Locally Employed Doctor Higher – Acute Frailty / Frailty HubNHS

Job summary

Applications are invited for a Locally Employed Doctor (Higher) based within Acute Frailty Services and has been developed in partnership with the Clinical Service Lead for Healthcare of Older People. The post holder will join a dynamic multidisciplinary team delivering comprehensive geriatric assessment and frailty-focused care across acute and ambulatory settings. Each successful candidate will be allocated a named Educational Supervisor and supported in developing advanced skills in the assessment and management of older people living with frailty, complex multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, falls, and acute illness.

The post offers an excellent opportunity for doctors with an interest in Geriatric Medicine, Acute Frailty, Integrated Care, or General Internal Medicine who wish to develop higher-level competencies in the care of older adults. In addition to clinical training, there will be opportunities to participate in service development, quality improvement, teaching, leadership, and multidisciplinary working across the frailty pathway.

Main duties of the job

A comprehensive guide to all duties and responsibilities will be provided during induction and within the departmental handbook. Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

*To provide safe, effective, and compassionate care for older adults presenting with frailty, complex multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, falls, delirium, and acute medical illness across the Acute Frailty Hub, Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (FSDEC), OPAL service, and inpatient frailty wards.

*To undertake comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), formulate management plans, and contribute to clinical decision-making in collaboration with consultants and the multidisciplinary team.

*To work within departmental, Trust, and national clinical guidelines, maintaining high standards of clinical governance and patient safety.

*To contribute to outpatient clinics and other clinical activities associated with the post, including sessions at Hodge Hill Primary Care Centre, as required by the agreed job plan and service needs.

*To provide clinical support to other areas within HCOP during periods of increased service pressure or staffing shortages, as reasonably required by the service.

*To liaise effectively with colleagues across the Emergency Department, specialty teams, primary care, community services, and social care providers to facilitate integrated and person-centred care.

*To maintain effective communication with patients, families, carers, and members of the multidisciplinary team

Job description

The post is structured to provide broad-based experience in Acute Frailty and Geriatric Medicine and is aimed at doctors who are able to work at ST3 level or above. The successful candidate will work under direct consultant supervision and be supported in developing advanced clinical skills in comprehensive geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary team working, ambulatory frailty care, admission avoidance, discharge planning, and the management of complex older adults.

There will be opportunities to participate in specialist frailty clinics, quality improvement projects, teaching, service development, and leadership activities within the department. This post provides excellent preparation for a future career in Geriatric Medicine, Internal Medicine, or a senior SAS role.

Typical day-to-day duties will include consultant-led ward rounds, multidisciplinary board rounds, assessment of new referrals to the Acute Frailty Hub and FSDEC, review of older adults within the Emergency Department alongside the OPAL team, management of inpatients with complex frailty needs, and participation in outpatient and educational activities. The role offers exposure to the full acute frailty pathway and opportunities to contribute to the continued development of innovative frailty services across the Trust. However, during periods of increased service pressure or staffing shortages, the post holder may be required to provide clinical support to other areas within Healthcare of Older People (HCOP), according to service needs.

The Acute Frailty Service at Birmingham Heartlands Hospital provides specialist care for older adults living with frailty, multimorbidity, cognitive impairment, falls, and other complex medical conditions. The service includes the Acute Frailty Hub, Frailty Same Day Emergency Care (FSDEC), the Older Persons Assessment and Liaison (OPAL) team, and dedicated inpatient frailty wards. Together, these services deliver comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA), multidisciplinary management, admission avoidance, and supported discharge for older adults presenting with urgent care needs.

The Acute Frailty Hub and FSDEC provide rapid assessment and management for older adults referred from the Emergency Department, primary care, ambulance services, community teams, and specialty services. The OPAL team delivers front-door frailty assessment within the Emergency Department, facilitating early identification of frailty, timely decision-making, and the development of personalised care plans that support optimal patient outcomes and avoid unnecessary hospital admissions where appropriate.

The department also provides a range of specialist outpatient services, including frailty assessment, falls prevention, osteoporosis management, cognitive assessment, and rapid access clinics for older adults with complex needs. The service works closely with community intermediate care, rehabilitation, and integrated care teams to ensure continuity of care and effective transitions between hospital and community settings.

The service benefits from a highly developed multidisciplinary team comprising consultant geriatricians, resident doctors, advanced clinical practitioners, specialist nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, social workers, and discharge coordinators. This collaborative approach enables the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care for older adults with complex health and social care needs.

The post is structured to provide broad-based experience in Acute Frailty and Geriatric Medicine and is aimed at doctors who are able to work at ST3 level or above. The successful candidate will work under direct consultant supervision and be supported in developing advanced clinical skills in comprehensive geriatric assessment, multidisciplinary team working, ambulatory frailty care, admission avoidance, discharge planning, and the management of complex older adults.

About us

University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust strives to have an inclusive culture where everyone feels like they belong, can thrive, knows that they add value and feels valued. We do this by developing compassionate and culturally competent leaders, being values driven in all that we do and by creating a welcoming and inclusive workplace that thrives on the diversity of our people. As such we want to attract and recruit talented individuals from all backgrounds, and for each of you to feel supported for the diversity you bring, to achieve your full potential. For those staff with a disability, including physical disability, long term health condition, mental health or neurodiverse condition, this also means being committed to making reasonable adjustments needed for you to carry out your role.