Virtual Ward Registered Nurse / Paramedic

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

• Assess, plan and evaluate care provided for patients including those with complex needs
• Facilitate the monitoring of evidence-based standards through research, clinical trials, audits and staff initiatives
• 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, e.g. 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
• Develop advanced clinical assessment skills that have the potential to allow for the implementation of appropriate tests and procedures and are pivotal to ensuring that individuals receive the most appropriate plan of care. Recognising and managing emergency situations e.g. treatment of anaphylaxis and cardiac/respiratory arrest.
• Undertake and interpret acute observations using an appropriate tool e.g. Mews, ABCDE

MANAGEMENT AND LEADERSHIP

• Delegation, line management and supervision of workload of junior staff within the team as directed by the Band 7 team manager
• Carrying out appraisal and line management of those staff reporting to the job holder as per organisation policy
• Participate in the recruitment process
• Have on-going responsibility and duty of care for patients, staff, self and others in all aspects of Health, Safety and Risk
• Act as a role model, promoting good performance and practice.
• Report all incidents and near misses
• Support team manager in investigations of incidents
• Inform managers of any on-going nursing/management issues affecting patient care or working capacity
• Act as authorised signatory for expenses as delegated by team manager
• Deputise for line manager in absence
• Act as shift co-ordinator on a rotational basis
• Place the patients experience at the core of service delivery through implementation and continued monitoring of Essence of Care Standards, Patient Involvement & Experience Strategy and Patient Satisfaction Surveys

PROFESSIONAL

• Work within the NMC code and or HCPC code of practice
• Remain updated and competent and ensure that clinical practice is evidence based
• Have an up to date personal development plan and professional portfolio
• Participate in an annual appraisal of their work in line with the Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) where the job description will be reviewed and objectives set. In line with the annual development plan the post holder will be expected to undertake any training or development required to fulfil their role

Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Proven knowledge of Government policies relating to Virtual Ward
• Understanding of Clinical Governance
• Overview of Acute Discharge process
• Current and up to date proven knowledge of NMC Code of Conduct
• Proven evidence of strong Acute Care background and skills
• Good clinical proven knowledge in Acute Medicine and/or Acute Frailty
• Proven evidence of autonomous practice, Working without supervision
• Clinical Risk Management
• End of Life Care
• Emergency Care Management
• Demonstrable experience in Infection control

Desirable

• Proven knowledge of Secondary & Primary Care Sector
• Proven knowledge of Long-Term Conditions
• Respiratory background
• Cardiac background
• Alert - Aim-Impact etc course
• Wound care background

Qualifications

Essential

• NMC Registration
• Recognised teaching or mentorship qualification at degree level or equivalent demonstrable experience
• Management and leadership course
• Degree (or working towards) in healthcare

Desirable

• Recognised Acute Care Assessments module
• Recognised Frailty modules

Aptitude & Abilities

Essential

• Have a 'can do' attitude
• Highly effective communication skills - verbally and written to staff, patients and relatives
• Information technology skills
• Able to gain credibility with and influence colleagues including influencing clinical changes where appropriate
• Strong organisational skills - prioritising complex situations
• The ability to work well in a busy environment
• Ability to lead and influence change
• Able to accept responsibility for department under own initiative within the boundaries of role
• Demonstrates ability to take overall responsibility and accountability
• Demonstrates ability to implement and utilise audit data to improve quality
• Able to advise on and implement improvements to the quality and efficiency of care for patients in department
• Ability to act as facilitator, mentor and supervisor to colleagues
• Familiar with current local and national nursing issues
• Willingness to undertake further training and development relevant to role
• Able to recognise professional accountability and responsibility
• Clinical management and team building skills
• Ability to role model and lead by example

Desirable

• Demonstrable experience of managing change towards improvement in a clinical setting

Disposition / Attitude / Motivation

Essential

• Non-judgemental
• Ability to motivate others
• Flexible/adaptable
• Ability to prioritise
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Organisational skills
• Ability to discuss complex patient care with senior clinicians

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).