Physician Associate (XR07)

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

1. JOB DETAILS

Job Title: Physician Associate

Reports to: Clinical Lead and Supervising Consultant

Accountable to: Trust Lead for Physician Associates

Band: 7

Unit/Department: Rotating placement

Directorate: Rotating Placement

Location St. James's University Hospital/ Leeds General Infirmary/Chapel Allerton Hospital

AfC Job No: 2874

JOB PURPOSE

This is an innovative role to give newly qualified or more experienced Physician Associates a one year rotation through two hospital-based Medical and/or Surgical specialties. The PAs will spend six months rotating through departments including Emergency Medicine, Oncology, Stroke Medicine, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Diabetes and Endocrine, Infectious Disease, and Elderly Medicine. The details for the rotations will be finalised by the date of interview.

The PAs will provide expert assistance to the multidisciplinary teams in the provision of a high quality service to patients. The post holders will work under the direction of a supervising Consultant and mentor, working collaboratively with other members of the clinical team within the Trusts policies and clinical guidelines. The job will involve inpatient work. Successful appointees will perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge, working within clinical environments such as operating theatres, wards and outpatient clinics.

It is not mandatory that the Physician Associate has prior experience of a relevant speciality. The post-holders will undergo training, supervision and accreditation to activities relevant to each recruiting department.

JOB DIMENSIONS

The Physician Associate role is being developed to work alongside the departments doctors, advanced practitioners and other team members.

They will be trained in a broad range of skills to undertake clinical care of patients as appropriate to the clinical environment and specialty. They will be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialities as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.

PAs will be clinically supervised by a designated consultant for each post. There will also be an individual mentor to oversee professional development, supported by an annual appraisal and a professional portfolio.

It is expected that the Physician Associate will become involved in all activities of a department or CSU, including clinical governance, quality improvement projects, research and teaching. Physician Associates will also represent the departments at local and external meetings as appropriate.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

The post-holder must have completed the following to work as a Physician associate in the Trust.

Please note: These conditions are not a requirement to be selected for interview but are absolute requirements to be able to start work

Bachelor Degree prior to taking Physicians Associates Programme.

Successfully completed a PG Diploma/masters qualification in Physician Associate Studies from an accredited UK training programme;

Passed the UK RCP National Certification Examination for Physician Associates (PANCE)

Be registered on the UK Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) to be able to work in the Trust.

Membership of the Faculty of Physician Associates

Knowledge/ Skills:

Ability to adhere to regulations as well as working flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust and our patients

Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, other staff and agencies

Ability to contribute to effective patient flow through the Trust

Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively

Ability to respond to questions in a tactful and professional manner

Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team, including the desire to motivate and lead

An inquiring and critical approach to work and performance

Commitment to CPD and professional development.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills

Experience of conducting clinical audit and quality improvement projects

Knowledge of medical diagnoses, procedures and terminology

Personal Attributes

Ability to work all shifts.

Ability to work autonomously and within a team.

Able to remain calm and polite under pressure.

Confidence to exchange patient management with other members of the MDT and achieve agreement or co-operation.

Desire to work for and with patients to enhance their care

Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure

Flexible, positive, problem-solving approach to clinical work

Good interpersonal skills with effective oral and written communication skills.

Holistic and caring attitude towards patient care

Strong professional commitment to providing high quality compassionate care.

THE LEEDS WAY VALUES

Our values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:

Patient-centred

Collaborative

Fair

Accountable

Empowered

All our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values

Additionally the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:

Commitment to maintaining a clean and safe environment

Commitment to own development by achieving high standards in theoretical and practical domains within the clinical setting.

Commitment to providing high-quality evidence- based care to patients and their carers.

Commitment to the clinical area including valuing the contribution of all team members and encouraging a positive and creative working environment.

Commitment to the development of all staff within the unit.

Commitment to working in a multidisciplinary team

CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS

Ability to act professionally at all times.

Awareness of evidence based practice.

Communication skills.

Conflict management

Mentoring skills.

Organisational skills.

Preceptor ship skills.

Stress management

Teaching and assessment skills

Team player.

Time management skills.

Understanding of the process of change

Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control

Well-developed clinical practice skills.

8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING

Awareness of Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies

Understanding of relevant local and national clinical guidelines and protocols

Understanding of relevant National Service Frameworks

Understanding of the local and national NHS agenda

Understanding of the role of the clinical supervisor to the PA

Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control

9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

The PA will be required to work as part of the clinical team, under supervision of a named Consultant, to deliver high quality patient care.

This will include duties and responsibilities in the following areas:

Clinical

Delivery and participation in the clinical care of patients.

To exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care for patients. Working within a set of defined parameters when working in a particular specialty.

Provision of a level of advanced and comprehensive health assessment based on a specialist body of knowledge under established parameters.

Appropriate assessment, examination, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of patients, resulting in the safe management and appropriate referral or discharge of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations within the boundaries of the role as a trainee.

Recognition of patients with changing health status and undertaking appropriate actions.

Communication of highly complex and highly sensitive information with patients and families and within the healthcare team.

Liaison with other hospital services to enable detailed planning for patient management, referral and discharge.

Undertaking advanced clinical skills according to agreed protocols and service need.

Interpretation of laboratory and radiological results and initiate appropriate patient management.

Maintenance of own clinical development by keeping abreast of new treatments and technologies within emergency and unscheduled care.

Improvements on the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the individual clinical needs of patients.

Review with a supervisor, all aspects of the patients plan of care and identify and address issues that may result in a sub-standard service.

Contribution to the review and development of integrated care pathways and clinical guidelines to ensure a standardised approach to care.

Practice with confidence and competence within professional guidelines, and established parameters.

Ensure accurate documentation and records of patient care.

Assist in the development of patient management systems, processes and tools within the work area and adjacent clinical/assessment areas.

Ability to adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical settings and influence service delivery and patient care.

Implementation of effective systems and processes for infection control management and relevant audit within their clinical area.

Acting in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and vulnerable adults at all times, in keeping with LTHT safeguarding policies.

Contribute in the development of a specialist service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Bachelor Degree prior to undertaking Physicians Associate program
• PG Dip/masters qualification in Physician Associate Studies from an accredited UK or Irish training programme (or be within 6 months of graduation at time of application).
• Current and valid certification or re-certification of the National Certifying Examinations for Physicians Associates (Royal College of Physicians)
• Membership of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (Royal College of Physicians).
• Membership of the Faculty of Physician Associates (Royal College of Physicians)

Desirable

• Life support course certification e.g. ILS, ALS or PALS Medical education qualification

Other Criteria

Essential

• Able to fulfil Occupational Health requirements for the post (with reasonable adjustments if necessary), including clearance on blood borne viruses in compliance with Trust Policy

Skills & Behaviours

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively highly complex and sensitive matters (verbal and written communication) with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies
• Ability to adhere to regulations as well as work flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust
• Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
• Knowledge of medical procedures and terminology
• Experience of conducting clinical audit
• Ability to exercise sound judgments when faced with conflicting pressures
• Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Ability to respond to questions in a tactful and professional manner

Desirable

• Evidence of assisting in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK
• Evidence of teaching Physician Associate students or Medical students
• Ability to motivate and develop a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to manage and lead a working group

Experience

Desirable

• Experience working as a Physician Associate in hospital or community setting

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Leeds Teaching Hospitals

Address

Leeds General Infirmary

Great George Street

Leeds

LS1 3EX

Employer's website

https://www.leedsth.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)