We are looking for a highly motivated Lead Physician Associate (PA) with a good understanding of current workforce challenges to support senior clinical leaders to deliver on workforce priorities at a PCN (Primary Care Network) level.

To Mentor and support other clinicians in developing and maintaining skills as Physician Associate

Provide some leadership to the junior physician associate and ensure the highest standards of care are provided for the patients

To be responsible for the provision of a clinical service, working as part of the practice and PCN multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice/PCN to the entitled patient population. The physician associate will be required to work autonomously providing a range of services such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, telephone triage, clinical decision-making and referring patients appropriately, as well as supporting the management team in the reviewing of clinical policy and procedure when required.

This is a unique opportunity to contribute to the development and delivery of policy for Physician Associates and gain experience of strategic working within PCN Alliance. You will join several other Clinical Fellows from a variety of professional backgrounds and will benefit from coaching from senior clinical leads
Main duties of the job

The following are the core responsibilities of the physician associate. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The physician associate will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

1. Training needs analysis to understand post-graduate training requirements for PAs across different care pathways.
2. Promote a learning environment for patients, and other health professionals within the PCN.
3. Contribute to the planning and implementation of the teaching for existing staff, such as Physician Associates, and Clinical Pharmacists within the PCN.

Continued, please see job description
About us

Greenwich Health is the GP Federation for the Greenwich Borough and have a not-for-profit ethos. This means we reinvest all of our surplus into developing our staff, our organisation and to support our GP Practices in being sustainable for the future. We are committed to providing quality of care to our patients whilst building resilience for General Practice and providing services and programmes of work to deliver care at scale to the Greenwich Population.

Why work for Greenwich Health?

- We are local organisation owned by our local GP Practices we care what happens in Greenwich and want to make a difference to our patients and our partners.

- We offer competitive remuneration as well as other benefits including:

o NHS Pension

o Occupational sickness pay entitlement

o Counselling services

o Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme

o Cycle to Work Scheme

o Private Healthcare Membership - Benenden Healthcare

- We have a track record for developing individuals in their careers

- Through our partnerships in our local healthcare environment, we can develop shared posts for example, with the hospital trust and our GP practices.

-You will have ongoing support and mentorship.

- We have developed a working culture which harnesses openness and togetherness which has resulted in high staff retention rates.

Job description
Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the physician associate. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. The physician associate will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

1. Training needs analysis to understand post-graduate training requirements for PAs across different care pathways.
2. Promote a learning environment for patients, and other health professionals within the PCN.
3. Contribute to the planning and implementation of the teaching for existing staff, such as Physician Associates, and Clinical Pharmacists within the PCN.
4. Supporting Clinical Directors to understand and develop additional post-qualifying opportunities.
5. Undertake face-to-face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long-term conditions. Where required by the PCN, physician associates can offer specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anticoagulation.
6. Identify, signpost or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health
7. Undertake home visits and participate in duty rotas

h. Provide routine care to patients as required in accordance with clinical based evidence, NICE and the NSF

i. Examine, assess and diagnose patients and provide clinical care/ management as required

j. Triage patients and provide the necessary treatment during home visits

k. Collect pathology specimens as required

l. Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation

m. Ensure read codes are used effectively

n. Ensure continuity of care, arranging follow-up consultations or reviews as necessary

o. Review the effectiveness of the treatment provided, making changes where necessary to improve patient outcomes

p. Chaperone patients where necessary

q. Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately

r. Recognise, assess and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

s. Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)

t. Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure that the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)

u. Ensure that they adhere to the relevant patient group directives and local clinical pathways at all times

v. Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies

w. Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately

x. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

Managerial responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the physician associate will have managerial responsibilities:

a. Support the PCN audit programme, undertaking audits when necessary

b. Participate in clinical supervision for the Physician Associates within the PCN.

c. Encourage and develop teamwork within the PCN.

d. Contribute towards the PCN Development plan and participate in surveys or audits and undertake research and development activities, of care provided by the PCN.

e. Participate in multi-disciplinary protocols development.

f. Identify appropriate opportunities to delegate both clinical and administrative tasks to more junior staff.

g. Help the PCN operate in a cost-effective manner.

h. Participate in PCN meetings as required

i. Participate in the development, implementation and continual reassessment of policies, protocols and guidelines.

j. Participate in the planning and organisational recall systems eg: chronic disease registers, so that patient recall is managed effectively.

k. Take an active role, as part of the PCN, in meeting the targets within the Quality and Outcome Framework, PCN Network DES and support to reduce variability.

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Post graduate diploma or degree (physician associate)
• Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register

Experience
Essential

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of working as a physician associate
• Experience in triage
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions

Clinical Knowledge
Essential

• Ability to effectively triage, assess and diagnose
• Wound care
• ECGs
• Chaperone procedure
• Requesting pathology tests and processing the results, advising patients accordingly
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
• Asthma
• Spirometry
• CHD
• Immunisations (routine, childhood and travel)
• Understand the importance of evidence-based practice
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues in the local area
• Awareness of issues within the wider health arena
• Knowledge of health promotion strategies
• Understand the requirement for PGDs and associated policy

Employer details
Employer name

Greenwich Health Ltd
Address

25 John Wilson Street

London

SE18 6PZ

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

U0055-23-0164