Virtual Ward Qualified Advanced Clinical Practitioner

Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust; Lewisham; Hybrid; GBP 40,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare trust in London seeks an Advanced Clinical Practitioner for its Virtual Ward team. The role involves conducting clinical assessments, managing patient care, and working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team. Candidates should complete the competency framework for Band 8a or may be considered for Band 7 based on experience. A full UK driving license is required for community visits. This position offers a unique opportunity to contribute to integrated healthcare delivery.

Benefits

Engagement programs

Career development opportunities

Supportive work environment

Qualifications

• Must complete ACP competency framework to progress to Band 8a.
• Essential to have a full UK driving license for community visits.
• Consideration for Band 7 if significant clinical experience is demonstrated.

Responsibilities

• Provide assessments for patients both remotely and face-to-face.
• Manage Virtual Ward caseload and supervise junior team members.
• Assess, diagnose, and treat patients with undiagnosed presentations.
• Order and interpret tests, initiate drug therapy as per guidelines.

Skills

Advanced assessment skills

Clinical management

Supervision skills

Communication skills

Education

Completion of ACP competency framework

Full UK driving license

Job description

The ACP will contribute to a new model of care by working collaboratively as part of the integrated multidisciplinary Virtual Ward team. They will provide remote and face‑to‑face clinical assessments, with a particular focus on frailty, long‑term conditions, and sub‑acute presentations, supporting patients at the interface of community and acute services.

Completion of the Lewisham & Greenwich NHS Trust ACP competency framework is required to progress to a Band 8a. A full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential for community visits as part of the role.

While this post is advertised at Band 8a, we also consider applications from experienced clinicians who demonstrate the potential to develop into the role. For the right candidate with significant clinical experience, we may consider appointing at Band 7 in a trainee capacity, with progression to Band 8a on successful completion of agreed competencies and portfolio requirements.

Working for our organisation

Our people are our greatest asset. When we feel supported and happy at work, this positivity reaches those very people we are here for, the patients. Engaged employees perform at their best and our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) initiatives contribute to cultivating a culture of engagement. We have four staff networks, a corporate EDI Team and a suite of programmes and events which aim to insert the five aspirations:

• Improving representation at senior levels of staff with disabilities, from black, Asian, and ethnic minorities background, identify as LGBTQ+ and women, through improved recruitment and leadership development
• Widening access (anchor institution) and employability
• Improving the experience of staff with disability
• Improving the EDI literacy and confidence of trust staff through training and development
• Making equalities mainstream, Clinical

Clinical Responsibilities

• Provide an advanced and comprehensive assessment, based on a specialist body of knowledge, under supervision.
• Direct responsibility for the management of patients within the Virtual Ward caseload and for the supervision of junior members of the multidisciplinary team.
• Appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients, resulting in safe management and appropriate referral or discharge of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations.
• Order and interpret investigations, laboratory tests, x‑rays and act on results as appropriate.
• Initiate drug therapy/medication within the parameters of agreed clinical guidelines and in accordance with present legislation supply and prescribing of medicines.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of systems and processes that facilitate patient flow.
• Maintain own clinical development by keeping abreast of new treatments and technologies.
• Improve the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients.
• Rigorously review all aspects of the patient’s plan of care and identify and address issues that may result in a sub‑standard service.
• Contribute to the review and development of integrated care pathways and clinical guidelines to ensure a standardised approach.
• Under supervision practice with confidence and competence within professional guidelines and code of conduct (NMC/HCPC/GPhC).
• Ensure accurate documentation and records of patient care are kept.
• Assist in the development of assessment systems, processes and tools within the clinical setting and adjacent clinical/assessment areas.
• Adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care.
• Actively implement effective systems and processes for infection control management and relevant audit within their clinical area.
• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, ensuring patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Communicate patient conditions verbally and in writing to other members of the healthcare team and contribute to the decision‑making processes in patient management; acting as an advocate for patients and colleagues.
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance e.g., patient liaison service, and provide information in an accurate format to all patients.
• Be able to anticipate barriers to effective communication and take action to improve communication.

Management and Leadership

• Choose an area of special interest within Advanced Clinical Practice with the intention to develop and take forward in the ACP role, also considering the needs of the service.
• Develop own leadership skills within the Advanced Clinical Practitioner Team.
• Contribute to the development of a specialist service and act as a change agent, facilitating change whilst encouraging others to be innovative and adaptable.
• Contribute to evidence‑based policies and procedures specifically required by the team.
• Contribute to development of clinical competencies for junior staff working within the team.
• Develop and maintain effective communication with the multidisciplinary team to ensure high standards of care.
• Work collaboratively with representatives of other clinical areas, disciplines and services to provide a seamless pathway of care.
• Participate in the recruitment, selection and retention of staff.
• Be conversant with all Trust policies and procedures and ensure they are correctly implemented.
• Represent the Trust on National Forums related to Advanced Clinical Practice.
• Adhere to confidentiality at all times with sensitive personal data.
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
• Help identify, plan and assist in the implementation of goals for clinical development of staff working within the designated clinical setting and adjacent assessment areas.
• Develop and maintain a positive learning environment for the team by providing support, ensuring developmental requirements of junior staff are addressed.
• Assist in the provision of clinical supervision and provide the opportunity to reflect and discuss areas of practice.
• Participate in teaching programmes for nursing in the care of patients with a range of clinical presentations as defined by the clinical area of practice.

Audit and Research

• Contribute/assist in the development of multidisciplinary research and clinical audit in the clinical setting and adjacent assessment areas, implementing effective and evidence‑based practice.
• Develop research skills and provide support and appropriate implementation strategies for changes in clinical practice.
• Participate and contribute to any ongoing regional and national research to evaluate the effectiveness of care strategies related to the patient experience.
• Share best practice through publications and attendance/presentation opportunities at conference level.

Resource Management

• Apply sound financial evaluation to proposed service developments.
• Maintain accurate records in relation to equipment used and maintained.

Risk Management

• Ensure that systems are in place to manage, reduce and prevent clinical risk to self and others.
• Monitor incidents highlighted by members of the team and communicate to appropriate areas to address risk issues.
• Promote best practice in health & safety, utilising unit and Trust policies.

We reserve the right to close the post before the stated closing date; please apply early. We do not contact applicants with the outcome of the shortlisting. If you have been shortlisted, you will receive an invite to an assessment day or interview.

As a local employer and anchor institution we work closely with our community to recruit locally and we welcome applications from a wide variety of people to ensure our workforce is reflective of the local communities which we serve. We encourage all suitable candidates to apply, including Black, Asian or other ethnic minorities, those living with a disability (visible or not) or who are LGBTQ+. We have a number of active staff networks including Disability, LGBT+, Multicultural Inclusion and Women's staff networks to bring staff together and celebrate diversity across our whole workforce.

Please note that sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route is subject to Trust allocation and UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) approval.

About Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust

Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust, (LGT), is a community‑focused provider of local and acute care, delivering high‑quality services to over one million people living across the London boroughs of Lewisham, Greenwich, and Bexley. We provide whole‑life care and are here to support our communities to live healthier lives as well as to take care of them when they need us the most.

Employing almost 7,500 colleagues, affectionately known as Team LGT, we provide services at Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, University Hospital Lewisham, and at over a dozen community settings in Lewisham. We also provide some services at Queen Mary's Hospital in Sidcup.

We have recently launched our new vision and values to mark the LGT10 – the tenth anniversary of our Trust forming in 2013. Our trust vision is to be exceptional. In the quality of our patient care; our support for colleagues; and in the difference we make through our partnerships and in our communities.

To achieve this we value Respect, Compassion, and Inclusion; Being accountable over staying comfortable; Listening over always knowing best; and Succeeding together over achieving alone. You can read more about our visions and values here.

Our hospitals and community sites provide a wide range of inpatient and outpatient services, as well as emergency and planned care. The Trust is rated as "good" or "outstanding" in over three‑quarters of the services inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

Every year our work includes performing 10,000 procedures in our theatres; bringing seven and a half thousand new lives into the world; carrying out 570,000 visits to patients in their homes or communities and providing emergency care for more than 300,000 patients arriving in our busy Urgent and Emergency Departments.

LGT is a centre for the education and training of medical students enrolled with King's College London's GKT School of Medical Education. We are a training centre for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. We are pioneering new roles that will support the changing needs of our patients and are one of the largest employers of physician associates in the country.

We are committed to working with our partners to deliver the best outcomes for our local communities. This means playing an active role in the South East London Integrated Care System (ICS), and in formal partnerships including the South East London Acute Provider Collaborative, provider partnerships with our local mental health trusts and borough‑based boards of the IC System in Bexley, Greenwich and Lewisham.