Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Frailty Practitioner (Band 7) to join our Virtual Ward (Hospital at Home)service within East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering safe, effective, person-centred care for people living with frailty, enabling them to remain in the place they call home and avoid unnecessary hospital admission.
Working as an autonomous practitioner, you will provide advanced clinical assessments, case management and urgent support for acutely unwell patients identified for hospital at home care. You will work closely with Geriatricians, community teams, primary care, acute colleagues, and voluntary sector partners to deliver integrated, holistic care that improves outcomes, supports early discharge, and promotes independence.
This role is ideally suited to a clinician with strong assessment skills, a passion for frailty care, and the ability to work confidently across organisational boundaries. You will be part of a friendly, innovative, multidisciplinary team committed to reshaping care for older people across East Sussex.
Main duties of the job
- Deliver advanced clinical assessments and interventions for people living with frailty who require rapid response or short-term Virtual Ward (hospital at home) support.
- Use expert clinical judgement to identify deterioration, stabilise acute illness, and prevent avoidable hospital admission.
- Provide case management for an identified caseload, coordinating care throughout the episode.
- Lead and contribute to daily multidisciplinary board rounds, ensuring safe and effective decision-making for each patient.
- Develop personalised management and treatment plans in partnership with patients, families, carers, and relevant health and social care professionals.
- Work collaboratively with acute hospitals to identify suitable patients for early supported discharge into the Virtual Ward.
- Communicate highly complex or sensitive information in a clear, supportive manner to patients, families, and professional colleagues.
- Make direct referrals, order investigations, and--if qualified--prescribe safely within your scope of practice (or work toward this within 12 months).
- Support service improvement through involvement in pathway development, audit, quality initiatives, and shared learning across teams.
- Provide education, coaching and support to patients, carers and colleagues to promote understanding of frailty, self-management, and safe care.
- Maintain accurate, timely, and high-quality documentation using Trust systems.
- Travel flexibly across community localities (own vehicle required).
About us
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.
Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.
We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional degree with NMC / HCPC registration
- Nonmedical independent prescriber / supplementary prescribing, or willingness to undertake training within 12mths of coming into post.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in a relevant area of specialist practice
Desirable
- Relevant Masters level study e.g Advanced physical assessment skills
- Trained to interpret microbiology and pathology results
- Teaching and Assessing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner in either an acute or community environment
- Good understanding of working in partnership with multi-agencies to support patient centred care
- Case management experience
- *Working with older people living with frailty and/or complex Conditions
Desirable
- Experience in managing acute patients
- Experience in a Community setting, or gateway area
- Experience of working between other health and social care organisations /settings
Skills
Essential
- Advanced clinical skills i.e. cannulation, administration of IV medication and clinical decision-making skills to support patient centred care
- Able to demonstrate effective leadership and organisational skills
- Working knowledge of both local and national policy issues pertinent to frail older people i.e. legislation and disease management
- Confident in the use of NHS IT systems, in particular Microsoft applications, SystmOne, NerveCentre
- Advanced clinical decision-making skills to support patient centred care
- Up to date working knowledge of both local and national policy issues pertinent to frail older people i.e. legislation and disease management
- Evidence of ability to direct and co ordinate complex programmes of care working autonomously and collaboratively across organisational boundaries
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings across organisational boundaries and with the general public
- Ability to adapt to working in challenging environments to manage complex patient centred care
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to meet patient need
- Good keyboard and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office - Word and Outlook.
Desirable
- Ability to influence and manage a variety of change management programmes - embracing and implementing change to provide high quality health outcomes
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Relevant professional degree with NMC / HCPC registration
- Nonmedical independent prescriber / supplementary prescribing, or willingness to undertake training within 12mths of coming into post.
- Evidence of continuing professional development in a relevant area of specialist practice
Desirable
- Relevant Masters level study e.g Advanced physical assessment skills
- Trained to interpret microbiology and pathology results
- Teaching and Assessing qualification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working as an autonomous practitioner in either an acute or community environment
- Good understanding of working in partnership with multi-agencies to support patient centred care
- Case management experience
- *Working with older people living with frailty and/or complex Conditions
Desirable
- Experience in managing acute patients
- Experience in a Community setting, or gateway area
- Experience of working between other health and social care organisations /settings
Skills
Essential
- Advanced clinical skills i.e. cannulation, administration of IV medication and clinical decision-making skills to support patient centred care
- Able to demonstrate effective leadership and organisational skills
- Working knowledge of both local and national policy issues pertinent to frail older people i.e. legislation and disease management
- Confident in the use of NHS IT systems, in particular Microsoft applications, SystmOne, NerveCentre
- Advanced clinical decision-making skills to support patient centred care
- Up to date working knowledge of both local and national policy issues pertinent to frail older people i.e. legislation and disease management
- Evidence of ability to direct and co ordinate complex programmes of care working autonomously and collaboratively across organisational boundaries
- Ability to communicate effectively in a variety of settings across organisational boundaries and with the general public
- Ability to adapt to working in challenging environments to manage complex patient centred care
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload, to meet patient need
- Good keyboard and IT skills including knowledge of Microsoft Office - Word and Outlook.
Desirable
- Ability to influence and manage a variety of change management programmes - embracing and implementing change to provide high quality health outcomes
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.
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.
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).
