Virtual Ward Clinical Lead-Surrey Downs H&C

Job summary

Surrey Downs Health and Care

SDHC Home First Services supports the approach of "why not home, why not today?" and focus on the reduction of hospital attendances through admission avoidance. Wherever possible, patients should be supported home, where this is not possible alternative pathways are available. Staying in hospital for longer than necessary has a negative impact on patient outcomes.

Surrey Downs Health & Care and Epsom & St Helier University Hospitals Trust have developed an Integrated model of care which brings together primary care, secondary care and community services within Surrey Downs Place to support patients by offering acute level care, monitoring and treatment in their own homes. This offering is a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care preventing avoidable admissions into hospital and supporting early discharge out of hospital. This Home First service runs 7 days a week, 8am to 8pm. It is delivered by a multidisciplinary team including geriatric consultants, doctors, nurses, therapists, physician associates, paramedics, pharmacists, rehabilitation support workers and administration. The team offers medical assessment, daily review, MDT discussion, and management of conditions.

Home First encompasses the following functions: Virtual Ward, Urgent Community Response, Front Door, Home First+, Recovery at Home, Mary Seacole Frailty Unit

Main duties of the job

• The post holder will be an experienced healthcare practitioner who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for presenting patients in the UCR and Virtual Ward within the HomeFirst service. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills, for patients within the department.
• The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision making process. They will work collaboratively within the MDT to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing professional leadership as required. In order to work at this level, professional body e.g. NMC requirements for advanced practice must be met.
• The ACP will use specialist knowledge and skills to provide healthcare independently to patients. The ACP is accountable for the total episode of care for patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed needs
• The post holder will act as a role model, delivering advanced practice and promoting clinical effectiveness in care. They will be required to work autonomously in delivering independent assessment, clinical examination, diagnosis, clinical decision making and planning of care and treatment, diagnosis, prescribing, health promotion and safe discharge of patients.
• The post holder will work closely with all members of the multidisciplinary team and will play an integral role in the operational/strategic development of the service.

About us

Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.

Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:

• The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
• CSH Surrey
• Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust
• Surrey Council County

Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.

It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.

In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.