North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (BCH)
Urgent Community Response PractitionerClosing date: 16 August 2026
Job summaryThe Urgent Community Response Service provides urgent care to people in their homes which helps to avoid hospital admissions and enable people to live independently for longer. Older people and adults with complex health needs who urgently need care, can get fast access to a range of health and social care professionals within two hours. This includes access to physiotherapy and occupational therapy, medication prescribing and reviews.
The UCR team is a multi-disciplinary, multi organisational team of health and social care.
The aims of the service are to assist individuals to:
- remain at home when things start to get very challenging or difficult
- recover after a fall, accident, acute illness or operation that would otherwise put the person at risk of going into hospital
- help people avoid going into hospital or residential care unnecessarily
- help people return home more quickly after a hospital stay
Main duties of the jobThe UCR team which is part of the Intermediate Care Services.
The post holder will work as part of a multi disciplinary Rapid response team within the community. The post will entail working a shift pattern over a seven day period with Adult Social Care and health Colleagues.
The post holder will provide a full range of clinical skills, holistic assessment and rapid intervention for patients and their carers with the primary aim of promoting independence, supporting carers and avoiding admission to acute hospital care. The post holder will be expected to positively support the Clinical lead and team dynamics.
About usFlexible working will be considered for all roles.
North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM) serves more than one million residents across the Halton and Warrington boroughs and the wider North West region.
Bringing together community and out-of-hospital services (formerly provided by Bridgewater Community Healthcare) with inpatient and elective care (formerly Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals) we provide services at two hospital sites and more than 70 community hubs and facilities.
Our mission, vision and values are at the heart of North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust (NCM). They underpin everything we do and everything we aspire to be as an organisation.
Our missionWe will be exceptional for our patients, our communities and each other
Our visionWe will be a great organisation providing excellent healthcare and opportunities to work and learn
Our values- Kind: We are caring, supportive and respectful to everyone
- Open: We are honest, transparent and open to new ways of working
- Fair: We listen, value our differences and are inclusive to all
- One team: We work well together and with our communities
DetailsDate posted: 31 July 2026
Pay scheme: Agenda for change
Band: Band 6
Salary: £39,959 to £48,117 a year
Contract: Permanent
Working pattern: Part-time, Flexible working
Reference number: C9835-WA26-063
Job locations: Times Square, Warrington, Cheshire, WA1 2NT, United Kingdom
Job descriptionJob responsibilities- To undertake high level assessments of patients within their own homes with acute/unstable conditions who are referred to the Urgent Community Response Service as an alternative to hospital admission.
- To undertake holistic assessments, diagnosis and deliver treatment programmes for adults within their own home- in the Warrington borough.
- Management of referrals through triage of incoming referrals, including telephone calls and electronic referrals.
- To actively participate and contribute to multidisciplinary team working also liaising with other professional agencies to promote and plan and personalised care.
Main tasks and responsibilitiesThe job description outlines the current main responsibilities of the post. However, the duties of the post may change and develop over time and this job description may, therefore, be amended in consultation with the post holder.
Duties and Responsibilities:Clinical- To undertake comprehensive and holistic clinical assessments of patients including those with diverse presentations, multiple pathologies and complex needs, in a community setting.
- To Triage incoming referrals via electronic methods and telephone.
- To be competent in effectively accepting patients meeting the UCR criteria and signpost, guide and advice patients if alternative services are suitable.
- Based on assessment, to develop and deliver individualised care plans, and signpost/refer to services for long term review and intervention.
- To utilise advanced analytical skills and clinical reasoning.
- Based on the outcome of the assessment, to formulate appropriate and timely discharge strategies
- To modify treatment skills as appropriate to the service users environment
- To assess and treat patients, in their own environment, without prejudice and in conditions hazardous to health with the potential to cause harm
- To provide planned and spontaneous advice to patients, informal and formal carers, relatives, junior staff and fellow professionals.
- To work autonomously within scope of practice and to consult more experienced team members as necessary
- To communicate effectively with patients, carers, relatives, colleagues and junior staff, assistants etc.
- To deal with distressing and/or emotional situations with tact and sensitivity
- To implement best practice based on evidence and clinical knowledge
- To liaise with all members of the multi-disciplinary team both formally in the MDT and informally as appropriate.
- To be responsible for maintaining and managing accurate and comprehensive intervention records in line with professional and local standards
Clinical Management- To accept clinical responsibility for the prioritisation of patients requiring urgent assessments.
- To communicate with a wide range of professionals both within the Trust, and in external agencies including primary care, the acute trust, social care, voluntary organisations etc.
- To engage patients in the consent process to facilitate informed compliance with clinical interventions
- To attend relevant clinical meetings, safeguarding meetings and case conferences as appropriate
- To provide training for own discipline, and to be involved in the training of all team members/disciplines and students
- To supervise less experienced staff, students and assistants and delegate specific responsibilities where applicable
- To provide accurate statistical information in line with local standards and the professional body.
- To participate in clinical audit relevant to the post
- To adhere to the Trust lone worker policy at all times
- To comply with organisational and departmental policies and procedures and be involved in reviewing and updating as appropriate
Professional Development- To work to the standards of professional practice as described by the NMC
- To be responsible for maintaining own competency to practice through Continuing Professional Development activities
- To continually evaluate clinical practice and modify approach in line with team and organisational objectives
- To prepare for and actively participate in the Performance Development process both of yourself and others
- To update clinical knowledge and skills and evidence based practice as identified through the PDR process utilising appropriate learning opportunities
- To be actively involved in improvements to service delivery and quality initiatives
Person SpecificationExperienceEssential- Previous Community Experience
Desirable- Has specific clinical skills/competencies in other areas
- Ability to complete holistic assessments, formulate care plans and commission services.
- Experience working in a multi agency setting and making onward appropriate referrals
QualificationsEssential- Registered Nurse on Level 1 of the NMC Register
Desirable- Diploma in Health Care or working towards the diploma
Skills and KnowledgeEssential- Up-to-date knowledge of current nursing issues
- Good interpersonal skills, approachable, empathetic, confident, assertive
- Demonstrate Leadership qualities
- Autonomously undertake complex generic assessments, planning, implementing and evaluating care.
- Wide knowledge of community issues/national policy relating to older people
- Ability to work across role boundaries of health and social care
- Excellent time management skills and ability to respond to urgent assessments
Desirable- Organisational/problem solving and decision making skills
Job Specific RequirementsEssential- The ability to travel independently across the Trust
- The ability to work flexibly in accordance with service needs.
Disclosure and Barring Service CheckThis 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.Certificate of SponsorshipApplications 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 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. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants.UK RegistrationApplicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website.Employer contact detailsFor questions about the job, contact: Jessica Ford, jessica.ford1@nhs.net
