Important Visa Information
This position offers a certificate of sponsorship for eligible international candidates. However, applicants must verify their eligibility for UK work authorization directly with the employer. Immigration sponsorship availability may be subject to specific criteria and job requirements.
Job Details
Company: Livewell Southwest
Job Title: Frailty Practitioner
Location: 200 Mount Gould Road, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 7PY
Salary: £47,810 to £54,710 a year pa, pro-rata
Working Pattern: Part-time, Job share, Flexible working
Contract Type: Fixed term (11 months)
Application Deadline: 09 November 2025
Language: English
Education Requirements: Knowledge-based qualifications
Experience Level: Professional qualifications required
Certificate of Sponsorship: Available for eligible candidates
About Livewell Southwest
Livewell Southwest is an independent, award-winning social enterprise delivering integrated health and social care services across Plymouth, South Hams, and West Devon, with specialist services in parts of Devon and Cornwall. Their teams work in community hospitals, GP practices, sports centres, and health hubs.
As an organisation with a strong social conscience, they are guided by values of kindness, respect, inclusivity, ambition, responsibility, and collaboration. They focus on transforming services to ensure sustainability while empowering staff and those they serve.
The organisation involves people they care for, along with their families and carers, in shaping the care they receive, striving to deliver the right care at the right time and place. Their work centered on individual needs helps people lead healthy, independent lives.
Job Summary
Are you passionate about improving the lives of frail older adults? Join our new Community Frailty Ward as a Frailty Practitioner! This rewarding role involves 25 hours per week on a fixed-term contract for maternity cover. You will complete frailty assessments and manage complex care for frail patients.
Your expertise in physical assessments, diagnostic reasoning, and polypharmacy management will help prevent unnecessary hospital admissions and prolonged stays. You will work with a multidisciplinary team to provide high-quality care across a 5-day service, supporting in the completion of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessments (CGA).
As the Frailty Practitioner, you will also have operational ward management for your 21-bed virtual ward and the staff under your line management. This unique opportunity allows you to make a lasting impact in community healthcare while developing your leadership skills.
Key Responsibilities
The Frailty Practitioner for the Frailty Virtual Ward will support the delivery of frailty education to colleagues, students, and service users. You will lead people management tasks, including staff engagement, workforce planning, performance management, and training.
As a clinical leader, you will complete CGAs, manage complex care plans, and provide advice to the multidisciplinary team (MDT). Key responsibilities include managing referrals, ensuring case finding, initiating person-centered care plans, and facilitating early discharge to prevent unnecessary hospital admissions.
You will provide mentorship, supervision, appraisals, and support practice supervision. Participation in service development, policy compliance, resource management, and budget support are essential. You will collaborate with professionals to enhance care pathways, lead clinical audits, and contribute to policy development.
Person Specification
Qualifications: You must be a registered practitioner with professional knowledge acquired through a degree supplemented by a postgraduate diploma with significant relevant experience. You should have specialist training and experience, including short courses plus further specialist training. Membership of the relevant Professional Body is required, along with evidence of recent professional development in an up-to-date portfolio.
Leadership: You need leadership and management qualification/training or evidence of experience in this area. Independent prescriber qualification is also required. These qualifications demonstrate your capability to lead the frailty ward effectively and provide high-quality clinical care.
Essential Knowledge: You must have knowledge of Community Services/Third sector services suitable for frail patients and understanding of legislation relevant to practice. Experience of using electronic patient/service user record systems is essential, along with a thorough understanding of frailty syndromes.
Essential Experience
You must have proven relevant post-registration experience, particularly in the management of patients living with frailty (predominantly older people). Experience of cross-system and Multi Disciplinary Team working is essential, as is experience in managing teams.
You should have experience in designing training packages relevant to the role and previous experience/delivery of formal/informal teaching of patients and staff. This experience will enable you to effectively educate colleagues, students, and service users about frailty care.
The role requires strong leadership and autonomy in a multidisciplinary team setting. You must be able to deliver education and empower others in frailty care, with a passion for improving patient outcomes and reducing hospital admissions.
Working Environment
Physical demands of this role include moderate physical effort, including moving furniture in patient homes and transporting equipment. You will be required to drive daily and potentially work in adverse weather conditions during home visits.
Mental effort includes regularly performing complex assessments and prioritizing tasks in response to urgent care needs. You will need to handle interruptions and manage time-sensitive situations effectively.
Working conditions may involve exposure to bodily fluids, poor hygiene, and potential exposure to communicable diseases. There is also potential for encountering verbal and physical aggression, particularly during home visits with vulnerable patients.
How to Apply
To apply for this position, please submit your application via the NHS Jobs website. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled Worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications.
For further information about sponsorship, visit the UK Visas and Immigration website. From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants applying for entry clearance into the UK have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years.
Before applying, please ensure you have current UK professional registration. For further information about professional registration requirements, please see the NHS Careers website for overseas health professionals. Applicants must verify their eligibility for sponsorship directly with the employer.
Supporting Documents
The following supporting documents are available for download:
- Job Description (PDF, 193 KB)
- Summary Statement of Terms and Conditions (PDF, 199 KB)
- Identification Guidance (DOCX, 26 KB)
- Applicant Guidance on the Use of Artificial Intelligence (PDF, 121 KB)
Additional Information
Livewell Southwest values diversity and encourages applications from all sections of the community, including those with armed forces experience, lived experience of mental health, neuro-diverse conditions, and learning disabilities. If you need assistance or reasonable adjustments during the application process, contact the Recruiting Manager.
Please note that Livewell may close the job advertisement earlier than the specified deadline. All staff are expected to be able and willing to work across a 7-day service to ensure continuity of care for patients.
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975, and 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.
Professional Development
Livewell Southwest prioritizes employees’ development, offering protected CPD time, training pathways, leadership programs, and funding for qualifications. Their induction and preceptorship programs ensure a smooth transition into the organisation.
The organisation is committed to supporting your professional growth and offers opportunities for ongoing learning and development. You will have access to resources and support to help you excel in your role as a Frailty Practitioner.
Livewell Southwest is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace. They welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of their race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or disability.
Contact Information
For questions about the job, contact: Community Frailty Virtual Ward, Phone: 01752434935. Please note that email contact information is not provided, so phone inquiries are recommended.
For more information about Livewell Southwest and their services, visit their website at https://www.livewellsouthwest.co.uk/. You can also explore their rewards and benefits, disability confident status, mindful employer accreditation, and career development opportunities through their website.
Application Process
When applying, please ensure you provide all relevant documentation that demonstrates your qualifications, experience, and suitability for the role. Include evidence of your professional registration, relevant training certificates, and examples of your experience in frailty care.
International applicants should include information about their current visa status and eligibility to work in the UK. If you require sponsorship, please clearly indicate this in your application and provide any additional documentation that may support your eligibility.
The selection process will involve a thorough review of your application, followed by an interview where you will have the opportunity to discuss your experience, skills, and how you can contribute to the Frailty Virtual Ward team. Successful candidates will be subject to pre-employment checks, including references and a Disclosure and Barring Service check.
