Frailty Practitioner - Emergency Care

Exciting opportunity to join a team of Frailty Practitioners based in the Emergency Department.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated Occupational Therapist, Physiotherapist, Paramedic or Registered Nurse with a passion for working with older people, to embrace this role within the Emergency Department.

The frail elderly population requires specialist clinical care. Frail elderly is one of the biggest cohort of patients seen in the acute trust and lends itself naturally to innovative ways of working. We are looking for clinicians with NHS experience working in Emergency Medicine, Acute Medicine, Elderly Care or community based admission avoidance services.

The successful applicant will screen older patients attending the Emergency Department to identify those living with frailty, commence Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and consider alternative pathways to acute hospital admission.

Peer supervision structure is in place within the team, with additional professional supervision provided by Professional Lead Therapist or Senior Nurse, dependent upon professional background of successful applicant.

The service operates between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week. There is a requirement for regular weekend and bank holiday working across the team. The rolling shift pattern will enable consistent, predictable work pattern for staff to manage a good home and work life balance

Main duties of the job

The Trust is part of the Acute Frailty Network which provides opportunity to network nationally through national events and conferences and lead on new ways of working with the Frail Elderly population.

The successful applicant will screen older patients attending the Emergency Department to identify those living with frailty, commence Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) and consider alternative pathways to acute hospital admission, including referral to our existing Emergency Department Occupational Therapy team.

Peer supervision structure in place within the team, with additional professional supervision provided by Professional Lead Therapist or Department Matron, dependent upon professional background of successful applicant.

About us

Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one of the largest general hospital foundation trusts in the country.

We provide acute medical and surgical services to Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire and specialist services such as cancer, dialysis and eye surgery to a wider population across Berkshire and its borders.

The Trust is part of the Acute Frailty Network which provides opportunity to network nationally through national events and conferences and lead on new ways of working with the Frail Elderly population.

Job responsibilities

The service operates between 8am and 8pm, 7 days a week. There is a requirement for regular weekend and bank holiday working across the team. The rolling shift pattern will enable consistent, predictable work pattern for staff to manage a good home and work life balance.

For general enquiries please contact Anna Bargent, Frailty Service

Person Specification Qualification

• To have a degree or other recognised qualification OT/PT/Nursing
• Working at a Masters level, as demonstrated by ongoing CPD
• HCPC/NIMC registered

Experience

• Substantial specialist experience in at a senior level
• In depth understanding of a broad range of non - elective admissions, admission avoidance and work with frail, Elderly patients
• Advanced knowledge and experience of a wide range of approaches to the management of frail Elderly patients and falls prevention, including advanced clinical reasoning and treatment skills
• Post-graduate training/qualification in the management of Frail Elderly patients and falls prevention
• Experience of teaching and presenting to other staff
• Experience of supervising and developing other staff and students
• Able to demonstrate continuing professional development at a post graduate level e.g. up to date CPD portfolio

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.