Job overview

Critical Care Outreach Practitioner, Band 7

Part -Time:  30 hours

The Critical Care Outreach Practitioner will operate autonomously within the critical care outreach service, delivering early intervention through comprehensive assessment, monitoring, and management of acutely ill adult patients across all clinical settings. The postholder will provide expert clinical advice and support to ward-based staff responsible for the care of critically ill patients, thereby enhancing patient safety and clinical outcomes.

The role involves active participation in the multidisciplinary Hospital at Night (HAN) team, with responsibilities that include reducing the incidence of adverse events, such as cardiac arrests, supporting the deteriorating patient pathway, and promoting improved patient outcomes. Close collaboration with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) team is required to facilitate timely admission to and safe discharge from ICU and High Dependency Unit (HDU) settings.

The role also entails collaboration with the Learning and Development department to deliver key clinical education programmes, including ALERT, BEACH, tracheostomy care, and non-invasive ventilation training.

This post requires commitment to a 24/7 rota, encompassing day and night shifts, weekends, and bank holidays, to ensure the uninterrupted provision of the critical care outreach service.

Main duties of the job

• Autonomously assess, monitor, and manage acutely ill adult patients across all clinical areas to provide early intervention.

• Provide expert clinical advice and support to ward staff caring for critically unwell patients.

• Participate actively in the multidisciplinary Hospital at Night (HAN) team to reduce incidents and support patients who are deteriorating.

• Collaborate closely with ICU and HDU teams to facilitate timely admissions and safe discharges.

• Collaborate with clinical managers and ward leaders to enhance the early recognition and timely escalation of deteriorating patients.

• Champion the use of NEWS2 for early detection and management of patient deterioration.

• Lead the identification and treatment of sepsis in adults aged 16 and over.

• Support the palliative care team in end-of-life care pathways and treatment escalation planning.

• Assist with delivering clinical training programmes, including ALERT, BEACH, tracheostomy care, and non-invasive ventilation.

• Maintain accurate clinical records and contribute to quality improvement initiatives.

• Work a 24/7 rota covering days, nights, weekends, and bank holidays to ensure service continuity.

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 welcome applications for flexible working arrangements, accommodating requests where possible to support our staff and patient needs.

The Trust is committed to equality and welcomes applications from all, regardless of background. Adjustments can be made for disabled candidates. Early application is advised as vacancies may close once sufficient applications are received. 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.