Job summary
- Main area
- ED Frailty Team
- Grade
- Band 7
- Contract
- Fixed term: 1 year (Maternity leave cover)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (Shift working within 7 day service including regular weekends)
- Job ref
- 193-7911780UCGB7-FRAILPRAC
- Employer
- Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Royal Berkshire Hospital
- Town
- Reading
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 28/04/2026 23:59
- Interview date
- 05/05/2026
Employer heading
Frailty Practitioner
Band 7
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust we put our patients at the heart of every element of health and care that we provide. The Trust works together as a community to deliver its vision which is “Working together to provide outstanding care for our community.”
Royal Berkshire Hospital are pleased to announce that following our CQC inspection we have been rated ‘Good’ with inspectors reporting that we have made significant improvements. The Trust’s overall rating has also improved to ‘good’.
We are Compassionate in our thoughts, words and actions
We are Aspirational and have a true desire to be dynamic and to innovate
We are Resourceful and responsible in the way we work and live
We are Excellent in our development, fairness and sharing best practice
At the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, we value candidates who bring their unique personalities, skills, and experiences to the Trust. When completing your application, we encourage you to highlight your individual achievements and strengths, showing us how they align with the requirements outlined in the job description and person specification. While we recognise that some applicants may use AI tools during the process, please be mindful that AI-generated responses can often lack the personal detail and relevance needed to demonstrate your suitability for the role. AI generated content is discouraged by the Trust and may diminish the candidates chances of success.
Amazing things happen at the Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust; delivered by amazing people so why don’t you come and join us. We offer a range of learning and development for all employees may you be clinical or non-clinical.
Please note: all vacancies automatically close when 50 applications have been received.
Job overview
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. The service aims to improve the frailty pathway at the front door of the hospital. 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 Trust is part of the Acute Frailty Network which provides opportunity to network nationally through events and conferences and lead on new ways of working with the Frail Elderly population.
There is 1x post available for 1 year to cover maternity leave (WTE).
Main duties of the job
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.
Promoting awareness of frailty and educating the wider Emergency Department team about the impacts of living with frailty forms part of this role. Excellent communication skills and a passion for the continued improvement in the quality of care given to frail older people are key.
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.
Working for our organisation
Diversity makes us interesting… Inclusion is what will make us outstanding.
Inequality exists and the journey to eliminate it is not easy. Every step we take will be a purposeful step forward to deliver a truly inclusive culture where all our people are enabled to deliver outstanding care, where background is no barrier, and where everyone can be their authentic self and we truly represent our patient community.
We are committed to equal opportunities and welcome applications from all sections of the community, regardless of any protected characteristics. Reasonable adjustments will be made for disabled applicants where possible. All applicants who have a disability and meet the minimum criteria for the post can opt for a guaranteed interview.
If you need additional help with your application please get in touch by calling the recruitment team on 0118 322 6997 or 0118 322 5342.
Our primary method of communication will be via email. However, if you would prefer to be contacted through a different method, please inform the recruitment team.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
To work at an advanced level by receiving referrals and independently assessing and treating own caseload of patients, ensuring evaluation and progression of treatment programmes to a high standard, and in line with National and Trust clinical guidelines, protocols and pathways where they exist.
To have clinical responsibility for patients under your care, including those who require highly complex admission avoidance support, and prioritise that work efficiently taking into account clinical and service priorities, using advanced clinical knowledge to underpin decisions.
To formulate and deliver an individual discharge plan based on advanced clinical knowledge of current practice, evidence based practice and community support options, using advanced clinical assessment and reasoning skills.
The post requires a flexible approach to working and requires the post holder to undertake weekend and evening commitments as required. This includes being active member of the weekend duty rota, and cover of statutory and public holidays, maintaining the competency required to work as the sole Frailty Practitioner within this clinical area.
Please see attached job description for further details.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Degree or other recognised qualification in Occupational Therapy / Physiotherapy / Nursing / Paramedic Science
- Working at Masters level as demonstrated by ongoing CPD
- Extensive post graduate experience
- Current HCPC / NMC registration
Experience
Essential criteria
- 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
Applicant requirements
You must have appropriate UK professional registration.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Anna Bargent
- Job title
- Frailty Service Lead
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0118 322 8871
- Additional information
I work Tuesdays and Thursdays plus alternate Sundays.
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