Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job summary

The purpose of the role is to assist the clinical team in the service and delivery of the care management of the practice population.

Duties & Responsibilities

The Physician Associate will work within their scope of clinical practice and:

• 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 (and their carers where applicable).
• Undertake face to face, telephone and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the Practice, including management of patients with long-term conditions. Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the supervising GPs.
• Perform diagnostic physical examinations and treatment.
• Identify, signpost or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patient's health.
• Organise onward investigation, treatment and referral where appropriate.
• Ensure continuity of care, arranging follow-up consultations or reviews as necessary.
• Attend regular practice clinical meetings.
• Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies.
• Under supervision of the GPs in the practice, make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the Organisation.
• Record clear and contemporaneous IT based consultation notes to an agreed standard.
• Review and act on laboratory results and clinical communication from Hospitals and other providers.
• Undertake complex clinical coding and manage and oversee the process for non-clinical coding.
• Recognise, assess and refer where appropriate patients presenting with mental health problems.
• Produce care plans for frequent attendees and undertake initial consultations.
• Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately.
• Oversight of the referral process and intervene where appropriate.
• Contribute to administration element of clinical reports and initial observations pre GP appointment.
• Be able to justify choice of medication, and support patients in the use of their prescribed medication (within own scope of practice).
• Be able to understand the impact of comorbidities, other medications and poly-pharmacy.
• Deliver integrated patient-centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care network.
• Conduct home visits and Care Home visits if required (following adequate training).
• Act on alerts and reminders (e.g. QOF, local enhanced services etc) during a consultation
• Assist the practice in achieving its clinical targets and objectives in QOF, local enhanced services etc.
• Participate in continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and keep up to date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of your role, meeting clinical governance guidelines for CPD.
• Operate under appropriate clinical supervision

Collaborative Working Relationships

• Recognises the roles of other colleagues within the Practice
• Demonstrates use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues and other professionals, other NHS/Private Organisations)
• Demonstrates ability to work as a member of a team.
• Is able to recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleagues when necessary.
• Liaises with other GP Practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients.
• Contributes to Primary Care team meetings, following up on agreed actions.

Leadership

• Demonstrates understanding of the Physician Associates' role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace.
• Demonstrates understanding of, and contributes to, the workplace vision.
• Demonstrates ability to improve quality within limitations of service.
• Reviews progress and develops clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.
• Demonstrates ability to motivate self to achieve goals.

Management

• Understands the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service.
• Demonstrates understanding of the process for effective resource utilisation.
• Conforms and understands relevant standards of practice.
• Demonstrates ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol.
• Follows professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management.
• Demonstrates ability to extend boundaries of service delivery within the team.

Learning & Development

• Understands and demonstrates the characteristics of a role model to members in the team and/or service.
• Demonstrates self-development through CPD activity and a personal development plan, using a reflective approach to practice.
• Works in conjunction with senior management, assessing own learning needs and undertaking learning as appropriate.
• Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice including mandatory and statutory training.
• Ongoing mentorship and support will be provided by the Partners.

Quality

· Contribute to clinical governance activities / clinical audit to ensure continual improvement of service delivery.

· Contribute to complaints responses / reviews, significant event, peer review and other shared learning activities.

· Provide services to the practices’ patient population to the highest possible standard ie QOF.

· Take action if standards are not met (self or others).

· Work to agreed standards, monitor and maintain the standard of care offered.

· Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

· Advise patients of the Physician Associates role, its extent and limits.

· Appropriately advise patients if they require the services of a GP or other clinical team member.

· Communicate effectively, promptly and appropriately with patients and team members.

· Communicate risk to patients and ensure proper consent gained where appropriate.

· Contribute to practice meetings.

· Modify method of communication with patients to suit the situation, recognise problems / barriers and take action or seek help at an early stage when they arise.

· Contribution to the implementation of services.

· Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.

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

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 people’s 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.

Health & Safety

You will assist in promoting and maintaining your own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the practice policies, to include:

· 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.

· Reporting any potential risks.

This is a new role and this job description may change following periodical reviews.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Qualifications:
• Physicians Associate Postgraduate Diploma/Masters
• Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) with valid national certificate
• Experience:
• Previous experience in a primary or secondary healthcare setting
• Skills:
• Ability to work in team or on own initiative
• Caring attitude towards patients and the ability to show empathy and tact
• Accurate and detail-orientated
• Interpersonal and verbal communication skills
• Written communication skills
• Ability to adapt to different situations, to work under pressure and manage workload
• Good problem solving and decision-making skills
• Self-motivated, resilience and patience
• Excellent IT skills
• Other:
• Able to observe Code of Confidentiality
• Able to liaise effectively with hospitals and outside agencies.

Desirable

• Experience:
• Previous experience in UK general practice
• Experience with SystmOne
• Knowledge:
• Evidence of continual learning and development

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications:
• Physicians Associate Postgraduate Diploma/Masters
• Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) with valid national certificate

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

Wellbrook Medical Centre

Address

Wellbrook Medical Centre

Welland Road

Hilton

Derby

DE65 5GZ

Employer's website

https://www.wellbrookmedical.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)