Older Persons Health Practitioner
| Company: | NHS Jobs |
|---|---|
| Salary: | Negotiable |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Plymouth, PL9 0BE |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 28 Jul 2026 |
| Closing date: | 10 Aug 2026 |
Summary
Job responsibilities Older people need personalised care which is often managed by multiple different health and social teams. They report finding the systems difficult to access and to challenging to navigate. It is important that people living with frailty have access to proactive, joined-up care to maximise health and wellbeing and prevent problems arising in the first place. Equally important is access to rapid, specialist services in the event of a health crisis. Our aim is for the healthcare of the patient to flow seamlessly between health and social teams supporting patients to have more choice, independence, and resilience, ensuring patients are able receive early intervention, plan their care and experience quality joined up services that work for them Based on an integrated approach, the Older Persons Practitioner will join the existing team, working in an integrated way with the wider MDT in the PCN to provide a pro-active service for the older population. The Older Persons Practitioner will be part of the primary healthcare multi-disciplinary team and will utilise the skills of the wider existing primary care team. Main Duties and Responsibilities To complete the requested assessments for registered patients allocated to the team and maintain appropriate records of treatment given and NHS services provided; When appropriate, to make a relevant diagnosis and management plan, implement this plan and subsequently evaluate it. Carry out consultations and physical assessments as requested, formulate a diagnosis and maintain high quality contemporaneous records using SystmOne (mobile working will be facilitated with personal laptop and internet connection). The post-holder will make him/herself available to undertake visits to housebound patients and nursing homes as requested, assessing patients, liaising with the service GPs or registered GP. The post-holder will play a pivotal role at Ageing Well MDT meetings where possible. Liaise with other members of community teams, as appropriate to individual patient needs. Arrange for the referral of patients when it is possible for the practitioner to make the referral, otherwise defer the need for a referral back to the GP. Note any possible issues with medication compliance identified during any patient contact and proactively liaise with the PCN Prescribing Team. Actively work with the wider MDT by working with, but not exclusively, the community matrons, community nurses, discharge co-ordinators, elderly care teams and community hospitals, dieticians, tissue viability team, CPN, CRT, physio, SALT, falls prevention services. Be prepared to make clinical judgement based on either provided data and noted review or both to reach a conclusion regarding whether a patient needs to be assessed by the team. Evaluate MDT data to determine the need for patients to be reviewed by the team. Maintain appropriate levels and means of communication i.e. mobile phone, professional email Clinical governance will be provided by the Clinical Director, GP partners and the lead GPs. Training opportunities can be discussed when appropriate. Professional Responsibilities Have awareness of, and compliance with, all relevant PCN and Practice policies/guidelines e.g. confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, safeguarding etc. Provide regular feedback to the GP(s) within the service. Maintain high standards of personal accountability Required to effectively communicate with older patients and their families, other team members, doctors and other hospital staff in the course of the duties. Contribute to evaluation/audit of the project and clinical standard setting within the team including collecting data for audits. Participate through individual performance review, in matching organisational aims with personal objectives. At all times provide a caring service and to treat those with whom they come into contact in a courteous and respectful manner. Demonstrate their commitment by their regular attendance and the efficient completion of all tasks allocated to them. Adhere to Equality and Good Relations duties throughout the course of their employment. Ensure the ongoing confidence of the public in-service provision Carry out such duties as may be reasonably required To ensure practice is evidence based and high quality and to acknowledge personal limitations ensuring patient safety remains paramount. Have an awareness of the desired project outcomes, and work towards fulfilling these.