Home Care Doctor

Home Care Doctor (Physician)

Job Title	Home Care Doctor (Physician)
Level	Medical Officer – Home Care Physician
Hours	Rotating shifts, including alternate Saturdays, and participation in an on-call rota for urgent escalations; visit schedule confirmed by the Medical Director / Clinical Manager.
Base	Jourwell Homecare Office, Lagos, and patients' homes across Lagos and any other locations designated by Jourwell Homecare in the course of business.
Reporting to	Medical Director / Clinical Manager, Jourwell Homecare
Terms and Conditions of Service	As set out in the Jourwell Homecare Contract of Employment and Staff Handbook

Care should not wait to be asked for. It should already be there.

Our Expectations: HEART

Every member of the Jourwell team is guided by HEART — the standard we bring into every patient's home.

HHonesty & Integrity

EExcellence in Care

AAccountability

RRespect & Dignity

TTeamwork

Job Summary

The post holder will visit patients directly in their own homes to deliver hospital-quality medical care in a setting that is familiar, dignified and comfortable for the patient and their family. This includes carrying out clinical assessments and consultations, diagnosing acute and chronic conditions, prescribing and reviewing medication, ordering and interpreting diagnostic investigations, and providing clinical leadership for the wider home-care team.

Each doctor is expected to see an agreed caseload of patients per day across assigned locations, recording all consultations, diagnoses and treatment plans directly on the Jourwell app so that the patient's care team, family and other treating clinicians can track progress in real time.

The post holder will liaise directly with each patient's existing specialists, GP or hospital to ensure that care delivered at home remains medically supervised, properly connected to the wider healthcare system, and consistent with the patient's overall treatment plan.

They will provide clinical oversight of the nursing and allied health professionals involved in each patient's care, and will contribute to Jourwell's clinical audit and quality assurance processes, working alongside the Clinical Manager to maintain high standards of care and to support the continuous improvement of the Hospital-at-Home service model.

Key Responsibilities

To carry out comprehensive medical assessments and consultations for patients in their homes, taking a full history and examination and using a problem-solving approach and evidence-based practice.
To diagnose acute and chronic conditions, and to develop, implement and review individualised treatment plans in partnership with the patient, family and wider care team.
To prescribe, review and adjust medication safely and appropriately, including monitoring for efficacy, side effects and interactions, and carrying out medication reconciliation to avoid unnecessary polypharmacy.
To order and interpret diagnostic investigations (including blood tests, point-of-care testing and imaging referrals), working with Jourwell's laboratory technicians and external partners as required.
To provide clinical oversight and supervision of the home care nurses and allied health professionals delivering each patient's care plan, including countersigning clinical decisions where required by protocol.
To recognise signs of clinical deterioration promptly, make timely decisions on escalation or hospital admission, and coordinate safe and effective transfer to hospital where necessary.
To develop and maintain effective working relationships with each patient's existing specialists, GP or hospital, ensuring seamless communication, shared decision-making and continuity of medically supervised care.
To lead or contribute to case conferences and multidisciplinary discussions with nurses, physiotherapists, family members and other stakeholders involved in a patient's care.
To support families caring for elderly or chronically ill relatives at home, respecting the cultural preference in many Nigerian households for home-based care over residential/nursing homes, and offering a dignified, hospital-quality alternative.
To receive and act on referrals for new patients, carrying out initial medical assessments and agreeing a home-care plan in partnership with the patient, family and referring doctor.
To demonstrate professional competence in advising and supporting patients and family caregivers, including education on medication compliance, chronic disease management and healthy living.
To maintain accurate, timely and legally compliant records on the Jourwell app and any associated systems, in accordance with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA) and Jourwell's information governance policies.
To act as a role model for nurses, allied health professionals and students, representing Jourwell's HEART values at all times.
To participate in Jourwell's clinical audit, quality assurance, clinical governance and continuous improvement processes alongside the Clinical Manager and Medical Director.

The Main Demands of the Position Are

Carrying diagnostic and clinical equipment (examination kits, vitals monitors, point-of-care testing devices) between patients' homes.
Travelling independently, on foot or by vehicle/rideshare, to multiple patient locations across Lagos in a single day, including navigating traffic and varied home environments.
Working alone in a patient's home for the duration of each consultation, without on-site colleague support, while maintaining sound clinical judgement and making high-stakes decisions under time pressure.
Being available to respond to urgent clinical escalations from nurses or allied health professionals in the field, including outside scheduled visit times as part of the on-call rota.
Coping calmly with working under pressure and time constraints, while maintaining concentration for complex clinical decision-making.
Communicating professionally and sensitively with anxious or distressed patients and family members, including when delivering difficult diagnoses, discussing end-of-life care, cognitive impairment, or navigating language/cultural differences.

Professional, Legal & Policy Responsibilities (click to expand)

To ensure a good public image of Jourwell Homecare at all times, and to act as a role model for junior staff and students, representing Jourwell's values and the standards of the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).
To report all incidents, near-misses and complaints in accordance with Jourwell policy.
To be aware of relevant health and safety legislation applicable in Nigeria and to work in a manner that protects the safety of patients, families and colleagues.
To uphold the principles of the MDCN Code of Medical Ethics at all times.
To hold and maintain a current, valid MDCN practising licence for the duration of employment.

General

To comply at all times with Jourwell Homecare's policies, especially those governing health and safety, infection prevention and control, and to report promptly any equipment defects or safety concerns to the Clinical Manager.

This job description reflects the present requirements of the post. As Jourwell's services develop, the job description will be reviewed in consultation with the post holder.

You are required to disclose any additional clinical work you undertake or plan to undertake for another employer.

Probationary Period

This post is subject to the successful completion of a probationary period of three (3) months, within which the notice period for both the post holder and Jourwell Homecare is two weeks.

Standards

Staff are responsible for complying with the relevant clinical and conduct standards set by the Clinical Manager. A breach of such standards may lead to disciplinary action, which will be investigated fairly with appropriate steps taken to prevent recurrence.

Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults

All Jourwell employees have a responsibility for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, including elderly patients, in accordance with Jourwell's Safeguarding Policy.

Information Governance

(This includes patient confidentiality, data protection, and appropriate use of the Jourwell app and any connected systems.)

You are required to respect the confidentiality of all patients, families and staff, and must not share any information obtained in the course of your duties. Any non-compliance must be reported through Jourwell's Incident Reporting process.

All staff must comply with the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 (NDPA), Jourwell's IT Security and Information Governance Policies, and Best Practice Guidelines.

Promoting Equality

Jourwell Homecare is committed to promoting an environment that values diversity. All staff are responsible for ensuring patients and their families are treated equally and fairly, without discrimination on grounds of ethnicity, sex, disability, religion, age or any other unjustifiable reason.

Infection Control

You are required to comply with Jourwell's infection prevention and control policies, including hand hygiene and safe handling of clinical waste and specimens in the home setting. Effective infection control must be embedded into everyday practice for every home visit.

Background Checks

This post involves regular unsupervised contact with patients in their own homes. All appointments are conditional on satisfactory completion of Jourwell's background-check process — see the Background-Check Policy document for full details.

Other Roles at Jourwell

Home Care Nurse Home Care Physiotherapist