Job summary
Applications
are invited for a full time Physician Associate post in the Breast Surgery
Service. The appointee will join a cohesive medical and nursing team
including an existing Physician Associate and three Advanced Nurse
Practitioners. The successful candidate will work alongside colleagues in a
large and busy unit.
There
is a desire to develop the Physician Associate role within the unit and
create a team that can help support and develop our services. This post could
be appropriate for an experienced or newly qualified Physician Associate.
Close clinical and educational supervision will be provided to allow
appropriate educational and personal development activities. The appointee
will also be expected to develop a portfolio demonstrating competence in
appropriate areas through workplace based assessment.
The
post is suitable for a Physician Associate who has already been successful in
the national certification exam and holds PAMVR status.
Informal
visit strongly recommended
Main duties of the job
The
Physician Associate will be required to work as part of a supportive clinical
team, to provide expert assistance to the multidisciplinary teams and
high-quality patient care
The
role will involve inpatient and outpatient work delivering and participating
in clinical care of patients. The Physician Associate 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
The
Physician Associate will carry out 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. The Physician Associate will communicate highly complex
and sensitive information to patients, families and other healthcare
providers, ensuring completion of accurate documentation of patient care
About us
The
Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is a progressive environment fostering
close working relationships and collaboration, both within our Trust and with
our external partners, in order to provide a high standard of care and
support to our patients. Our aim is to be the best place to work and, to
achieve this, we engage with & listen to our staff to understand their
needs.
LTHT
has a national and international reputation for excellence in the quality of
its services and research. The Oncology Clinical Service Unit (CSU) provides
an ideal infrastructure for delivering high quality services and ensuring the
best outcomes for the catchment population of West Yorkshire and the wider
Yorkshire Cancer Network.
Oncology
is a large and complex CSU split into nine separate Business Units, including
Clinical, Medical and Surgical Oncology. The Breast Surgery Service, at St
Jamess University Hospital, is a large and busy regional centre.
Leeds
Teaching Hospitals is committed to our process of redeploying 'at risk'
members of our existing workforce to new roles. As such, all our job adverts
are subject to this policy and we reserve the right to close, delay or remove
adverts while this process is completed. If you do experience a delay in the
shortlisting stage of the recruitment cycle, please bear with us while this
process is completed, and contact the named contact if you have any
questions.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This
is a full time replacement post in the Breast and Endocrine Surgery
Department to work alongside the medical and nursing teams including three
existing ANPs and a Physician
Associate, in the delivery of care to our patients from Leeds and the
surrounding region. The department has been host to PA training posts on rotation
in the Leeds Hospitals for over 2 years and is now seeking to develop further
specific Breast posts at this grade to broaden the staffing base for the
future. The appointee will work with medical and supporting staff managing
patients in the outpatient, Dressing Clinics and wards. Following a period of
close supervision and training the post holder will be expected to see and
assess new breast referrals and arrange for appropriate tests and formulate
management plans with continuing support from the clinical team. They will be
expected to perform clinical fine needle aspiration cytology, clinical core
biopsies and punch biopsies and will be suitably trained up. Managing the
acute breast cases is also a requirement with opportunities to perform
incision and drainage or aspiration of breast abscesses. If desired, there
will be opportunities to broaden the role particularly managing breast cancer
patients specifically gaining the knowledge and skills to council patients
with a breast cancer diagnosis, to discuss management options, and to discuss
post-operative histologies and making appropriate adjuvant treatment plans.
The
PAs will provide supervised assistance to the multidisciplinary teams in the
provision of a high quality service to patients. They will work under the
direction of a supervising Consultant and mentor and collaboratively with
other members of the clinical team within the Trusts policies and clinical
guidelines. Successful appointees will perform delegated duties with a high
degree of clinical skill and knowledge.
It
is not mandatory that the Physician Associates have prior experience of the
speciality as there will be provision of suitable training, supervision and
accreditation.
The
Physician Associate roles are 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. 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 the department and CSU, including clinical governance, quality
improvement projects, research and teaching. Physician Associates may also
represent the departments at local and external meetings as appropriate.
Job description
Job responsibilities
This
is a full time replacement post in the Breast and Endocrine Surgery
Department to work alongside the medical and nursing teams including three
existing ANPs and a Physician
Associate, in the delivery of care to our patients from Leeds and the
surrounding region. The department has been host to PA training posts on rotation
in the Leeds Hospitals for over 2 years and is now seeking to develop further
specific Breast posts at this grade to broaden the staffing base for the
future. The appointee will work with medical and supporting staff managing
patients in the outpatient, Dressing Clinics and wards. Following a period of
close supervision and training the post holder will be expected to see and
assess new breast referrals and arrange for appropriate tests and formulate
management plans with continuing support from the clinical team. They will be
expected to perform clinical fine needle aspiration cytology, clinical core
biopsies and punch biopsies and will be suitably trained up. Managing the
acute breast cases is also a requirement with opportunities to perform
incision and drainage or aspiration of breast abscesses. If desired, there
will be opportunities to broaden the role particularly managing breast cancer
patients specifically gaining the knowledge and skills to council patients
with a breast cancer diagnosis, to discuss management options, and to discuss
post-operative histologies and making appropriate adjuvant treatment plans.
The
PAs will provide supervised assistance to the multidisciplinary teams in the
provision of a high quality service to patients. They will work under the
direction of a supervising Consultant and mentor and collaboratively with
other members of the clinical team within the Trusts policies and clinical
guidelines. Successful appointees will perform delegated duties with a high
degree of clinical skill and knowledge.
It
is not mandatory that the Physician Associates have prior experience of the
speciality as there will be provision of suitable training, supervision and
accreditation.
The
Physician Associate roles are 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. 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 the department and CSU, including clinical governance, quality
improvement projects, research and teaching. Physician Associates may also
represent the departments at local and external meetings as appropriate.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors Degree prior to undertaking Physicians Associate programme.
- 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)
- Passed the UK RCP National Certification Examination for Physician Associates (PANCE)
- Membership of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (Royal College of Physicians) and Faculty of Physician Associates (Royal College of Physicians)
Desirable
- Life support course certification e.g. ILS, ALS
- Experience working as a Physician Associate or a trainee PA in a breast unit.
- Higher Degree
Practical Skills or Additional Requirements
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
- An inquiring and critical approach to work
- Commitment to CME and professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical procedures and terminology
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
- Ability to organise and priorities workload effectively
- Ability to exercise sound judgments when faced with conflicting pressures
- Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team.
- 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 CME and professional development.
Desirable
- Evidence of assisting in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK
- Evidence of teaching Physician Associate students or Medical students
- Experience in breast/endocrine surgery including practical skills such as cannulation, punch biopsies, FNA, core biopsies
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team
- Ability to identify potential areas of risk; takes action to minimize the risk.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Confidence to exchange patient management with other members of the MDT and achieve agreement or co-operation.
- Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- Good interpersonal skills with effective oral and written communication skills.
- Strong Professional commitment to providing high quality compassionate care.
- Ability to act professionally at all times.
- Awareness of research-based practice.
- Understanding of the process of change.
- Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control
- Well-developed clinical practice skills.
- Teaching and assessment skills.
- Communication skills.
- Conflict management
Desirable
- Ability to manage and lead a working group
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- Bachelors Degree prior to undertaking Physicians Associate programme.
- 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)
- Passed the UK RCP National Certification Examination for Physician Associates (PANCE)
- Membership of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (Royal College of Physicians) and Faculty of Physician Associates (Royal College of Physicians)
Desirable
- Life support course certification e.g. ILS, ALS
- Experience working as a Physician Associate or a trainee PA in a breast unit.
- Higher Degree
Practical Skills or Additional Requirements
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
- An inquiring and critical approach to work
- Commitment to CME and professional development.
Experience
Essential
- Knowledge of medical procedures and terminology
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
- Ability to organise and priorities workload effectively
- Ability to exercise sound judgments when faced with conflicting pressures
- Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team.
- 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 CME and professional development.
Desirable
- Evidence of assisting in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK
- Evidence of teaching Physician Associate students or Medical students
- Experience in breast/endocrine surgery including practical skills such as cannulation, punch biopsies, FNA, core biopsies
Skills & Behaviours
Essential
- Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team
- Ability to identify potential areas of risk; takes action to minimize the risk.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality
- Confidence to exchange patient management with other members of the MDT and achieve agreement or co-operation.
- Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- Good interpersonal skills with effective oral and written communication skills.
- Strong Professional commitment to providing high quality compassionate care.
- Ability to act professionally at all times.
- Awareness of research-based practice.
- Understanding of the process of change.
- Uses initiative to resolve issues within their own control
- Well-developed clinical practice skills.
- Teaching and assessment skills.
- Communication skills.
- Conflict management
Desirable
- Ability to manage and lead a working group
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.
