Job summary
Physician Associate - Primary Care Network ARRS position - Plymouth , Devon
Under supervision of nominated GPs within the PCN, the post holder will provide care for the presenting patient including initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills as well as critical thinking in the decision-making process. They will work collaboratively with the wider PCN healthcare team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. The post holder will provide a holistic and clinical service, with support and supervision of GPs, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as appropriate and will be supervised by a member of the PCN clinical team.
Main duties of the job
This post requires working and travelling across the whole local footprint covered by DMA PCN. This is currently the whole geographical area of the city of Plymouth, Devon. This includes working, as required, at PCN surgeries, patients places of residence and PCN clinic locations.
In accordance with an agreed PCN timetable, the post-holder will make him/her-self available to undertake clinical sessions.
The post-holder will also be available to carry out visits to patients places of residence. Visiting patients will, in most cases, be in accordance with an agreed timetable; however on occasions visits may need to take place on an unscheduled basis.
About us
Drake Medical Alliance (DMA) PCN comprises 5 diverse General Practices covering the whole of the city of Plymouth, Devon. The network was formed from a previous GP Federation that has worked cooperatively and effectively over many years. The post holder will be well supported within the PCN. DMA practices are all also well-established with long experience of providing training in association with the Universities of Plymouth and Exeter. The PCN already employs a wide range of allied health professionals under the ARRS scheme. There is a shared supportive ethos amongst practices with regular meetings to work through the aims of the PCN.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder will be required to:
- Act upon alerts (e.g. QOF) and reminders during a routine consultation.
- Undertake surgeries during extended hours in accordance with the access needs of the network population and the contractual obligations of the practices within the network.
- Diagnose and then formulate patient management plans, with reference to fellow health professionals where appropriate.
- Follow up the care of patients as appropriate: including the review of test results, hospital referral letters, unplanned hospital admissions and A+E attendances.
- Contribute to triage sessions in support of the wider network population, which will include face to face consultations as well as telephone and on-line consultations/advice/triage.
- Respond to medical problems presented by patients, including history taking, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment and referral where appropriate.
- Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice.
- Provide medical support as required to patients referred by nursing staff
- Adhere to the prescribing formularies identified by the network and to local and national guidelines.
- Under supervision of nominated GPs, make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the network practices
- Record clear and contemporaneous IT based consultation notes to agreed standards;
- Deal with patient notes, review and file patient laboratory and test results and discuss with a GP where necessary;
- Collect data for audit purposes.
Other responsibilities within all PCN Practices
The post-holder will be required to:
- Support practice staff and respond to requests for advice and assistance from practice reception, secretarial and nursing staff.
- Attend prescribing, palliative care, clinical and practice meetings.
- Attend and take part in clinical meetings as required.
- Provide additional enhanced services to practices that meet the needs of the all patient populations and maximise the income streams to practices.
- Undertake additional training where necessary to provide these enhanced services.
- Be aware of and comply with all relevant PCN and practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, annual QOF Assessment of the Practice.
- Meet timescales/deadlines for audits and written returns to ensure that the PCN meets quality standards and receives the designated funding (e.g. Quarterly Enhanced Services returns, annual QOF audit etc.)
General Duties
- At all times to behave in a professional way that encourages quality care and the development of a team spirit.
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected toadopt a flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment atany time in consultation with the post-holder and in line with the needs of DMA PCN.
The post holder may be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the lead manager, tomeet the needs of the organisation.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The post-holder will be required to:
- Act upon alerts (e.g. QOF) and reminders during a routine consultation.
- Undertake surgeries during extended hours in accordance with the access needs of the network population and the contractual obligations of the practices within the network.
- Diagnose and then formulate patient management plans, with reference to fellow health professionals where appropriate.
- Follow up the care of patients as appropriate: including the review of test results, hospital referral letters, unplanned hospital admissions and A+E attendances.
- Contribute to triage sessions in support of the wider network population, which will include face to face consultations as well as telephone and on-line consultations/advice/triage.
- Respond to medical problems presented by patients, including history taking, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment and referral where appropriate.
- Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice.
- Provide medical support as required to patients referred by nursing staff
- Adhere to the prescribing formularies identified by the network and to local and national guidelines.
- Under supervision of nominated GPs, make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the network practices
- Record clear and contemporaneous IT based consultation notes to agreed standards;
- Deal with patient notes, review and file patient laboratory and test results and discuss with a GP where necessary;
- Collect data for audit purposes.
Other responsibilities within all PCN Practices
The post-holder will be required to:
- Support practice staff and respond to requests for advice and assistance from practice reception, secretarial and nursing staff.
- Attend prescribing, palliative care, clinical and practice meetings.
- Attend and take part in clinical meetings as required.
- Provide additional enhanced services to practices that meet the needs of the all patient populations and maximise the income streams to practices.
- Undertake additional training where necessary to provide these enhanced services.
- Be aware of and comply with all relevant PCN and practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, annual QOF Assessment of the Practice.
- Meet timescales/deadlines for audits and written returns to ensure that the PCN meets quality standards and receives the designated funding (e.g. Quarterly Enhanced Services returns, annual QOF audit etc.)
General Duties
- At all times to behave in a professional way that encourages quality care and the development of a team spirit.
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected toadopt a flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment atany time in consultation with the post-holder and in line with the needs of DMA PCN.
The post holder may be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the lead manager, tomeet the needs of the organisation.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate diploma or degree (Physician Associate)
- Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register
Experience
Essential
- Front-line patient contact experience within a recognised NHS setting in an employed or trainee role
Desirable
- Experience of working in GP Practice
- Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
Clinical Practice
Essential
- The Physician Associate will work within their scope of clinical practice.
- They will provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient.
- Undertake face to face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the Practices, including management of patients with long-term conditions.
- Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practices as delegated and agreed by the mentoring GP.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Post graduate diploma or degree (Physician Associate)
- Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register
Experience
Essential
- Front-line patient contact experience within a recognised NHS setting in an employed or trainee role
Desirable
- Experience of working in GP Practice
- Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
Clinical Practice
Essential
- The Physician Associate will work within their scope of clinical practice.
- They will provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history-taking, physical examinations and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient.
- Undertake face to face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the Practices, including management of patients with long-term conditions.
- Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practices as delegated and agreed by the mentoring GP.
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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.
Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).