Adult Community

Programme aims

The programme is aimed at those who wish to extend their expertise in adult community services and who wish to gain an understanding of the way this is practiced and organised within the NHS.

The programme aims to include:

• Direct experience and exposure to multiple community-based health services for adult patients including general and specialist nursing services; admission avoidance and early discharge services; local integrated rehabilitation services; health inclusion and prevention specialist services; and specialist regional rehabilitation services. Visitors’ access to these services will vary depending on the duration of their programme
• Exclusive insight into leading community services including our @Home, Enhanced Rapid Response (ERR) and Neuro Rehabilitation Enhanced Transition Team (NETT), Amputee Rehabilitation Unit, South East London Neuro Rehabilitation, Adults with learning difficulties and new models of nursing care including the Buurtzorg test and learn services
• The opportunity to be undertake research projects and be part of research meetings
• Opportunities to attend and contribute in our multidisciplinary team meetings (MDM)
• Improved understanding of community based services and their benefits to the patient and other organisations including the acute trust
• The opportunity to share knowledge and expertise with head nurses
• The opportunity to develop and extend visitors’ work portfolios by gaining experience of working in one of the largest teaching hospitals in Central London, whilst gaining direct experience of working within the NHS

Format

The Adult Community programme is delivered within the community across Lambeth and Southwark. Visiting professionals will be totally integrated within the service and may also have the opportunity to undertake research projects.

Who can apply

 This programme is intended for non U.K. allied health professionals (AHPs) and nurses.

Visitors have the choice of applying for a practical attachment or observership programme. Those wishing to apply for a practical attachment must have GMC registration. You can apply for GMC registration directly through the main GMC website, alternatively The Royal College of Physicians run a medical training initiative which facilitates GMC registration and provides sponsorship for a Tier 5 visa. You can find out more about their Medical Training Initiative by visiting their website.

Programme duration

It is recommended to undertake a placement of at least four weeks. The programme’s duration can be tailored to the specific learning requirements of those visiting the Trust.

Adult Community service

The Guy’s and St Thomas’ Adult Community Service provides a range of community-based health services for adult patients which fall under five broad headings:

• General and specialist nursing services
• Admission avoidance and early discharge services
• Local Integrated Rehabilitation services
• Health inclusion and prevention specialist services
• Specialist regional rehabilitation services

General and specialist nursing services

District Nursing

Provide skilled nursing care at home for patients that are house bound. People who are house bound are those who are unable to leave the home for access to care elsewhere. 

Community Bladder and Bowel service

The service offers outpatient clinic appointments to patients referred with bladder and bowel continence issues who live in Lambeth and Southwark.

Community Heart Failure service

The service offers outpatient clinic and home visit for patient with a confirmed diagnosis of HF (from the echo-cardiogram).

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) service

The service offers outpatient clinic, home visits and offers support and advice in managing MS symptoms for patients living in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham with a confirmed diagnosis of MS.

Care Home Support Team service

The service offers support and advice to care homes and relatives caring for patients who are fully funded by health or in receipt of funded nursing care payments.

Younger People with Physical Disabilities service (YPD)

The service offers assessment for patients between the ages of 18 and 65 for continuing health care in line with the national CHC framework.

Minnie Kidd House (MKH)

This service offers inpatient care to patients who have been assessed and meet the criteria for NHS Continuing Health Care Funding.

Admission avoidance and early discharge services

@home

This service offers acute clinical care at home that would otherwise be carried out in the hospital.

Southwark Urgent Response

The service provides intensive, short term multidisciplinary rehabilitation aims to prevent hospital admission/readmission.

Lambeth Enhanced Rapid Response

The service provides intensive, short term multidisciplinary rehabilitation aims to prevent hospital admission/readmission.

The Pulross Centre

This service offers care for adults with rehabilitation and/or nursing needs who also require 24 hour care. The unit has 14 intermediate care beds and 6 neuro-rehabilitation (level 2b) beds.

Neuro Rehabilitation Enhanced Transition Team (NETT)

This service offers rehabilitation at home for up to 12 weeks for adults with a complex neurological condition.

Local Integrated Rehabilitation and Therapies

Lambeth Supported Discharge Team

This services provides medically stable adults with home based rehabilitation and support to promote functional independence.

Lambeth Integrated Reablement

This service offers rehabilitation to patients to improve their ability to carry out daily tasks and support to regain their confidence and quality of life.

Lambeth Enhanced Rapid Response

This service provides intensive, short term multidisciplinary rehabilitation aims to prevent hospital admission/readmission

Southwark Urgent Response

This service provides intensive, short term multidisciplinary rehabilitation aims to prevent hospital admission/readmission.

Southwark Rehab and Reablement

This service provides specialist assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adults over the age of 18 following discharge from hospital or who are living in the community.

Southwark Community Rehabilitation and Falls

This service offers assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adults who have had falls and/or fractures.

Lambeth Community Rehabilitation and Falls

This service offers assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for adults who have had falls and/or fractures.

Strength and Balance Helpline – self referrals

Strength and balance classes for patients who have either had one or two falls, or have noticed that their ability to walk has deteriorated.

Lambeth Neuro-rehabilitation

This service helps patients leave hospital as early as possible and support them to regain their confidence and quality of life.

Southwark Neuro-rehabilitation

This service helps patients leave hospital as early as possible and support them to regain their confidence and quality of life.

Lambeth and Southwark Community Stroke Rehab Team

This service offers time limited intervention to patients who have had a new stroke within the last 6 months are seen by the Stroke Team.

South East London Neuro Navigation Service

This service support patients with complex neurological rehabilitation needs to access the right service for them, at the right time.

Neuro Rehabilitation Enhanced Transition Team (NETT)

This services offers rehabilitation at home for up to 12 weeks for adults with a complex neurological condition.

Acupuncture Community Clinic (Gateway Clinic)

This is a specialist acupuncture clinic, offering treatment for patients with chronic long term conditions in Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham.

Health inclusion and prevention specialist services

Adults with Learning Disability Health Team (Lewisham)

This service offers specialist health care and support to adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham.

Adults with Learning Disability Health Team (Lambeth and Southwark)

This service offers specialist health care and support to adults with learning disabilities in Lewisham.

Health Inclusion Team (works across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham)

This service is a nurse led walk-in centre providing a variety of outreach primary health care services at approximately 35 hostels and day centres to clients who have difficulty access primary care services (e.g. homeless people, refugees, asylum seekers and clients with addictions).

Community Tuberculosis Team (works at the 3 acute hospitals across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham)

This service hosts local tuberculosis services for the rapid diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of patients with TB and those in close contact with TB patients.

Smoking Cessation Services

This service offers services for smokers that live or work in Lambeth or Southwark who want to stop smoking.

Lambeth Early Intervention and Prevention Services

This service offers a list of health weight programmes.

Specialist regional rehabilitation services

Bowley Close Outpatient Amputee Rehabilitation

This service offers prosthetic (artificial limb) rehabilitation following amputation of upper and/or lower limb(s) or for someone with a congenital abnormality.

In-patient Amputee Rehabilitation Unit

This service offers specialist rehabilitation for adults who have undergone major amputation.  This unit has 12 inpatient beds.

Bowley Close Outpatient Orthotics ServiceThis service offers specialist assessment and personalised therapy plans to maximise function, independence and quality of life.

Bowley Close Wheelchair and Specialist Seating Service

This service offers specialist assessment and wheelchair provision for people of all ages with mobility and postural problems who need a wheelchair for more than six months.

Assisted Communication Service

This service supports adults and children with complex physical and/or communication disabilities.

@home service

@home provides acute clinical care at home that would otherwise be carried out in hospital. Interventions are delivered in the usual place of residence in order to provide the best possible patient experience and outcome, and enable the patient to benefit from holistic integrated care.

The concept of providing healthcare @home means that instead of patients being admitted to hospital, our multi-disciplinary team works collaboratively with GPs, hospital staff and other organisations to deliver safe, quality healthcare within the patient’s own home. This care also supports advanced discharge from hospital so that people can complete their episode of treatment at home.

The service has three main aims:

1. Identifying people at risk of a hospital admission and providing care which prevents their condition getting worse.
2. Allowing people to be given a high level of care in their own homes instead of being admitted unnecessarily to hospital.
3. Allowing for advanced discharge out of hospital, so patients can recuperate in the comfort of their home while receiving high quality care.

Services offered @home include:

• IV Therapy
• Blood monitoring and Anticoagulation Therapy
• Cannulation, Cannula Care inc. PICC & Hickman Lines
• Complex wound management inc. VAC dressing
• Respiratory Care
• Observation and Vital Sign Monitoring

The @home team includes:

• @home GP provides clinical support and liaises with patient’s own GP
• @home Matron leads the team and patient’s clinical care
• @home Administrators co-ordinate the general running of the ward and information between the patient and team.

The @home team also consists of Nurses, Practice Development Nurses, Therapists, Pharmacists and Social Workers, who are all involved in visiting patients in their own home and administering the care required.

Possible patient conditions include:

• Asthma
• Cellulitis
• COPD
• Dehydration
• Diabetes
• Gastroenteritis
• Heart failure
• Infected foot ulcers
• Post-surgery
• Pyelonephritis
• UTI

Example Timetable

Fees

A course fee per week will be applied. This excludes accommodation and travelling expenses. Participants will be provided with a certificate at the end of their attachment. To find out the fee please contact us by emailing [email protected].

Please note

Clinicians are able to offer bursaries or discounted placements on an individual basis. This is at the discretion of the Directorates of GSTT and does not affect the terms and conditions of the Visiting Professional Programme agreements.