Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: Advanced Care Practitioner
REPORTS TO: Designated GP Partner mentor (Clinical) and Practice Manager (Non Clinical)
Role Summary
Responsible for attending to patients who wish to be seen by a health care professional; examining, diagnosing and treating patients presenting with minor illness; seeing and advising patients in respect of their continuing medical needs. These patients will have booked appointments face to face or telephone or be seen in their own home. The Practitioner will need to prioritise and triage the needs of patients accordingly, making any necessary referrals for investigations accordingly. Patients with problems needing referral to secondary care should be discussed with the registered or Duty GP before making such a referral.
The role is flexible and can be developed according to practice need and individual competencies.
Role Responsibilities
Examining, diagnosis and treating patients presenting with minor illness
Assess and treat patients wishing to see a healthcare professional, making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team
Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within boundaries of competence, and to acknowledge limitations
Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments, with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary
Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures
Undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples and swabs
Perform investigatory procedures as indicated for patients seen, or as requested by the GPs
Administration and professional responsibilities
Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team
Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes
Ensure the clinical computer record is kept up to date, with accurate details recorded and amended
Ensure correct coding is used to enable appropriate items of service claims to be made
Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice
Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit
Attend and participate in practice meetings as required
Communication
The post-holder will recognise 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
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 patient needs
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
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
Personal and Professional Development
The post-holder will keep abreast of knowledge and legislation changes pertaining to the role. 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.
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning, and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others.
- Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice.
- This job description is not exhaustive and may be adjusted periodically after review and consultation in order to meet the changing needs of the practice.
