Nurse Practitioner (Aged Care)

Wheatfields Incorporated is a community-based, not-for-profit residential aged care provider located in Freeling, South Australia. Currently providing care for 33 residents, Wheatfields is undertaking a significant expansion to accommodate 72 residents, with completion anticipated in May 2027.

Wheatfields is seeking an experienced, motivated and compassionate Nurse Practitioner (NP) to join our clinical leadership team and support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred healthcare. This is an exciting opportunity to help develop an innovative, nurse practitioner-led model of care within a growing rural aged care service.

The Nurse Practitioner will work collaboratively with General Practitioners, Clinical Manager, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, allied health professionals and external healthcare providers to deliver advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of residents with complex healthcare needs. The role aims to improve timely access to medical care, reduce avoidable hospital presentations, strengthen clinical governance and support residents to remain safely within their home wherever clinically appropriate.

1. Position Overview

Wheatfields Incorporated is a community-based, not-for-profit residential aged care provider located in Freeling, South Australia. Currently providing care for 33 residents, Wheatfields is undertaking a significant expansion to accommodate 72 residents, with completion anticipated in May 2027.

Wheatfields is seeking an experienced, motivated and compassionate Nurse Practitioner (NP) to join our clinical leadership team and support the delivery of high-quality, person-centred healthcare.

This is an exciting opportunity to help develop an innovative, nurse practitioner-led model of care within a growing rural aged care service.

The Nurse Practitioner will work collaboratively with General Practitioners, Clinical Manager, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, allied health professionals and external healthcare providers to deliver advanced clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of residents with complex healthcare needs.

The role aims to improve timely access to medical care, reduce avoidable hospital presentations, strengthen clinical governance and support residents to remain safely within their home wherever clinically appropriate.

2. Key Responsibilities

Advanced Clinical Practice

• Undertake comprehensive clinical assessments, formulate diagnoses and develop evidence-based treatment and management plans.
• Prescribe, review and manage medications within the Nurse Practitioner’s authorised scope of practice and relevant legislative requirements.
• Request and interpret diagnostic investigations and initiate appropriate treatment.
• Manage acute and chronic conditions, complex comorbidities, frailty and geriatric syndromes.
• Provide advanced wound management, pain management, continence care and medication optimisation.
• Identify and manage clinical deterioration, including timely escalation and referral.
• Support advance care planning, palliative care and end-of-life decision-making.
• Facilitate appropriate referrals to specialists, hospitals and community health services.

Clinical Leadership and Governance

• Provide advanced clinical advice, mentorship and professional support to Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses and care staff.
• Collaborate with the Clinical Manager to strengthen clinical governance, evidence-based practice and resident safety.
• Participate in clinical audits, incident reviews, SIRS , quality improvement initiatives and analysis of clinical outcomes.
• Support compliance with the Aged Care Act 2024, strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and other applicable regulatory requirements.
• Work with the infection control nurse to contribute to infection prevention and control, antimicrobial stewardship, medication safety and falls prevention.
• Assist in developing clinical policies, procedures and contemporary models of care.
• Promote early recognition and management of deterioration to reduce avoidable hospital transfers.

Collaborative Medical Care

• Establish and maintain effective professional relationships with visiting General Practitioners, other medical specialists and Pharmacists’.
• Provide continuity of clinical care where GP availability is limited, while working within professional scope and agreed referral and escalation pathways.
• Participate in multidisciplinary case conferences and complex resident care planning.
• Develop partnerships with local hospitals, SA Health services, geriatricians and specialist palliative care services.
• Support appropriate telehealth consultations and specialist referrals.
• Attend and contribute to the Medication management meetings.

Resident and Family Engagement

• Promote resident choice, dignity, independence and informed decision-making.
• Communicate effectively with residents, families, representatives and substitute decision-makers.
• Support culturally safe, trauma-informed and person-centred care.
• Facilitate discussions regarding goals of care, treatment preferences, case conferences and advance care directives.

3. Key Performance Outcomes

The successful applicant will contribute to:

• Improved resident access to timely advanced clinical assessment and treatment.
• Reduction in potentially avoidable emergency department presentations and hospital admissions.
• Improved management of chronic disease, frailty and complex clinical conditions.
• Stronger medication safety and prescribing practices.
• Improved resident and family satisfaction with healthcare access.
• Enhanced nursing workforce capability through clinical mentoring and education.
• Effective clinical governance and continuous quality improvement.
• Development of a sustainable NP model of care supporting Wheatfields’ expansion to 72 residents.

Performance indicators will be developed collaboratively and reviewed regularly.

4. Essential Selection Criteria

1. Current general registration as a Registered Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia through AHPRA.
2. Current endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner.
3. Demonstrated advanced clinical assessment, diagnostic reasoning and treatment planning skills.
4. Experience in aged care, primary healthcare, gerontology, chronic disease management or a comparable advanced clinical setting.
5. Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary medication management and prescribing practices.
6. Excellent communication, interpersonal and multidisciplinary collaboration skills.
7. Demonstrated commitment to person-centred care, clinical safety and evidence-based practice.
8. Ability to work autonomously within professional scope while maintaining effective collaborative relationships.
9. Understanding of clinical governance, risk management and quality improvement.
10. Ability to meet applicable aged care worker screening and employment requirements.

5. Desirable Selection Criteria

• Experience working in residential aged care or rural and regional healthcare.
• Postgraduate qualifications or advanced experience in gerontology, palliative care or primary healthcare.
• Experience in dementia care, behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia, and complex chronic disease management.
• Knowledge of the Australian residential aged care funding and regulatory environment.
• Experience establishing or developing a Nurse Practitioner service or innovative model of care.
• Experience in clinical education, mentoring and workforce development.
• Familiarity with electronic clinical documentation and aged care management systems.

6. Working Relationships

Internal: CEO, Clinical Manager, Registered Nurses, Enrolled Nurses, Personal Care Workers, Quality and Governance personnel, allied health and administration teams.

External: General Practitioners, geriatricians, pharmacists, SA Health, local hospitals, specialist palliative care providers, residents’ representatives and other healthcare partners.

7. Professional Accountability

The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for maintaining current registration, endorsement, professional competence and appropriate professional indemnity arrangements.

Clinical practice must comply with relevant legislation, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia standards, professional guidelines and Wheatfields policies.

The Nurse Practitioner will exercise independent clinical judgement within their authorised scope of practice and participate in Wheatfields’ clinical governance and quality assurance processes.

8. Organisational Values

The Nurse Practitioner is expected to demonstrate Wheatfields’ commitment to compassionate, respectful, safe and person-centred care, professional accountability, teamwork and continuous improvement.

To learn more or apply, contact:
ceo@wheatfields.net.au
hr@wheatfields.net.au