at all times
- Full UK driving licence (with business insurance)
Experience
Essential
- Clinical experience in Primary Care (minimum 5ys)
- Experience and knowledge of Sussex ICB pathways and referral systems
Desirable
- 5 years post-CCT in General Practice
- Experience of working with Urgent Care, Accident & Emergency, Out of Hours (minimum 5yrs)
- Previous post-CCT experience in 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
Desirable
- MRCP
- Diploma in Immediate Medical Care
- Diploma in Urgent Medical Care
- Diploma in Geriatric Medicine
Knowledge and Skills
Essential
- Excellent communication skills (written, oral and presenting)
- Strong IT skills (Microsoft Office & ORACLE)
- Excellent SystmOne user skills
- Effective time management (planning & organising)
- Ability to network and build relationships
- Proven problem-solving & analytical skills
- Polite and confident
- Flexible and cooperative
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Motivated and proactive
- Ability to use initiative and judgement
- High levels of integrity and loyalty
- Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
- Ability to work under pressure
- Ability to motivate teams, enhance morale and maintain a positive working environment, including team-building sessions
- Ability to work a hybrid model of on-site and virtual presence across High Weald Lewes and Havens
- Flexibility to work outside core office hours
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Maintains confidentiality at all times
- Full UK driving licence (with business insurance)
Experience
Essential
- Clinical experience in Primary Care (minimum 5ys)
- Experience and knowledge of Sussex ICB pathways and referral systems
Desirable
- 5 years post-CCT in General Practice
- Experience of working with Urgent Care, Accident & Emergency, Out of Hours (minimum 5yrs)
- Previous post-CCT experience in 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).
