General Practice Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Description

PHYSICIANS ASSOCIATE

SCOPE OF THE JOB

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.

This is a new post in the practice and will develop depending on the post holder and the needs of the practice.

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.

Main Responsibilities:

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 guidelines.

Provide routine and unscheduled care (UC) for patients at the Practice within scope of practice

To undertake triage as part of the UC team

To undertake Unscheduled Care clinics

To undertake home visits as part of the visiting team

Assess, 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, 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

Initiate and interpret tests and investigations as appropriate

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

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

Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the NSF for Mental Health

To collaborate with other members of the Primary Health Care Team including doctors, nurses, pharmacists accepting referrals and referring to them for specialist care

Direct referral to and liaison with consultants and other professional agencies

To record accurate data in the patient records to an agreed standard

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

DELIVERING A QUALITY SERVICE

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures

To be aware of data protection issues particularly within a GP surgery

Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information

Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation

Keep up to date with current evidence based practice

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

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Assist in the development and implementation of policies and procedures

Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance

To participate in professional development review annually. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments. Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements

To attend and participate in Significant Event Audits

To attend the UC planning meetings as required

To work within the professional practice and scope of professional conduct, H&S at work Act 1974, Data Protection Act 1984 and Access to Health Records 1990

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & 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:

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 recognizes 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.

Personal/professional development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education (CPD) every year. A Minimum of 25 hours must be in accredited direct learning programmes

Take the UK PA National Re-certification Examination every six years, as required for Physician Associates

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

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

Communication

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

Contribution to the implementation of services:

The post-holder will:

Apply practice policies, standards and guidance

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work

Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant degree

Experience

Essential

• Experience or working in General practice

Desirable

• Relevant primary care experience

Registration

Essential

• On the Physician Associate Register

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Downs Way Medical Practice

Address

Beaconsfield Road

Bexley

DA5 2AE

Employer's website

http://www.downswaymedicalpractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)