Role Description

Rapid Response Matron

Band 7

Our vision is for the people of Croydon to experience well-co-ordinated care and support in the most appropriate setting, which is truly person-centred and helps them to maintain their independence.

We are developing the services that we currently provide to reduce hospital admissions and to facilitate earlier discharge from hospital through advanced holistic assessment and technology and ensuring patients have the safest best care that is delivered in their home environment via the local Virtual ward.

The Urgent Crisis Response and Virtual Ward is an admission avoidance service available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• The post holder will require advanced assessment skills and have the ability to prescribe a plan of care that will support patients with complex needs through an acute episode in the community in order to avoid a hospital admission.
• Candidates will need to be motivated and innovative with strong leadership and communication skills, to support the development of community services and will also be supporting patients on the local virtual ward.

Please note that, should this post attract sufficient interest and we are inundated with applications, we may choose to close at an earlier date.

Interview Date TBC

Main duties of the job

• Working as part of the Urgent Crisis Response and Virtual Ward team, the post-holder will provide assessment and treatment of patients during a crisis, identifying complex and specialist needs and will develop, implement and evaluate programmes of care.
• They will assess the health and psychosocial needs of the patients, families and carers, plan and implement treatment and nursing care, and mobilise a wide range of services to meet their needs.
• Working as a competent clinician with a high degree of autonomy, the post-holder will manage undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems using advanced clinical skills by incorporating physical assessment, diagnosis and independent prescribing.
• The post-holder will work collaboratively with the team and external providers, to ensure the right care, by the right person, at the right time, and in the right place.
• They will aim to enable patients to regain independence or achieve their optimum rehabilitation potential, and to prevent unnecessary hospital admission.
• In addition, they will assist with facilitating early hospital discharge.
• As a senior member of the team, they will lead, manage and participate in coordinating the service.
• The post holder will be responsible for identifying patients for the telehealth pathway and for monitoring and supporting patients on a daily basis.
• In addition, the post holder will support other team members in delivering the telehealth service on a daily basis.
• The post holder will be expected to support the development and implementation of clinical pathways within the community.

Qualifications

• Registered General Nurse with current NMC registration
• Community nursing qualification e.g. DN, HV, Practice nurse or Advanced practitioner qualification.
• Completion of or willingness to undertake Independent (V300) prescribing study.

Desirable criteria

• Research and Development

Knowledge and Understanding

• Awareness of current professional nursing and NHS issues
• Evidence of up to date knowledge and skills in long term conditions
• Evidence of continuing professional development
• Awareness of current healthcare issues, policies and implications for practice

Experience

• Significant post qualification experience
• Recent experience in Management of staff
• Leadership course and evidence changing practice.

Desirable criteria

• Experience in the management telehealth within the community setting

Skills/Abilities

• Evidence of advanced clinical skills i.e. Physical assessment, decision making and psychological therapies.
• Capable of working and making decisions under own initiative
• Coach and mentor junior staff in clinical skills.
• Evidence of innovative practice
• Ability to develop and implement clinical pathways eg IV antibiotics and IC diuretics

Additional requirements

• Car driver, current UK licence and access to car for work purposes.
• IT skills

Your recruitment team

The NHS South West London Recruitment Hub is your dedicated recruitment team, here to support you at every stage of the process. If you have a query, please contact us:

Email: krft.askrecruitment@nhs.net

Your application

Please ensure your supporting statement clearly reflects the job description and person specification, as shortlisting will be based on these criteria.

Please refer to the latest UKVI guidance and ensure you have the appropriate right to work before applying for this role.

Use of Artificial Intelligence

We kindly ask that you avoid using AI tools to draft your application. We value authentic, individual responses that reflect your own experience and communication style.

References

Please provide a minimum of 3 years' employment and/or education history, including professional email addresses (not personal accounts such as Hotmail or Gmail). If you cannot provide these, please inform the interview panel to avoid delays in pre-employment checks.

Closing date

To help us manage recruitment efficiently, some vacancies may close early once we have received a sufficient number of applications.

Shortlisting

If you are successfully shortlisted, you will be contacted by email or SMS from the South West London Recruitment Hub. Please check your registered TRAC email regularly.

Application feedback

If you do not hear from us within four weeks of the closing date, please assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.

Safeguarding and DBS Checks

We are committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults. For roles with direct access to these groups, an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be required. All staff are expected to understand and uphold their safeguarding responsibilities as part of their role.