Responsive Services are pleased to offer an exciting opportunity for a Band 6 Community Sister/Charge Nurse to join our Virtual Ward team. This role sits within a friendly, supportive, and forward‑thinking service, working under the leadership of the Virtual Ward Team Lead.
As part of the Responsive Services team, you will also work collaboratively within the wider Urgent Community Response and Virtual Ward teams.
Aligned with the NHS Virtual Ward model, our service enables patients to receive safe, effective, and high‑quality care in the comfort of their own homes as an alternative to hospital admission. Using a combination of clinical expertise and digital technology, we support acutely unwell patients to be cared for safely at home while maintaining close clinical oversight.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and compassionate nurse who is passionate about delivering innovative, patient‑centred care. You will work as part of a multidisciplinary team to provide outstanding care to patients and their families, ensuring a seamless and responsive service.
The Virtual Ward operates 7 days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, offering continuity of care and flexibility in service delivery.
The postholder will work in a caring, supportive, and professional environment, delivering high‑quality, person‑centred nursing care to patients within the Virtual Ward. The focus of the role is to promote patient health, wellbeing, and independence while ensuring safe and effective care in a home setting.
The Community Sister/Charge Nurse will be expected to work autonomously, managing a defined caseload, while also contributing effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team. A key aspect of the role includes providing clinical leadership, supervision, and support to junior staff, fostering their development and confidence in delivering patient care.
You will be responsible for undertaking comprehensive and holistic patient assessments, developing and implementing care plans, and evaluating patient outcomes. Physical assessment skills are desirable; however, a willingness to undertake further training to develop these competencies is essential. The role also involves close collaboration with Frailty Consultant Physicians to ensure safe, responsive, and high‑quality care, including participation in daily virtual ward rounds and contributing to daily patient treatment and care planning.
Due to the community‑based nature of this role, a full UK driving licence and access to a car are essential.
First Community is a staff‑owned social enterprise rated Good by CQC, delivering NHS community services across East Surrey and parts of West Sussex. We offer all our staff NHS terms and conditions, high‑quality training and development opportunities, flexible working, an inclusive and friendly work environment, NHS pension, flexible retirement options and various employee benefits.
We welcome applications from Black, Asian and minority ethnic candidates, LGBTQ+ candidates and candidates with disabilities. All applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments.
The post holder will work under the direction of the Virtual Ward Matron/Team Lead and in collaboration with the East Surrey Hospital based Virtual Ward Frailty Team (Consultants, Junior Doctors, Frailty Matrons and Pharmacists).
The role will require flexibility, working alongside the Referral Hub, Urgent Community Response and Intermediate Care Teams as part of Responsive Services.
The postholder will collaborate with Community Nursing and Specialist Health Care Teams across First Community, liaising with social care and voluntary agencies to deliver excellent standards of patient care.
The post holder is responsible for a comprehensive assessment utilising extended health assessment skills to identify health and social care needs of patients within the Virtual Ward and Responsive Services, aiming to facilitate early discharge from hospital and reduce the need for acute admissions where the patient’s care can be safely managed at home.
You will be expected to communicate effectively with family, carers, the multidisciplinary team, voluntary organisations and other agencies, to facilitate a timely discharge from the acute environment. Utilising a variety of strategies to maintain independence and support the patient to remain at home, you will provide physical assessment, practical nursing care, education and training for patients and carers.
You will act as a role model for junior team members and contribute to the promotion of an environment which encourages and supports the development of staff using evidence‑based nursing practice.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
£39,959 to £48,117 a year +5% HCAS per annum, pro rata