Primary Care Paramedic

Job responsibilities

The Primary Care Paramedic will work within their scope of clinical practice and: Assess and triage patients, including same day triage, and as appropriate provide definitive treatment (including prescribing medications following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines and local care pathways) or make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team Assess patients presenting with acute illness or for review of chronic disease conditions. Diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis. Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective and plan clinical care accordingly. Assess, diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs and follow up as appropriate. Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition (as appropriate). Alongside the GPs, provide a first point of contact within the practice for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, making use of skills in history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making to establish a diagnosis and management plan. To provide assessment, treatment and diagnosis at point of first contact by attending to patients in a variety of clinical or non-clinical settings according to patients’ needs. To undertake home visits in accordance with the relevant protocols. To make professionally autonomous decisions for which they are accountable. To refer patients to an alternative care setting or treat and discharge as appropriate. To instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports. Maintain accurate and contemporaneous health records appropriate to the consultation, ensuring accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice. Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments and provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions. Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care. Ensure that professional standards are maintained and within the guidance provided by the Department of Health, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Paramedics (COP). Support the development of excellent relationships with stakeholders to enable collaboration for better patient outcomes. Contribute to the practice achieving its quality targets to sustain high standards of patient care and service delivery. Support the Practice in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements. Secondary responsibilities Participate in the management of patient complaints and significant events when requested to do so and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events. To undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes. To develop yourself and the role through participation in training and service redesign activities. Enhance own performance through continuous professional development, keep up to date with current evidence-based practice. Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation. Participate in research and utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required. In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.

Qualifications

Essential

• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) Level 7 or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCOF) Level 11.

Desirable

• Pre-reg MSc in a training programme approved by the College of Paramedics.
• Non-medical prescribing qualification.
• Full UK Driving Licence.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of two year working as an advanced paramedic.
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions including long term conditions.
• Experience of caring for people in their own homes.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment.
• Experience in triage.
• Evidence of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care.
• Experience of clinical governance including audit.

Clinical knowledge and skills

Essential

• Evidence of continual learning and professional development.
• Able to operate at an advanced level of clinical practice.
• Experience in managing a designated caseload using theoretical and practical experience, completing assessments, planning, implementing interventions and evaluating outcomes aligned to care plans.
• Ability to write comprehensive clinical notes, implement and evaluate care plans.
• Ability to analyse and interpret complex / often incomplete information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action.
• Understand the importance of evidence-based practice.
• Broad knowledge of clinical governance.
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs.

Desirable

• Working knowledge of GP Practice and Prescribing Data and monitoring systems.
• Working towards advanced clinical practitioner status.
• Mentorship or Supervisory skills training.
• Ability to undertake post procedure and operative care.
• 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.

Skills and Personal Qualities

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral).
• Strong IT skills.
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook.
• EMIS/SystmOne/Vision user skills.
• Effective time management (planning and organising).
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Problem solving and analytical skills.
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure.
• Polite and confident.
• Flexible and cooperative.
• Motivated, forward thinker.
• High levels of integrity and loyalty.
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations.
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations.
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Effectively utilise resources.
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort.

Desirable

• Understanding of the audit process.
• Understanding of clinical risk management.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).