Nurse/Paramedic Practitioner

Job responsibilities

Title: Nurse/Paramedic Practitioner

Responsible To: Clinical Team Manager

Duties & Responsibilities of the Post:

· To deliver a high standard of patient care as a Nurse/Paramedic Practitioner (NP/PP) in general practice, using advanced autonomous clinical skills, and a broad and in-depth theoretical knowledge base.

· To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patient’s needs in a primary care setting.

· Provide the choice of direct access to a NP/PP, both in the Surgery and over the telephone, for general practice population.

· Make professionally autonomous decisions for which he / she is accountable.

· 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.

· Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings / reports.

· Provide safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care.

· Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care / support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care.

· Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, health education, screening and therapeutic communication skills.

· Refer patients directly to other services / agencies as appropriate.

· Work with nursing, medical and health care assistant colleagues to ensure that National Service Frameworks (e.g. Coronary Heart Disease / Older People / Diabetes / Mental Health) are being delivered.

· Work with multi-disciplinary team within the Practice.

· Contribute to the practice achieving its quality targets to sustain the high standards of patient care and service delivery.

· Participate in identification of community health needs and develop patient / family-centred strategies to address them.

· Help develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services.

TEACHING AND MENTORING ROLE:

· Promote a learning environment for patients, nurses and other health professionals.

· Contribute to the planning and implementation of the teaching for existing staff, such as medical students, NP students, GP registrars and Health Care Assistants, within the Surgery.

PROFESSIONAL ROLE:

· Promote evidence-based practice through the use of the latest research-based guidelines and the development of practice-based research.

· Monitor the effectiveness of their own clinical practice through the quality assurance strategies such as the use of audit and peer review.

· Maintain their professional registration.

· Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure that up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained.

· Work within the latest NMC/HCPC Code of Professional Conduct.

· Record accurate consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC/HCPC guidance and other pertinent standards.

· Keep up to date with pertinent health-related policy and work with the practice team to consider the impact and strategies for implementation.

· Work collaboratively with colleagues within and external to the Surgeries.

· Demonstrate leadership.

· Pro-actively promote the role of the NP/PP within the Surgeries, and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.

SUPPORT ROLE:

· Act as an advisor to other members of the Primary Healthcare team.

· Encourage and develop teamwork within the Practice.

· Participate in multi-disciplinary protocol and Patient Group Directions development.

· Help the Practice operate in a cost-effective manner.

· Identify and manage nursing care risks on a continuing basis.

· Participate in audits and inspections as appropriate.

· Ensure that all Practice Policies’ are fully implemented.

· Work closely with the doctors and administrative managers in the setting up and / or improving systems for monitoring / measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets.

· Participate in Practice clinical meetings and Practice management meetings, reporting progress as required.

AREAS OF PRACTICE EXCLUDED FROM THE POST-HOLDERS REMIT:

· All aspects of antenatal/obstetric care.

HEALTH AND SAFETY / RISK MANAGEMENT:

· The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practice Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

· The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health records Act (1990).

EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY:

· The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

RESPECT FOR PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY:

· The post-holder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS:

· The post-holder is required to travel independently (where applicable) between Surgeries, and also to attend meetings.

· The post-holder will have contact with body fluids i.e., wound exudates; urine etc. while in clinical practice.

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:

· 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 role.

· Undertaking period infection control training (minimum annually).

· Reporting potential risks identified.

· Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of the children.

PERSONAL / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

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

· Participation in an annual staff performance review.

· Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, but to indicate the main areas of responsibility. It may be changed after consultation with the post holder. The employee shares with the employer, the responsibility for review and modification of duties. Suggestions and discussions are welcome.

Policies and Procedures - the duties and responsibilities of the post will be undertaken in accordance with the policies, procedures and practices of the Practice, which may be amended from time to time. You are required to be flexible and the practice reserves the right to alter such fixed hours as may be considered necessary to ensure the surgery runs smoothly.

Qualifications

Essential

• Management of minor illness, ailments and injuries
• Advanced Physical assessment course

Desirable

• Nurse / Paramedic Prescribing qualification
• Nurse/Paramedic led triage including telephone triage

Experience

Essential

• Previous post registration experience
• Evidence of appropriate continuing professional activity to maintain up to date knowledge and ongoing competence in all aspects of the NP/PP role
• Evidence of working autonomously and as part of a team
• Proven ability to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of their own clinical practice
• Minimum 5 years post registration work experience

Desirable

• Interpreting and implementing local and national policy agendas for health
• Experience in managing long term conditions i.e. asthma, COPD, diabetes, CHD
• Management of patients with complex needs
• Primary Care and / or Community Experience

Knowledge

Essential

• Understanding of accountability arising from the NMC/HCPC Code
• Understanding of the health needs of the Practice population as they relate to care.
• Understanding of evidence based practice
• Knowledge of national standards that inform practice
• Understanding of equal opportunity and diversity issues

Desirable

• Understanding and knowledge of policy developments related to the delivery of primary care services including General Practice, The APMS contract, clinical governance and QoF

Skills

Essential

• Ability to assess and manage patient risk effectively and safely
• Good working knowledge of Microsoft applications
• Excellent interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills
• Reflective practitioner
• Time management and ability to prioritise workload
• Able to analyse data and information, drawing out implications for the individual patient / impact on care plan
• Able to establish and maintain effective communication pathways.

Desirable

• Experience of use of medical software packages
• Proven record of effective use of networking and influencing skills
• Ability to think strategically

Certificate of Sponsorship

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).