Paramedic Practitioner

Job responsibilities

A Paramedic is to undertake the following key responsibilities in delivering health services:

• Work within the existing Paramedic Practitioner team and as part of a wider multi-disciplinary team at the Practice.
• Assess and triage patients, including same day triage, and as appropriate provide definitive treatment (including prescribing medications following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines and local care pathways) or make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team
• Advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to the Practices social prescribing service and, where appropriate, other community or voluntary services

Be able to:

• Perform specialist health checks and reviews within their scope of practice and in line with local and national guidance
• Perform investigatory procedures as required and undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs and other samples within their scope of practice and within line of local and national guidance
• To assess, diagnose, treat, refer or signpost patients who present with undifferentiated or undiagnosed condition relating to illness or injury.
• Support the delivery of anticipatory care plans and certain services (e.g., monitoring blood pressure and long-term conditions in those patients at risk)
• Provide a service for urgent and same day home visits to complement the existing GP home visits for the practice
• Perform and interpret ECGs
• Communicate at all levels across Practices ensuring that an effective, person-centred service is delivered
• Communicate proactively and effectively with all colleagues across the Practice, attending and contributing to meetings as required
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous health records appropriate to the consultation, ensuring accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient healthcare with the Practice
• Communicate effectively with patients and, where appropriate, family members and their carers, where applicable, complex and sensitive information regarding their physical health needs, results, findings and treatment choices using their advanced clinical skills to provide education to patients, promoting self-care and empower them to make informed choices about their treatment.
• Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.
• 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.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree level in paramedicine or equivalent experience
• Registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council as a paramedic

Desirable

• Post graduate qualifications in minor injury/illness and advanced patient assessment

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgmental way
• Courteous, respectful and helpful at all times
• Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from all communities
• Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
• Ability to use discretion and sensitivity
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face
• Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Ability to deal with non-routine and unpredictable nature of the workload and individual patient contact
• Ability to take part in reflective practice and clinical supervision activities
• Knowledge of when to seek advice and refer to a registered care professional
• Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues
• Demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure
• Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines
• High level of written and oral communication skills
• Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis, including to visit people in their own home
• Clear polite telephone manner
• Knowledge of other IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports

Desirable

• Good clinical IT system knowledge (EMIS Web)

Experience

Essential

• Completed two-year Consolidation of Learning period when a newly qualified paramedic
• Experience as a band 6 (or equivalent) Paramedic (2-3 years minimum)
• Working towards developing Level 7 capability in paramedic areas of practice and has completed and been signed off formally within the clinical pillar competencies of the Advanced Clinical Practice Framework

Desirable

• Attained Level 7 capability in paramedic areas of practice
• Has previously worked in a primary care setting or a Primary Care Network

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).