Band 8a - Rotational Advanced Clinical Practitioner, Virtual Hospital

Job Summary

We are looking for an Advanced Clinical Practitioner, for a rotational post, to help us develop, and participate in, the Virtual Ward delivering a collaborative, integrated model of care that delivers a range of monitoring, interventions, and care in the community to avoid and reduce hospital admissions.

The Virtual Hospital is a collaboration between CLCH and West Herts Virtual Hospital, and has attracted national attention with Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHSE, visiting last year.

The post will rotate between the partnership organisations to support the collaborative approach our teams maintain. There are four key pathways under our Virtual Hospital - General Medicine, Respiratory (ABC), Heart Failure and Frailty, with this ACP role specifically supporting the General Medicine virtual ward.

As this role is a rotational post, working across the acute (West Hertfordshire, Watford General site) and community partnership (Central London Community Hospital Trust, BRE building, Bricket Wood), the post holder needs to be able to travel to all sites and drive to patient addresses to help provide care at their place of residence, within our geographical catchment area.

The working pattern is 8am-8pm shifts, with 1 in 4 weekend working.

You will be a key Clinical Lead within the service delivery and governance and will drive the successful management of the provision to provide care for those patients identified as being suitable for the virtual ward environment.

The post will be structured around the four pillars of advanced clinical practice as set out in the multi professional consultant level practice capability and impact framework (Health Education England  2021):

• Expert clinical practice
• A professional leadership and consultancy function
• Education, training, and development
• Research, evaluation, and service development across the system.

The definition of a virtual ward is 'a safe and efficient alternative to NHS bedded care that is enabled by technology. Virtual wards support patients who would otherwise be in hospital to receive the acute care, monitoring and treatment they need in their own home' (NHS England and NHS Improvement, 2022).

The NHS is focussed on increasing capacity in virtual wards to support people at the place they call home, including care homes. In a virtual ward, support can include remote monitoring using apps, technology platforms, wearables and medical devices, such as pulse oximeters. Support may also involve face‑to‑face care from multi‑disciplinary teams based in the community, which is sometimes called Hospital at Home.

With a new hospital planned for Watford, work underway to update theatres at St Albans City Hospital and plans for a neighbourhood healthcare centre in Hemel Hempstead, this is an exciting time to join us. We are building on the success of our award‑winning virtual hospital and re‑imagining models of care, working closely with partners and making the most of advances in digital healthcare.

Staff wellbeing and development are a priority, as is the role of innovation in improving clinical care, outcomes and patient experience. Our vision is Excellent patient care, together and our values are to be empowered, compassionate, professional and inclusive. They capture an important balance across what we must all do as individuals and to support others. We offer a variety of flexible working options as we recognise the importance of a good work life balance.

You can contact us regarding disability support or long‑term health condition at  If you are a Service Leaver, Veteran, Military Reserve, Cadet Force Adult Volunteer, or partner/spouse of those serving please tick "Member of the Armed Forces Community" on the application form.

Date posted: 17 February 2026

Pay scheme:
Agenda for change

Band:
Band 8a

Salary: £57,888 to £64,880 a year pa inc HCA

Contract:

Permanent

Working pattern:
Full‑time, Job share, Flexible working

Reference number: 360-A-10983

Job locations:
Watford General Hospital, Watford, WD18 0HB

To act as a high‑level autonomous practitioner and role model, delivering advanced…