Job overview

We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Frailty Practitioner (Band 7) to join our Virtual Ward (Hospital at Home) service within East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. This is an exciting opportunity to play a key role in delivering safe, effective, person‑centred care for people living with frailty, enabling them to remain in the place they call home and avoid unnecessary hospital admission.

Working as an autonomous practitioner, you will provide advanced clinical assessments, case management and urgent support for acutely unwell patients identified for hospital at home care. You will work closely with Geriatricians, community teams, primary care, acute colleagues, and voluntary sector partners to deliver integrated, holistic care that improves outcomes, supports early discharge, and promotes independence.

This role is ideally suited to a clinician with strong assessment skills, a passion for frailty care, and the ability to work confidently across organisational boundaries. You will be part of a friendly, innovative, multidisciplinary team committed to reshaping care for older people across East Sussex.

Main duties of the job

• Deliver advanced clinical assessments and interventions for people living with frailty who require rapid response or short‑term Virtual Ward (hospital at home) support.
• Use expert clinical judgement to identify deterioration, stabilise acute illness, and prevent avoidable hospital admission. 
• Provide case management for an identified caseload, coordinating care throughout the episode.
• Lead and contribute to daily multidisciplinary board rounds, ensuring safe and effective decision‑making for each patient.
• Develop personalised management and treatment plans in partnership with patients, families, carers, and relevant health and social care professionals.
• Work collaboratively with acute hospitals to identify suitable patients for early supported discharge into the Virtual Ward.
• Communicate highly complex or sensitive information in a clear, supportive manner to patients, families, and professional colleagues.
• Make direct referrals, order investigations, and—if qualified—prescribe safely within your scope of practice (or work toward this within 12 months).
• Support service improvement through involvement in pathway development, audit, quality initiatives, and shared learning across teams.
• Provide education, coaching and support to patients, carers and colleagues to promote understanding of frailty, self‑management, and safe care.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and high‑quality documentation using Trust systems.
• Travel flexibly across community localities (own vehicle required).

Working for our organisation

A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.

In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year. 

There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.

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Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.

We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.