Band 6 Frailty Practitioner

Job overview

The post-holder is expected to deliver high-quality, evidence based care in a variety of care settings, working as part of the multidisciplinary team.

• Active participation in multi-disciplinary care including screening for frailty, providing a comprehensive geriatric assessment [CGA] at the front door with an aim of early supported discharge and admissions avoidance.
• Keeping accurate records of patient contact.
• Providing skilled assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of frailty conditions within defined guidelines and protocols.
• Providing specialist care to patients who have frailty throughout the Trust.
• Ordering, performing and interpreting relevant clinical test and investigations.
• Providing expert frailty advice and guidance to medical, nursing and other MDT colleagues as required.
• Recognise SPC (specialist palliative care team) as a key relationship and consider Advance Care Planning and use of the UCP (urgent care plan, London care record Cerner etc) as patient centred, admission avoidance tool

Working for our organisation

Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is one of England's top-performing and safest trusts. We operate two main acute hospital sites—Chelsea and Westminster Hospital and West Middlesex University Hospital—along with award-winning clinics across North West London.

Our nearly 7,500 staff care for a diverse population of 1.5 million, providing full clinical services, including maternity, A&E, and children’s services, plus specialist HIV and sexual health clinics. The Care Quality Commission rates us 'Good' in safety, effectiveness, care, and responsiveness, and 'Outstanding' in leadership and resource use.

We continually invest in our facilities, including a £30m expansion of critical care at Chelsea and Westminster and an £80m Ambulatory Diagnostic Centre at West Middlesex.

We value the unique perspectives and experiences that diverse teams bring and are committed to creating an environment where all voices are heard, respected, and empowered to succeed."

If you haven’t heard from us within three weeks of the closing date, your application was likely unsuccessful. Employment is subject to a six-month probationary period.

Some roles may require weekend shifts at multiple sites.

• Work both autonomously and as part of the wider MDT in the management of a caseload of patients across the Acute Frailty Service including within the Emergency Department and Acute Assessment Unit.
• Maintain effective and clear communication with patients, carers and professionals to ensure optimal service delivery.
• Engage effectively in the screening and assessment of frailty conditions including falls and delirium.
• Be able to respond urgently and undertake a rapid assessment safely and effectively to prevent hospital admission, facilitate timely discharge or identify clinical deterioration in a timely manner.
• Undertake an MDT supported comprehensive geriatric assessment including ordering, performing and interpreting relevant clinical examinations under the supervision of senior clinician, as well as providing advice and education to patients and the wider multi-disciplinary team.
• Maintain awareness of own professional limitations, act within own scope of practice and agreed guidelines and protocols. Make use of professional judgement when managing complex or unpredictable situations.
• Provide health promotion and advice to frail patients to reduce the risk of deterioration and related complications.
• Plan and conduct appropriate follow up of frail patients to ensure safe and effective acute frailty service delivery.

Person specification

Shortlisting

• HCPC or NMC registration.
• Experience of working with an elderly patient cohort and patients living with frailty within an acute setting.
• Demonstrate understanding and knowledge of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment.
• Able to work as part of the MDT.

• Experience of Audit / Research/service improvement project.
• Experience in managing falls and/or delirium.
• Experience in managing complex patients.
• Able to demonstrate a certain level of clinical reasoning and judgement.

• The closing date given is a guide only. There may be some occasions when we have to close a vacancy once sufficient applications have been received. You are therefore advised to submit your application as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
• Please check your emails regularly as this is how we will communicate with you throughout the recruitment process.
• If you have not heard from us within 3 weeks after the closing date, we regret that this usually means your application was not successful.
• In submitting an application, you authorise the Trust to confirm any previous NHS service details via the Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) process, should you be appointed to the post.
• During the recruitment process your identity documentation (ie passport, driving licence, visa etc) will be scanned using a device which recognises UV, infrared and machine-readable zone security features of the documents provided.
• Employment at the Trust is offered subject to successful completion of a six month probationary period.