Job summary
Physician Associate -
Provide expert assistance to the
Consultant and Specialist Registrars in the provision of a high quality,
patient centred service. The post
holders are expected to participate in all aspects of the patient pathway as
appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree
of clinical skill and knowledge.
The Physician Associate works alongside the medical team. They assess and examine patients,
present them, initiate and interpret investigations, and recommend treatment.
They liaise with other professionals and specialities as required and complete
necessary documentation relating to their patients.
They will be supervised by a designated
consultant and will also have individual mentors to overview their career
development.
Physician Associates are involved in the
activities of the Department, including coordinating patients on ambulatory
pathways related to their speciality, review patients admitted to their ward/s
and providing subsequent management of their case in conjunction with the multidisciplinary team. The role is generally
developed flexibly over time in accordance with the appointees clinical
interests and in line with the needs of the service.
Physician Associates will represent the
department at local and external meetings as appropriate.
The post will currently be based at Alexandra Hospital but the post holder may rotate to Worcestershire Royal Hospital in the future.
Main duties of the job
The key duties and responsibilities of the individuals appointed to the posts will vary by specialty. Duties will include:
Assess and examine acute medical or specialty patients dependent on post applied for, order appropriate investigations, interpret investigation findings, form a list of differential diagnoses and recommend treatment accordingly.
Coordinate patients on ambulatory pathways related to their specialty.
Review patients admitted to their ward(s) and provide subsequent management of their care in conjunction with the medical team.
Perform diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, subject to training/experience.
Instruct and counsel patients & their relatives with regard to mental and physical health issues.
Have, develop and maintain specialist medical knowledge.
Contribute to achieving and maintaining performance within the hospital and department.
To contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
To be accountable for the care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register) and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body when in place.
About us
Our purpose is simple - Putting Patients First. We are looking for exceptional colleagues who can help us achieve this.
Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust is a large acute and specialised hospital trust that provides a range of local acute services to the residents of Worcestershire and more specialised services to a larger population in Herefordshire and beyond.
The Trust operates hospital-based services from three sites in Kidderminster, Redditch and Worcester
Our workforce is nearly 6,800 strong, and our caring staff are recognised as providing good and outstanding patient-centred care. You could be one of them.
We are committed to recruiting the best people to work with us to achieve our Vision - working in partnership to provide the best healthcare for our communities, leading and supporting our teams to move 4ward. Our 4ward behaviours, which we ask all staff to demonstrate, underpin our everyday work and remain firmly at the heart of all we do.
Our objectives are simple:
- Best services for local people
- Best experience of care and best outcomes for our patients
- Best use of resources
- Best people
Better never stops, and our Clinical Services Strategy provides a clear future vision for our Trust, our hospitals, our services and our role in the wider health and care system.
We are proud to have achieved Timewise accreditation - this means we are committed to embedding flexible working within our organisation as a flex positive employer.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Physician Associates role will initially be developed in collaboration with the Clinical Lead of the relevant Department and the Chief of Medicine. The job plan will be subject to review in line with service developments.
i. Service Quality and Clinical Governance
- Develop standards, procedures and systems to ensure safe, high quality and efficient patient care from the point of entry to admission or discharge.
- Participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
- Play a strong role in risk management and governance.
ii. Communication and Representation
- Liaise closely within the department, the emergency and acute medical teams, other in-patient teams and primary and community services to ensure collaborative working arrangements are in place which maximise benefits to patient care
- Work collaboratively with the clinical team, i.e. consultants, junior doctors, nursing staff, therapy staff etc. to encourage and ensure good working relationships.
- Build effective networks with other departments, working in collaboration to support efficient patient flow.
- Promote a positive image of the department both externally and internally.
- Participate in and contribute to Trust wide initiatives and projects as appropriate.
iii. Information and Planning
- Take part in major incident planning.
- Ensure compliance with information governance requirements.
iv. Research & Teaching
Maintain knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through appropriate continuing professional development.
Assist in the development and mentoring of Physician Associate Students as the profession progresses.
Take an active role in the departmental clinical audit and governance activity.
Teach and train junior doctors, multi-disciplinary staff and students.
Assist with regular audit/surveys to support and inform service development.
Attend teaching sessions so as to improve knowledge and clinical practice.
The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated.
The post-holder will be encouraged to develop their job plan to include educational and leadership activity both internally and externally to promote the trusts work with Physician Associates and their training.
Please see the attached job description in supporting information .
Job description
Job responsibilities
The Physician Associates role will initially be developed in collaboration with the Clinical Lead of the relevant Department and the Chief of Medicine. The job plan will be subject to review in line with service developments.
i. Service Quality and Clinical Governance
- Develop standards, procedures and systems to ensure safe, high quality and efficient patient care from the point of entry to admission or discharge.
- Participate in relevant audit and quality assurance processes.
- Play a strong role in risk management and governance.
ii. Communication and Representation
- Liaise closely within the department, the emergency and acute medical teams, other in-patient teams and primary and community services to ensure collaborative working arrangements are in place which maximise benefits to patient care
- Work collaboratively with the clinical team, i.e. consultants, junior doctors, nursing staff, therapy staff etc. to encourage and ensure good working relationships.
- Build effective networks with other departments, working in collaboration to support efficient patient flow.
- Promote a positive image of the department both externally and internally.
- Participate in and contribute to Trust wide initiatives and projects as appropriate.
iii. Information and Planning
- Take part in major incident planning.
- Ensure compliance with information governance requirements.
iv. Research & Teaching
Maintain knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through appropriate continuing professional development.
Assist in the development and mentoring of Physician Associate Students as the profession progresses.
Take an active role in the departmental clinical audit and governance activity.
Teach and train junior doctors, multi-disciplinary staff and students.
Assist with regular audit/surveys to support and inform service development.
Attend teaching sessions so as to improve knowledge and clinical practice.
The post holder is required to follow Trust policies and procedures which are regularly updated.
The post-holder will be encouraged to develop their job plan to include educational and leadership activity both internally and externally to promote the trusts work with Physician Associates and their training.
Please see the attached job description in supporting information .
Person Specification
Management and Administration
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
- Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
- Ability to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to manage and lead a working group
- Sound IT knowledge, including internet, Outlook, Word, Excel
Experience
Essential
- Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions and supporting doctors in decision making
- Ability to assess and examine patients, including interpreting investigation and findings and perform appropriate diagnostic/therapeutic procedures
Qualifications
Essential
- If UK Trained:
- Degree at 2:2 level or above
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK PA programme
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register)
- If US Trained:
- Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register)
Desirable
- MSc Degree in Physician Associate Studies or Physician Assistant Studies
Research, Innovation and Service Improvement
Essential
- To assist in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK
- Assist in the educational development of Physician Associate students through student shadowing and/or teaching
Desirable
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in health care
Professional and Multi-disciplinary team working
Essential
- Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team
Clinical Effectiveness
Essential
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of patients
- Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- An enquiring and critical approach to work
- Caring attitude to patients
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies
- Commitment to Continuing Professional Development requirements of 50 hours per year
Person Specification
Management and Administration
Essential
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
- Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
- Ability to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team
- Ability to manage and lead a working group
- Sound IT knowledge, including internet, Outlook, Word, Excel
Experience
Essential
- Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions and supporting doctors in decision making
- Ability to assess and examine patients, including interpreting investigation and findings and perform appropriate diagnostic/therapeutic procedures
Qualifications
Essential
- If UK Trained:
- Degree at 2:2 level or above
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK PA programme
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register)
- If US Trained:
- Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (the PA Managed Voluntary Register)
Desirable
- MSc Degree in Physician Associate Studies or Physician Assistant Studies
Research, Innovation and Service Improvement
Essential
- To assist in the development of the Physician Associate role in the UK
- Assist in the educational development of Physician Associate students through student shadowing and/or teaching
Desirable
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in health care
Professional and Multi-disciplinary team working
Essential
- Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team
Clinical Effectiveness
Essential
- Experience of conducting clinical audit
Personal Attributes
Essential
- Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of patients
- Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- An enquiring and critical approach to work
- Caring attitude to patients
- Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies
- Commitment to Continuing Professional Development requirements of 50 hours per year
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Additional information
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).
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
