Heart Failure Specialist Nurse; Virtual Ward

Heart Failure Specialist Nurse (Virtual Ward)

An exciting band 6 opportunity for registered nurses with cardiology experience is available in our heart failure virtual ward, part of the Dudley Heart Failure Team. The successful applicant will manage patients with heart failure over a 7‑day service and may also support hospital in‑reach to provide a seamless service. This role involves direct face‑to‑face and virtual monitoring to deliver acute patient management with a confirmed heart failure diagnosis in the community instead of hospital.

The virtual ward offers a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care enabled by technology, with patients admitted on a case‑by‑case basis for up to 14 days. The service aims to reduce patient length of stay, minimise hospital admissions/readmissions and assist early discharge by expediting safe and timely proactive support.

The post holder will deliver comprehensive clinical assessment and care aimed at improving quality of life, supporting and empowering patients and carers to manage their condition.

The post holder works as a specialist practitioner within the Dudley Heart Failure Team Virtual Ward, assisting in the provision of a comprehensive service to an allocated caseload of patients with chronic heart failure. This may include in‑reach into hospital and out‑reach in the community to provide a seamless service. The service is provided 7 days including bank holidays and aims to facilitate reduced length of stay, fewer admissions/readmissions and early discharge.

• Deliver comprehensive clinical assessment and care for virtual ward patients.
• Manage the virtual ward pathway including care coordination and transitions.
• Educate patients and carers on condition management.
• Perform investigations (ECG, labs, imaging) and interpret results.
• Monitor clinical status and adjust treatment plans.
• Escalate care and liaise with primary, secondary care, and community teams.

• An understanding of primary care and community nursing.
• A good working knowledge of NICE guidance for the management of chronic heart failure and a clear understanding of the role of the Heart Failure Specialist Nurse.
• A working knowledge of cardiological tests, particularly applicable to heart failure.

• Evidence of degree level study applicable to nursing.
• Non‑Medical Prescriber or willing to work towards.
• Accredited Teaching and assessing in Clinical Practice qualification or equivalent.
• Caledonian chronic heart failure qualification or other recognised accredited Heart Failure Qualification or willing to work towards.
• Accredited Qualification in Cardiology.

• Experience of delivering patient education programs to patients with Heart Disease/Heart Failure.
• Experience in palliative care.
• Chronic Disease Management Experience / qualification.
• Experience of managing Chronic Heart Failure.

• Confident in decision making and escalation.
• Evidence of ability to analyse and interpret ECGs.

• Able to commute to meet the needs of the job.
• Cannulation and willing to work towards.
• IV drug administration and willing to work towards.

• Ability to work within a team and independently.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships and partnerships across primary, secondary care and other health/social care organisations.
• Presentation skills (with use of IT).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Clinical Lead Nurse - Dudley Heart failure service

£39,959 to £48,117 a year

Pro Rata Per Annum