St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

UCR / Frailty Practitioner

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

Due to the success of our Frailty Service, an exciting expansion and development opportunity has arisen. We are looking to recruit an enthusiastic and motivated Frailty Practitioner to join our dynamic team of dedicated Nursing and Medical Staff working in the Urgent Community Response (for patients 18yrs +), Ambulatory and Community Frailty and Frailty Virtual Ward.

The post holder will provide expert direct patient care, screen and identify the frail older patient in their own homes, in 24 hour care and in the acute trust. The successful candidates will help to improve pathways for patients who are experiencing an acute crisis and decompensating frailty in the community.

You will be responsible for delivering and supporting high quality care, act as an expert practitioner and a role model, offering a patient centered holistic approach to care planning and maximizing independence and well-being of those living with frailty.

The post holder will join a well-established team of Frailty practitioners, supported by Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists and Consultants.

Practitioners are working towards their Masters and supported by the Trust to do so, the successful candidate must have completed their Clinical examination and diagnostics.

The post holder will be expected to work 8am-8pm shift pattern, across a 7 day service.

An Enhanced DBS Certificate, with the checking of the Vulnerable Adults Barred List is required for this posts

Main duties of the job

The UCR Frailty Practitioner will identify, develop and manage a caseload of very high and intensive users of services and, in collaboration with a wide range of clinical colleagues, specifically Consultant Geriatrician, GPs, Practice Nurses and Social Care professionals, and others across organisational boundaries, will lead and facilitate a patient focussed, co-ordinated case management approach across primary and secondary care for people who are most vulnerable to, and at high risk of, repeat admissions to hospital.

The UCR Frailty Practitioner will participate in and influence effort across health and social services to shape multi-disciplinary pathways deigned to support patient choice, improve quality of life, promote self-management and assure early intervention through the proactive provision of care in or as close to the patient's own home as possible.

Whilst directly providing advanced nursing, diagnostic and treatment skills, the Frailty Practitioner will contribute to the management of acutely unwell housebound patients within the practice populations, liaising primarily with the GPs, Consultant Geriatrician, practice nurses and community nurses who will identify patients requiring "on the day" intervention. This will include a 2hr Urgent Community Response (UCR) to prevent an avoidable hospital admission for those aged 18+.

About us

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is the only acute Trust in Cheshire and Merseyside, and one of the few in the entire country, to achieve the title of OUTSTANDING, rated by the Care Quality Commission.

We provide a full range of acute adult services to our local population of circa 360,000 and provide tertiary services across a much wider area in the North West, North Wales and Isle of Man. We are a Major Trauma Unit and the Mersey Regional Burns Unit.

Our '5 Star Patient Care' strategy is at the heart of all that we do; supporting our vision to provide world class services for all our patients by getting it right for every patient, every time.

Our latest achievements include:

  • Acute Trust of the Year - HSJ Awards November 2019
  • Trust rates Outstanding by the CQC - Inspection August 2018
  • Top 100 places to work in the NHS (NHS Employers and Health Service Journal)
  • Best acute Trust in the North West for quality of care (NHS Staff Survey 2021)
  • Best place to work in the North West (NHS Staff Survey 2021

In the NHS Staff Survey 2021 the Trust scored the highest marks in the North West for the following areas;

  • Standard of care
  • Best place to work
  • Care of patients being the Trust's priority
  • Staff engagement
  • Staff morale
  • Compassionate and inclusive
  • Providing a safe environment for staff

Details

Date posted

20 March 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£41,659 to £47,672 a year Per Annum pro rata if part time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-5009243

Job locations

Whiston Hospital and Fingerpost Health Centre

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

Plan and manage complete episodes of care, working in partnership with others, and delegating and referring as appropriate to optimize health outcomes and resource use, as well as providing direct support to patients and clients.

Develop and use knowledge and skills in order that professional development can be maintained and keep professional portfolio up to date.

Practice autonomously and be self-directed

Use professional judgment in managing complex and unpredictable care events and capture the learning from these experiences to improve patient care and service delivery.

Draw upon an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources in their practice.

Appropriately define the boundaries of own practice, asking advice from consultant nurse or medical lead when unsure.

To ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently against predetermined clinical performance targets.

Have a proactive approach to promoting health and wellbeing, detection and prevention of vulnerability, preventing illness, reacting and responding to existing or potential ill health issues and contributing to reduction in length of stay or reducing unplanned hospital admissions.

Conduct yourself and practice within an ethical framework based upon respect for the well- being and safety of patients and clients for the clinical case management of a defined population.

The post-holder will collaborate with a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations to maximise the nursing contribution in health improvement, planning and delivery of care to individuals, families and communities.

Actively seek and participate in peer review of own practice

Enable patients/clients to learn by designing and coordinating the implementation of plans appropriate to their preferred approach to learning, motivation and developmental stage

In partnership with Consultant Staff, Consultant Nurse, Allied Health Professionals, and Head of Quality, develop robust governance systems by contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, documentation processes, standards, policies and clinical guidelines through interpreting and synthesising information from a variety of sources and promoting own practice

Work in collaboration with others to plan and deliver interventions to meet the learning and development needs of own and other professions

Advocate and contribute to the development of an organisational culture that supports continuous learning and development, evidence-based practice and succession planning; and have high-level communication skills and contribute to the wider development of those working in their area of practice by publicising and disseminating their work through presentations at conferences and articles in the professional press.

Develop effective partnerships and positive working relationships with a variety of internal and external agencies in order to support seamless care provision across all agencies.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Professional Registration

Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body

Assess individuals, families and populations holistically using a range of different assessment methods, such as physical examination, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests or advanced health needs assessment

Have a health promotion and prevention orientation, and comprehensively assess patients for risk factors and early signs of illness

Be able to draw on a diverse range of knowledge in decision-making to determine evidence-based therapeutic interventions (which will include prescribing, planning treatments, reviewing medication and actively monitoring the effectiveness of any interventions)

Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and Trust protocols and formularies.

Work with patients and their carers in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments.

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions

In the absence of Consultant, lead the co- ordination of care, working with partner agencies and key stake holders to ensure effectiveness of outcomes for defined case mix of patients.

Provide strategic clinical leadership in relation to area of specialty, working as an autonomous practitioner.

Lead the co-ordination of the care for people on a defined caseload, demonstrating advance competence in highly complex decision making, assessment and the management of clinical needs within specialist area of practice and refer to specialist services as appropriate.

Provide clinical leadership in workforce planning and skills profiling targeting resources to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities.

Undertake age appropriate physical and psychosocial assessment, interpreting core clinical and diagnostic findings in order to determine a diagnosis and develop an evidence-based plan of care.

Instigate therapeutic interventions and treatments aimed at improving health outcomes and promoting self-care, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, modifying plans for optimal outcomes. Referring to Medical / Nurse Consultant where needed

Develop a knowledge of disease processes and consequences and provides specialist clinical advice to colleagues, individuals, families and communities.

Provide high level anticipatory care through the early identification of disease exacerbation in order to reduce the likelihood of acute illness, risks and prevent hospital admission.

Actively initiate and lead medicine management practice, review prescription, planning and adjustment of medicines, facilitating patients understanding to improve concordance with the support of their families.

Lead the development, maintenance and monitoring of service standards ensuring clinical and non-clinical practice interventions are based on the most recent evidence available and findings are incorporated into nursing practice.

Demonstrate advanced clinical and non-clinical interventions and act as an advisor and educator to colleagues and a variety of learners in area of specialty. Always working within scope of practice.

Supervise and teach learners in collaboration with education providers and other key stakeholders

Ensure expert knowledge, skills and competency are updated and maintained through appropriate CPD, training and development opportunities to enable effective care to be delivered in line with current research-based evidence and practice.

Ability to work autonomously, asking for help and advice when necessary

Ability to interact effectively with people who have different levels of communication skills

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that the recording of patient care is comprehensive, concise and in line with the NMC Record Keeping guidance

Ensure IT systems are current e.g., ADT to ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the patient or the Manager in Charge

To keep patient records up to date on a day-to-day basis following any interaction with patients/relatives

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

Improve quality and develop practice of clinical teams by sharing skills and knowledge both formally and informally.

Be proactively involved in developing strategies and undertaking activities that monitor and improve the quality of healthcare and the effectiveness of their own and others practice

Strive constantly to improve practice and health outcomes so that they are consistent with or better than national and international standards through initiating, facilitating and leading change at individual, team, organizational and system levels

Continually evaluate and audit the practice of self and others at individual and systems levels, selecting and applying valid and reliable approaches and methods which are appropriate to needs and context, and acting on the findings

Critically appraise and synthesize the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and apply the information when seeking to improve practice

Plan and seize opportunities to generate and apply new knowledge to their own and others practice in structured ways which are capable of evaluation.

Alert appropriate individuals and organisations to gaps in evidence and/or practice knowledge and, as either a principal investigator or in collaboration with others, support and conduct research that is likely to enhance practice

Use financial acumen in patient/client, team, organisational and system level decision- making and demonstrate appropriate strategies to enhance quality, productivity and value

Initiate and contribute towards research in area of expertise and critically appraise, evaluate and apply knowledge of theoretical frameworks, evidence and research findings within specialist area of practice.

Lead the development of service standards and policy and ensure compliance with legislation, policies and protocols and identify opportunities for the development of service.

Undertake strategic risk assessments and co-ordinate risk management plans that will safeguard protection of public and staff in line with policy.

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate clinical records, recording all patient related activity on the clinical systems /databases in accordance with NMC, national legislation and local and national standards.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify and implement systems to promote own contribution and demonstrate the impact of advanced level nursing to the healthcare team and the wider health and social care sector

Provide consultancy services to their own and other professions on therapeutic interventions, practice and service development within their field of expertise

Continued on Job Description

Job description

Job responsibilities

KEY DUTIES

Plan and manage complete episodes of care, working in partnership with others, and delegating and referring as appropriate to optimize health outcomes and resource use, as well as providing direct support to patients and clients.

Develop and use knowledge and skills in order that professional development can be maintained and keep professional portfolio up to date.

Practice autonomously and be self-directed

Use professional judgment in managing complex and unpredictable care events and capture the learning from these experiences to improve patient care and service delivery.

Draw upon an appropriate range of multi-agency and inter-professional resources in their practice.

Appropriately define the boundaries of own practice, asking advice from consultant nurse or medical lead when unsure.

To ensure that services are delivered effectively and efficiently against predetermined clinical performance targets.

Have a proactive approach to promoting health and wellbeing, detection and prevention of vulnerability, preventing illness, reacting and responding to existing or potential ill health issues and contributing to reduction in length of stay or reducing unplanned hospital admissions.

Conduct yourself and practice within an ethical framework based upon respect for the well- being and safety of patients and clients for the clinical case management of a defined population.

The post-holder will collaborate with a wide range of statutory and voluntary organisations to maximise the nursing contribution in health improvement, planning and delivery of care to individuals, families and communities.

Actively seek and participate in peer review of own practice

Enable patients/clients to learn by designing and coordinating the implementation of plans appropriate to their preferred approach to learning, motivation and developmental stage

In partnership with Consultant Staff, Consultant Nurse, Allied Health Professionals, and Head of Quality, develop robust governance systems by contributing to the development and implementation of evidence-based protocols, documentation processes, standards, policies and clinical guidelines through interpreting and synthesising information from a variety of sources and promoting own practice

Work in collaboration with others to plan and deliver interventions to meet the learning and development needs of own and other professions

Advocate and contribute to the development of an organisational culture that supports continuous learning and development, evidence-based practice and succession planning; and have high-level communication skills and contribute to the wider development of those working in their area of practice by publicising and disseminating their work through presentations at conferences and articles in the professional press.

Develop effective partnerships and positive working relationships with a variety of internal and external agencies in order to support seamless care provision across all agencies.

CLINICAL & PROFESSIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Maintain Professional Registration

Adhere to relevant Code of Practice of Professional body

Assess individuals, families and populations holistically using a range of different assessment methods, such as physical examination, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests or advanced health needs assessment

Have a health promotion and prevention orientation, and comprehensively assess patients for risk factors and early signs of illness

Be able to draw on a diverse range of knowledge in decision-making to determine evidence-based therapeutic interventions (which will include prescribing, planning treatments, reviewing medication and actively monitoring the effectiveness of any interventions)

Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and Trust protocols and formularies.

Work with patients and their carers in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments.

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions

In the absence of Consultant, lead the co- ordination of care, working with partner agencies and key stake holders to ensure effectiveness of outcomes for defined case mix of patients.

Provide strategic clinical leadership in relation to area of specialty, working as an autonomous practitioner.

Lead the co-ordination of the care for people on a defined caseload, demonstrating advance competence in highly complex decision making, assessment and the management of clinical needs within specialist area of practice and refer to specialist services as appropriate.

Provide clinical leadership in workforce planning and skills profiling targeting resources to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities.

Undertake age appropriate physical and psychosocial assessment, interpreting core clinical and diagnostic findings in order to determine a diagnosis and develop an evidence-based plan of care.

Instigate therapeutic interventions and treatments aimed at improving health outcomes and promoting self-care, evaluate the effectiveness of interventions, modifying plans for optimal outcomes. Referring to Medical / Nurse Consultant where needed

Develop a knowledge of disease processes and consequences and provides specialist clinical advice to colleagues, individuals, families and communities.

Provide high level anticipatory care through the early identification of disease exacerbation in order to reduce the likelihood of acute illness, risks and prevent hospital admission.

Actively initiate and lead medicine management practice, review prescription, planning and adjustment of medicines, facilitating patients understanding to improve concordance with the support of their families.

Lead the development, maintenance and monitoring of service standards ensuring clinical and non-clinical practice interventions are based on the most recent evidence available and findings are incorporated into nursing practice.

Demonstrate advanced clinical and non-clinical interventions and act as an advisor and educator to colleagues and a variety of learners in area of specialty. Always working within scope of practice.

Supervise and teach learners in collaboration with education providers and other key stakeholders

Ensure expert knowledge, skills and competency are updated and maintained through appropriate CPD, training and development opportunities to enable effective care to be delivered in line with current research-based evidence and practice.

Ability to work autonomously, asking for help and advice when necessary

Ability to interact effectively with people who have different levels of communication skills

ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

To ensure that the recording of patient care is comprehensive, concise and in line with the NMC Record Keeping guidance

Ensure IT systems are current e.g., ADT to ensure that all patient information is confidential and is not disclosed to a third party except with permission of the patient or the Manager in Charge

To keep patient records up to date on a day-to-day basis following any interaction with patients/relatives

TEACHING & TRAINING RESPONSBILITIES

Improve quality and develop practice of clinical teams by sharing skills and knowledge both formally and informally.

Be proactively involved in developing strategies and undertaking activities that monitor and improve the quality of healthcare and the effectiveness of their own and others practice

Strive constantly to improve practice and health outcomes so that they are consistent with or better than national and international standards through initiating, facilitating and leading change at individual, team, organizational and system levels

Continually evaluate and audit the practice of self and others at individual and systems levels, selecting and applying valid and reliable approaches and methods which are appropriate to needs and context, and acting on the findings

Critically appraise and synthesize the outcomes of relevant research, evaluations and audits and apply the information when seeking to improve practice

Plan and seize opportunities to generate and apply new knowledge to their own and others practice in structured ways which are capable of evaluation.

Alert appropriate individuals and organisations to gaps in evidence and/or practice knowledge and, as either a principal investigator or in collaboration with others, support and conduct research that is likely to enhance practice

Use financial acumen in patient/client, team, organisational and system level decision- making and demonstrate appropriate strategies to enhance quality, productivity and value

Initiate and contribute towards research in area of expertise and critically appraise, evaluate and apply knowledge of theoretical frameworks, evidence and research findings within specialist area of practice.

Lead the development of service standards and policy and ensure compliance with legislation, policies and protocols and identify opportunities for the development of service.

Undertake strategic risk assessments and co-ordinate risk management plans that will safeguard protection of public and staff in line with policy.

Maintain contemporaneous and accurate clinical records, recording all patient related activity on the clinical systems /databases in accordance with NMC, national legislation and local and national standards.

LINE MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Identify and implement systems to promote own contribution and demonstrate the impact of advanced level nursing to the healthcare team and the wider health and social care sector

Provide consultancy services to their own and other professions on therapeutic interventions, practice and service development within their field of expertise

Continued on Job Description

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent time management, record management and organisational skills
  • Good IT skills
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Leadership skills
  • Ability to compile reports and deliver presentations

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of clinical skills required to undertake the role
  • Knowledge of current professional & clinical issues
  • Knowledge of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures
  • Demonstrable knowledge of issues within nursing and the current NHS quality agenda
  • Demonstrable knowledge of risk management processes and clinical governance
  • Understanding of research and evidence based nursing practice
  • Awareness of how audit may influence quality of patient care
  • Knowledge of and participation in audit
  • Substantial post registration experience within Frailty
  • Substantial management experience
  • Shift/Ward/Speciality leadership experience
  • Evidence of undertaking professional responsibility for coordinating the patients pathway of care
  • Evidence of enhanced clinical practice
  • Experience of teaching and developing practice in others

Desirable

  • Experience of gathering and analysing complex information
  • Experience of project management
  • Experience of participating in research

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional with current NMC or HCPC Registration
  • Educated to Degree level
  • Educated to Masters level, or willing to work towards
  • Independent Prescriber, or willing to work towards
  • Record of continuous managerial, educational and professional development

Desirable

  • Mentorship course/qualification or equivalent experience
  • Recognised management or leadership course/qualification

Other

Essential

  • Motivated individual, commitment to personal & professional development
  • Willing to undertake further study if role requires
  • Ability to travel various hospital/community locations by own car/assisted driver
Person Specification

Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills
  • Excellent time management, record management and organisational skills
  • Good IT skills
  • Ability to work autonomously and as part of a multi-disciplinary team

Desirable

  • Leadership skills
  • Ability to compile reports and deliver presentations

Knowledge and Experience

Essential

  • Extensive knowledge of clinical skills required to undertake the role
  • Knowledge of current professional & clinical issues
  • Knowledge of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults procedures
  • Demonstrable knowledge of issues within nursing and the current NHS quality agenda
  • Demonstrable knowledge of risk management processes and clinical governance
  • Understanding of research and evidence based nursing practice
  • Awareness of how audit may influence quality of patient care
  • Knowledge of and participation in audit
  • Substantial post registration experience within Frailty
  • Substantial management experience
  • Shift/Ward/Speciality leadership experience
  • Evidence of undertaking professional responsibility for coordinating the patients pathway of care
  • Evidence of enhanced clinical practice
  • Experience of teaching and developing practice in others

Desirable

  • Experience of gathering and analysing complex information
  • Experience of project management
  • Experience of participating in research

Qualifications

Essential

  • Registered Nurse or Allied Health Professional with current NMC or HCPC Registration
  • Educated to Degree level
  • Educated to Masters level, or willing to work towards
  • Independent Prescriber, or willing to work towards
  • Record of continuous managerial, educational and professional development

Desirable

  • Mentorship course/qualification or equivalent experience
  • Recognised management or leadership course/qualification

Other

Essential

  • Motivated individual, commitment to personal & professional development
  • Willing to undertake further study if role requires
  • Ability to travel various hospital/community locations by own car/assisted driver

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).

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.

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).

Employer details

Employer name

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hospital and Fingerpost Health Centre

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

https://www.sthk.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer details

Employer name

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Address

Whiston Hospital and Fingerpost Health Centre

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Employer's website

https://www.sthk.nhs.uk (Opens in a new tab)


Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Nurse Consultant

Helen Dobrowolska

Helen.Dobrowolska3@sthk.nhs.uk

01516765111

Details

Date posted

20 March 2023

Pay scheme

Agenda for change

Band

Band 7

Salary

£41,659 to £47,672 a year Per Annum pro rata if part time

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time, Part-time

Reference number

409-5009243

Job locations

Whiston Hospital and Fingerpost Health Centre

Warrington Road

Prescot

L35 5DR


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)