Frailty Practitioner

Job Overview

We are seeking a highly skilled Frailty Practitioner to join our multidisciplinary team at East and North Hertfordshire NHS Trust. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing comprehensive assessments and care planning for patients with frailty, working closely with Consultant Geriatricians, ACPs, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Pharmacists, and Therapists.

The ideal candidate will have a keen interest in frailty and experience of working with older adults. They will be able to demonstrate a working knowledge of Frailty assessments and the role of the Frailty CNS/Practitioner.

The team is motivated to share learning about Frailty and the importance of managing complex patients across the wider trust. The post holder will support with this and contribute to the development of new pathways and services.

The role is a 12-month secondment starting in July 2024 and ending July 2025. The successful candidate will be expected to work independently and as part of a team, providing education to the wider trust on the effective management of patients living with frailty.

Main Duties of the Job

The Frailty Practitioner will provide bespoke assessments for identified patients who are living with frailty while they are inpatients. They will work independently carrying out nurse-led assessments to support ward staff to effectively and proactively manage this complex patient group.

The role will involve creating individualized assessments to support the ward teams to manage this complex patient group, aiming to reduce deconditioning, reduce length of stay, and improve patient outcomes.

The successful candidate will also support pilot activity and contribute to the development of new pathways and services.

Person SpecificationQualifications/TrainingEssential Criteria

• RGN/HCPC registered with a degree or relevant experience
• Teaching and mentoring qualification or evidence of professional continuous development and teaching

Desirable Criteria

• Post-registration module Advanced Clinical Assessment skills or willingness to undertake as part of professional development

Previous ExperienceEssential Criteria

• Previous experience in clinical experience within Frailty or Geriatric medicine or proven relevant experience
• Ability to work independently and effectively co-ordinate own workload under pressure
• Evidence of teaching/mentoring in practice

SkillsEssential Criteria

• Venipuncture and cannulation
• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work as part of a team but also independently
• Proficient in computer use – accessing a variety of systems and the use of Microsoft Office
• Relevant experience at B6 level Ability to support and develop junior staff/colleagues

Desirable Criteria

• Advanced clinical skills

KnowledgeEssential Criteria

• Working knowledge of Frailty assessments used within the service
• Demonstrate knowledge of the role of Frailty CNS/Practitioner
• Willingness to undertake research and audits to further develop the service

We value diversity and inclusion and are committed to creating a workplace that is welcoming and inclusive for all employees. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and have achieved our status in 2019.

We are committed to supporting our staff with flexible working arrangements and are proud to be a carer-friendly environment. We recognize the importance of balancing work and caring responsibilities and are committed to supporting our staff in this area.

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