About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced and motivated ACP to join our growing Virtual Ward Service.
The Virtual Ward operates virtual beds across Nottinghamshire, delivering hospital-level care in patients' own homes through both admission avoidance and early supported discharge pathways. Working in partnership with Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, NEMS and primary care colleagues, the service plays a vital role in supporting system flow and reducing unnecessary hospital admissions.
As an ACP, you will work autonomously as an expert clinician, managing a complex caseload of patients who would otherwise require acute hospital admission. You will provide advanced assessment, diagnosis, treatment and clinical decision-making whilst working as part of a highly skilled multidisciplinary team.
This role offers a unique opportunity to influence the future development of Virtual Wards across Nottinghamshire, contributing to service improvement, education, leadership and research whilst delivering outstanding patient care.
Main duties of the job
Independently assess, diagnose, treat and manage patients with acute and complex healthcare needs within your scope of practice.
Undertake advanced clinical assessment and decision-making for patients admitted to Virtual Ward pathways.
Prescribe, review and optimise treatment plans in accordance with non-medical prescribing qualifications and professional standards.
Manage patients across both admission avoidance and early supported discharge pathways.
Use remote monitoring technology, clinical assessment and diagnostic reasoning to identify deterioration and initiate appropriate interventions.
Participate in consultant-led multidisciplinary team discussions and support clinical decision making.
Provide clinical leadership, advice and support to members of the wider multidisciplinary team.
Support the development of evidence-based pathways, policies and clinical standards.
Lead and contribute to quality improvement, audit, research and service evaluation activities.
Support education, supervision and development of colleagues across the Virtual Ward workforce.
Develop strong working relationships with acute, community, primary care and ambulance service partners to ensure integrated patient care.
About us
#TeamNottsHC comprises over 10,500 dedicated colleagues who #MakeADifference every day. We deliver intellectual disability, mental health, community health and forensic health services across Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and South Yorkshire. Our care is provided from over 80 sites, spanning community locations, acute settings and secure environments.
We are one of the largest mental health and community health Trusts in the East Midlands and one of Nottinghamshire's biggest employers. We also host national and regional services, such as the National High Secure Deaf Service and the Nottingham Centre for Transgender Health.
We offer a variety of employee-led staff networks, including Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) groups, the Green Champions network, the Freedom to Speak Up network, the Health and Wellbeing Champions network, and the Menopause Champions network. These networks play a vital role in supporting our diverse workforce and promoting a culture of inclusivity.
The health and wellbeing of colleagues is a top priority. We invest significantly in this through our in-house occupational health and staff counselling services, supported by a dedicated Health and Wellbeing team.
The Trust is committed to reducing its carbon emissions, with a specialised Energy and Environmental team working to ensure compliance with environmental legislation, enhance our environmental performance, and achieve our net-zero commitment.
Job description Job responsibilities
The successful candidate will provide advanced clinical leadership within the Virtual Ward service, acting as an autonomous practitioner responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of patients receiving acute care in their own homes.
The post holder will manage a complex caseload of patients admitted through admission avoidance and early supported discharge pathways, working closely with acute hospital consultants, General Practitioners, community services and the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure safe and effective care.
Using advanced clinical assessment skills, independent prescribing and complex decision-making, the ACP will develop and implement management plans, monitor treatment response, identify deterioration and coordinate escalation where required. The role requires a high degree of professional autonomy, supported by effective multidisciplinary working and strong clinical governance arrangements.
Alongside clinical practice, the ACP will contribute to the four pillars of advanced practice through leadership, education, research and service development activities. The post holder will support workforce development, supervise and educate colleagues, lead quality improvement initiatives and contribute to the ongoing evolution of Virtual Ward services across Nottinghamshire.
The role offers an exciting opportunity to influence the development of innovative models of care that improve patient outcomes, reduce avoidable hospital admissions and support high-quality care closer to home.
Person Specification
Values Essential
All colleagues are expected to demonstrate that they act in line with Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust Values: Trust Honesty Respect Compassion Teamwork All colleagues are expected to demonstrate an understanding of and commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) and how it applies to their role. The Trust's expectations are highlighted within our EDI Policy, and associated EDI and Human Rights legislation
Qualifications - Academic / Professional Essential
Recognised NMC or HCPC Degree/diploma V300 Non-Medical prescribing Recognised ACP Masters (or completion of the HEE supported portfolio route) qualification
Desirable
Postgraduate qualification in Frailty, Long-Term Conditions, Urgent Care or Clinical Assessment Qualification in Quality Improvement, Service Improvement or Project Management Leadership or Management qualification (e.g. ILM, NHS Leadership Academy programmes, PGCert Leadership).
Training Essential
Portfolio of relevant post qualification CPD including highly specialist clinical knowledge and evidence of competencies spanning all 4 pillars of Advanced Practice Evidence of management/leadership training and development
Desirable
Long term conditions management
Experience Essential
Experience and expertise in of assessing and managing complex caseloads Experience of leading service development Experience of effective multidisciplinary/agency working and established interpersonal and negotiation skills Experience of MDT teams Experience in using research evaluation / audit tools and demonstrating need Experience of managing and clinically supervising others
Desirable
Virtual Ward Experience Experience of virtual care Two years experience working as an ACP Experience of managing patients on admission avoidance and/or early supported discharge pathways Experience of working across organisational boundaries with acute, community and primary care services. Experience of developing clinical pathways, standard operating procedures or policies Experience presenting service developments or performance information to senior leaders, boards or system partners
Knowledge Essential
Expertise in knowledge of Virtual Ward Knowledge of National Policy and guidance Applied leadership knowledge
Desirable
Knowledge of community care challenges Understanding of national Virtual Ward and Hospital at Home models Understanding of NHS urgent and emergency care recovery and transformation programmes Knowledge of community-based alternatives to admission and Home First principles Understanding of demand, capacity and flow within urgent and emergency care systems
Skills Essential
Ability to manage own wellbeing with access to supervision to sustain this Reflective practitioner Autonomous and able to work without direct supervision Team builder and team member Motivated and a motivator Leadership skills Good reasoning skills Well organised Excellent written and oral communication skills Empathetic and psychologically minded
Desirable
Highly specialist skill in working with people Experience of leading service development Experience of supporting other staff and students Experience of managing a project or service initiative Ability to interpret service data and use it to support quality improvement and operational decision-making. Experience of leading quality improvement, audit or research projects Experience supervising trainee ACPs or supporting advanced clinical practice development Confident user of digital health technologies, remote monitoring platforms and virtual consultation methods
Contractual Requirements Essential
A full UK driving licence and vehicle for business use is required for this post; however reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled individuals in line with the Equality Act 2010. Flexible working as required by post - 7 day service
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 Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Address Ashfield Health and Wellebing Centre
Portland St
Kirkby in Ashfield
NG17 7AE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.nottinghamshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)