The post holders main responsibility will be to work collaboratively with other members of the Primary Care Team within the practice policies and procedures, providing medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. Working with a dedicated supervisor, you will also be able to work independently with appropriate support.
Main duties of the job

This is a new post in practice and will develop depending on the post holder and the practice's needs. Initially, the post holder will be linked to the visiting team at the practice and the GPs within it while visiting and providing more routine surgeries.

The post holder will:

Provide a Physician Associate resource for health care professionals and service users, working in collaboration with other members of the Multidisciplinary Team across a Primary Care Network (PCN).

Work within a GP practice or community as an autonomous, accountable Physician Associate in providing a holistic approach for individuals, including assessment, interpretation of investigations, diagnosis, and treatment, to deliver quality patient services.

Assess, investigate, diagnose, treat, refer, or signpost patients/service users who attend the surgery with undifferentiated or undiagnosed conditions relating to minor illness, minor injury, and ongoing chronic conditions, under the supervision of an experienced GP.

Use advanced clinical skills to educate service users, promoting self-care and empowering them to make informed choices about their treatment.
About us

East Northants PCN is a dynamic, progressive, and supportive place to work and proud of our clinical care and innovation.

With 9 sites based in the North of the county to include Rushden, Higham Ferrers, Raunds, Irthlingborough and Thrapston, it would be essential that the successful candidate would need to have their own transport and a full UK driving licence.

Job description
Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

Clinical

Provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable)

Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the supervising GP(s).

Provide direct clinical care to patients using established clinical guidelines.

Consult and refer patients to physicians, medical specialists and other health professionals as indicated.

Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective and plan clinical care accordingly, explaining medical problems during surgery consultation and home visits

Assess, diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs

Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan

Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment.

Request and interpret results of laboratory investigations when necessary.

Perform specialised diagnostic physical exams and treatment procedures.

Work with patients to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments

Instruct and educate patients in preventative health care.

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects and interactions

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles and apply principles of self-care

Conduct face-to-face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems that may involve discussing laboratory investigations' results and implications with patients.

Order laboratory tests as required and agreed under supervising doctor(s).

Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes.

Contribute to the clinical development of the Practice by developing a special interest and helping establish appropriate systems to manage common chronic medical conditions, ensuring compliance with NSF guidelines.

Formulate diagnoses and treatment plans in consultation with or referring to Supervising doctor(s) as appropriate.

Give clinical instructions to nursing staff and Primary Care Team as required.

Communicate, when necessary, with colleagues in the PCN and hospital specialists to discuss or refer specific patients, plan and coordinate activities or exchange information to improve the quality of patient care.

To maintain a high standard of clinical practice by ensuring care is based on current best practice, embarking upon further training if required and continuing to update clinical knowledge.

Deal regularly with hospitals, consultants, other health care providers, and other community organisations to refer/consult on specific cases.

Training and Educational Development

Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.

Keep up to date with relevant medical research, technology and evidence-based medical practice by attending continuing education courses and professional meetings, reading journals etc.

Undertake continuing professional development

Take and pass the national re-certification exam every 6 years in accordance with the requirements of the PA Managed Voluntary Register and as recommended by the National Examination Sub Committee of the UKUBPAE (UK Universities Board of Physician Associate Education) and subsequently as required by the statutory regulating body when in place.

Perform a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis, and treatment where appropriate using the following means:

Audit of clinical practice.

Review of relevant literature.

Research unusual symptoms and treatment options, through consultation with physicians and other medical specialists.

Assist in clinical instruction and supervision of medical and nursing students as well other learners that may periodically be attached to the practice, including the educational development, and mentoring of Physician Associate students.

Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the PCN to discuss and learn from recent significant events relating to clinical practice occurring within the Practice.

Attend regular educational meetings organised by the practice to update clinical knowledge, practice policy and guidelines and disseminate other useful information relevant to the provision of adequate healthcare for patients.

Regularly reflect on own practice (and keep a record of learning encounters) to identify learning needs and encourage self-directed lifelong learning and continued professional development.

Professional

Take the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every six years - required for Physician Associates AND maintain your professional registration working within the latest Code of Professional Conduct (CIPD). A Minimum of 25 hours must be in accredited direct learning programmes

Regularly reflect on own practice (and keep record of learning encounters) in order to identify learning needs and encourage self-directed lifelong learning and continued professional development

Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the Practice/s.

Demonstrate clinical leadership.

Proactively promote the role of the PA within the Practice and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.

Respect patient confidentiality always and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the role's requirements.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Health and Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and published procedures. This will include:

Always comply with the Practice Health and Safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures.

Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards

Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role

Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)

Reporting potential risks identified.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

5. Communication and working relationships

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Job Description

This job description is intended to provide an outline of key tasks and responsibilities only. The post holder may require other duties commensurate with the position. This job description will be open to regular review and may be amended to account for development within the Practice. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties to maintain the efficient running of the Practice

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Graduation from a recognised/accredited Physician Associate higher education institution
• Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination
• Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, including registration on the PA Managed Voluntary Register
• MSc Physician associate studies

Experience
Essential

• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of own clinical practice.
• Minor illness management or acute care management
• Experience in the examination of adults and children

Desirable

• Experience in working within a Primary Care setting.
• Working in General Practice

Skills, Abilities & Knowledge
Essential

• Advanced clinical skills and experience of using these in different situations.
• Ability to assess, treat and diagnose adults and children and manage patients' risk effectively and safely.
• Management of patients with complex needs.
• Interpret and undertake test and investigations as appropriate.
• Knowledge of accountability issues, Patient Group Directives, and clinical policies.
• Understanding of evidence-based practice.
• Understanding of clinical governance.
• Ability to remain calm
  Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
  
  B0101-23-0009