Job summary
The Digestive Diseases Directorate welcome applications for the role of Physician Associate to work within a team of 10 across the Directorate. The Physician Associate is a member of the multi-disciplinary team of doctors, nurses, advanced clinical practitioners, therapists and other disciplines to deliver patient care.
PAs have the opportunity to perform delegate duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge. This includes assessing and examining patients, initiating and interpreting investigations and liaising with other professions as required.
All PAs are supervised by a designated consultant who oversees professional development; dedicated time is provided for this and PAs are encouraged to agree interests with their supervisor that interest them as well as benefiting the service. Our PAs have access to bespoke appraisal via our SARD software.
The current specialty that this role will be based in under Digestive Diseases is Gastroenterology & Hepatology. There may be a requirement to rotate to other specialties within the Directorate in future and it is envisaged that the role will develop flexibly over time.
Applications are welcome from both experience PAs and new graduates.
Main duties of the job
The post holder is expected:
- To exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing, managing and planning care for a caseload of patients in the department.
- To develop extensive specialist knowledge and experience, acting as a resource to the medical and nursing teams and allied health professionals.
- To work collaboratively as part of the multi-disciplinary team,
- To contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
- To become involved in the wider activities of the department including governance, teaching and audit
- To act as an ambassador for the Physician Associate role at local and external meetings
- To participate annually in the appraisal process
About us
Digestive Diseases at NUH encompasses both surgical and physician specialties relating to the GI tract - specifically Colorectal Surgery, Upper GI Surgery, Hepatobiliary Surgery, Emergency General Surgery, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Nutrition and Endoscopy. A new ward and theatre complex has recently opened at City Hospital to enable increased elective operations to take place and to allow emergency patients to be cared for at the QMC campus.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology emergency admissions come through the Emergency Department at QMC, are clerked on B3 and if required are admitted onto F21, F22 or E14. Physician Associates within the specialty are based on F21 which primarily looks after patients with liver conditions and E14 which primarily looks after luminal gastroenterology. The specialty is about to expand its service to create SDEC pathways and virtual ward pathways.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PAs will be supported to progress their roles beyond ward working, including outpatient and procedural work. PAs in Digestive Diseases work 1:5 weekends between 8am and 4pm with compensatory days off scheduled.
Clinical responsibilities include taking medical histories, physical examination, ordering and interpreting investigations, making differential diagnoses and recommending treatments, as well as documentation.
Wider responsibilities can be found in the job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
PAs will be supported to progress their roles beyond ward working, including outpatient and procedural work. PAs in Digestive Diseases work 1:5 weekends between 8am and 4pm with compensatory days off scheduled.
Clinical responsibilities include taking medical histories, physical examination, ordering and interpreting investigations, making differential diagnoses and recommending treatments, as well as documentation.
Wider responsibilities can be found in the job description.
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- *BSc level Degree prior to undertaking PA programme
- PG Diploma or Masters in Physician Associate Studies from a UK training programme (or equivalent)
- Valid certification of Physician Associate National Exam (can apply if awaiting results of National Exam or due to sit in the near future)
- Valid certification of Physician Associate Revalidation Exam (if applicable)
- Full membership at the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP (or proof of awaiting membership to be finalised)
- Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Register (FPA MVR or proof awaiting to be finalised)
Experience
Essential
- Clinical training and experience in general medicine
- Experience of teaching
- Experience of audit.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly across different locations and multi-task when necessary, including as required out of hours work.
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.
- Reflect on NHS experience including current theoretical knowledge base or relevant practical experience.
Analytical and Judgement skills1
Essential
- Assist medical and nursing staff in all clinical emergencies.
Planning and Organisation Skills
Essential
- Planning and organisation of straightforward tasks, activities or programmes some of which may be ongoing.
- effectively manage and organise own workload
Person Specification
Training and Qualifications
Essential
- *BSc level Degree prior to undertaking PA programme
- PG Diploma or Masters in Physician Associate Studies from a UK training programme (or equivalent)
- Valid certification of Physician Associate National Exam (can apply if awaiting results of National Exam or due to sit in the near future)
- Valid certification of Physician Associate Revalidation Exam (if applicable)
- Full membership at the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP (or proof of awaiting membership to be finalised)
- Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Register (FPA MVR or proof awaiting to be finalised)
Experience
Essential
- Clinical training and experience in general medicine
- Experience of teaching
- Experience of audit.
Communication Skills
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly across different locations and multi-task when necessary, including as required out of hours work.
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively.
- Reflect on NHS experience including current theoretical knowledge base or relevant practical experience.
Analytical and Judgement skills1
Essential
- Assist medical and nursing staff in all clinical emergencies.
Planning and Organisation Skills
Essential
- Planning and organisation of straightforward tasks, activities or programmes some of which may be ongoing.
- effectively manage and organise own workload
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).
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).