Advanced Paramedic

Job responsibilities

General:

• To act as an advanced paramedic practitioner, demonstrating advanced clinical competence and a knowledge base beyond those associated with conventional nursing and paramedic roles.
• To clinically examine, assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate efficacy of treatment/interventions for all patients presenting with a range of acute, non-acute and chronic medical conditions in the urgent care setting.
• Assess clinical conditions and supply medicines using a suite of patient group directions, prescribing and utilisation of other agreed guidelines to initiate or support the management of patients in the urgent care setting.
• Rapidly recognise deteriorating patients who require emergency intervention and arrange appropriate treatment accordingly.
• Assist in the development of an integrated approach to the delivery of urgent care involving all relevant stakeholders including health and social care organisations.
• Deliver evidence based, contemporary clinical practice by utilising applied knowledge of clinical audit, critical appraisal of research, research methodology, ethical review and research governance.
• Undertake assessment of patients within the community and those attending treatment centres, using appropriate diagnostic skills and initiation of investigations where appropriate.

Communication:

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with clinicians and operational staff to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.
• Maintain effective communication within the organisation and with external stakeholders.
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.

Delivering a Quality Service:

• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the HCPC. Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time.
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
• Ensure professional revalidation requirements are met.
• Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care.
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
• Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities.
• In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.
• Support and participate in shared learning across the organisation and wider organisation.
• Understand and apply guidance that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patient health procedures and local guidance.
• Exhibit standards of personal and professional conduct and performance to maintain professional registration by the HCPC.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient healthcare records appropriate to the consultation
• Adhere to organisational, national and regulatory codes of confidentiality in regard to all patient information.

Organisational Responsibilities:

• Unless there is a locally agreed operational process, the post holder will be expected to adhere to all Kernow Health CIC/NHS Cornwall 111 policies, procedures and guidelines which are on the organisational intranet.
• To report any incidences of safety breaches, including but not limited to accidents, complaints and defects in equipment.
• Demonstrate a proactive approach to self-development, including a commitment to Continuing Professional Development.
• Troubleshoot simple computer problems and initiate repair or recovery.
• Complete all paperwork and maintain administrative systems appropriate to Company needs.
• Provide assistance to colleagues, ensuring smooth operations and to provide effective responses to both individual and group needs.
• Regularly check the rota website and carry out duties and shift patterns as agreed and detailed by the rota team.
• Undertake all mandatory and statutory training, and other training as required by the organisation and / or Line Manager.
• Attend staff meetings, check e-mails regularly and read all communications from the organisation in order to keep up to date with operational practices.
• Wear identification badges when on duty / carrying out duties on behalf of the organisation.
• Where supplied, wear the organisational uniform when undertaking duties on behalf of the organisation. Where uniform is not supplied, adhere to the organisational Dress Code.
• Be conversant with local and organisational regulations and Health and Safety responsibilities.
• The post holder must maintain a safe environment, taking care to avoid injuries and assist the Company in meeting statutory requirements.
• To conform to and actively commit to and promote Cornwall 111 (Kernow Health CIC) Customer Service Standards both with internal and external stakeholders.
• Apply infection control measures within the organisation according to local and national guidelines and Standard Operating Procedures
• Abide by the NHS Code of Conduct
• Comply with the Duty of Candour

Leadership Personal and People Development:

• Take responsibility for own learning and performance including participating in clinical supervision and acting as a positive role mode.
• Support staff development in order to maximise potential.
• Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.
• Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services.
• Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant areas of work.
• Take a lead role in planning and implementing changes within the area of care and responsibility.
• Work with senior clinical and management teams to ensure sufficient staff of appropriate ability, quality and skill-mix is available to meet current and future service delivery, that selection and recruitment processes are effective and that equality of treatment of the team incorporates quality HR principles and processes.
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards.
• Maintain effective communication with those responsible for the overall commissioning and procurement process.
• To attend and be proactively involved in professional meetings at base and corporately.
• Take the lead/ develop a special interest within certain areas to allow the sharing of clinical knowledge and expertise.

Management of Risk:

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Apply infection-control measures within the organisation according to local and national guidelines.

Managing Information:

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information.
• Review and process data in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.

Learning and Development:

• Undertake mentorship where appropriate.
• Disseminate learning and information gained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and future developments (e.g. courses and conferences).
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.

Experience

Essential

• 5 years post-registration experience
• Experience of specialist level working in urgent care settings (e.g. primary care, MIU, UCC, WIC, ED).
• Evidence of continuing professional development, last revalidation portfolio.
• Willingness to undertake training as required.

Desirable

• Able to develop and support all grades of staff and deliver specialist training
• 1 years experience as a prescriber.

Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Able to organise own learning and development.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Ability to perform effective interpersonal relationships with colleagues across health and social care.
• Able to present information to professional groups.
• Demonstrate dexterity and accuracy in undertaking clinical skills, use of equipment / documentation.
• Competent and capable of using medical equipment.
• Able to undertake patient manual handling manoeuvres and non-patient manual handling manoeuvres.

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registration
• Educated to Masters level or equivalent.
• University qualification in autonomous practice/clinical skills (e.g. BSc Hons Urgent or Emergency Care, Healthcare)

Desirable

• Dip UMC
• RCGP Specialist Practice Cert
• Educated to Masters level
• Accredited via the ACP frameworks

Additional Requirements

Essential

• DBS check satisfactory to the organisation.
• OH clearance.
• Post-holder must comply with professional code of conduct and / or code of conduct for NHS managers where applicable.
• Able and willing to travel and attend local, regional and national meetings.
• Flexibility around working times and commitments.
• Able to travel to sites as required for the role.

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).