Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE: Applicants
should be experienced Paramedics (minimum 5 years post-registration) and
willing to undertake the First Contact Practitioner Pathway (if not already
undertaken). Acting within their professional
boundaries, they will provide care for patients from initial history taking,
clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate follow up and evaluation
of care.
They will demonstrate safe clinical
decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills and
safety-netting for patients within general practice.
The role will include working as part of
the duty team and playing a vital part in performing urgent assessments,
whether this be remotely, in practice or in a patient's home.
The post holder will demonstrate
critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, with the ability to
prioritise and triage the needs of patients. Accordingly, instigating
appropriate investigations or referrals to colleagues and other care providers.
They will be able to follow local and
national guidelines and pathways, working to the latest evidence base, and will
practise in a reflective manner, completing significant event analyses and
audits to evaluate the effectiveness of the care they provide.
They will work collaboratively as part
of the general practice multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting
the delivery of the Primary Care Network (PCN) priorities for improved health
and care across our geographical area. The role will exist within a team and
will be both varied and diverse with clinical support and mentorship provided
to allow the successful recruit to flourish. There will be a strong focus on
self-development and team engagement. The workload will consist of a mixture of
urgent face-to-face appointments, telephone triage, video consultations and
home visits.
Main Responsibilities
To
be an integral part of a Network-wide team of clinicians, including GPs,
ACPs/ECPs, nurses and paramedics, delivering acute and planned care to the
population.
To
work within the community, as an autonomous, accountable, Paramedic
Practitioner, in the provision of a holistic approach for individuals including
assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to deliver high quality patient services.
To
assess, investigate, diagnose, treat, refer, or signpost patients/service users
who present with undifferentiated or undiagnosed conditions relating to minor illness,
minor injury, or urgent problems.
The
post holder will use advanced clinical skills to provide education to service
users, promoting self-care and empowering them to make informed choices about their
treatment.
The
post holder must have access to a vehicle for home visits with mileage expenses
remunerated by submission of a monthly mileage form. (Please note it is the
postholders responsibility to ensure that their car insurance is covered for business
use).
Diagnosing
and treating patients presenting with minor illness and/or minor injury
Works
from the surgery as an autonomous practitioner caring for patients and
families.
Triage
and treat acutely unwell patients wishing to see a health care professional,
making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care
team. Consulting at 15 minutes once competent within the practice clinical
system.
Support
assessment and care of patients accessing the Practice using telephony or an
online consultation platform after training if necessary.
Triage
and treat appropriate patients in the practice or on home visits and discuss
with patients GP after assessment.
May
be required to help with the avoiding unplanned admissions.
May
be required to help with care home provision.
Will
also review patient documents and pathology results and assist in maintaining
patient records where appropriate.
Assist
with the annual flu and other immunisation programmes.
Advise
patients on general health care and minor ailments, with referral to other
members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary.
Undertake
assessment for patients within their place of residence including care homes
and those attending the surgery, using diagnostic skills, initiation of
investigations and feeding back to the patients GP where appropriate.
Prescribe/issue
medications as appropriate following policy, patient group directives and local
pathways. Independent Prescriber qualifications desirable, where not available,
candidates will be supported to undertake this as part of their future
development.
To
impart knowledge and skills to colleagues, both formally and informally by
promoting peer review and best practice within the work environment.
To
communicate at all levels within the team ensuring an effective service is
delivered.
Ensure
evidenced-based care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of
high quality patient care.
Work
with local and national evidenced based policies and procedures.
Contribute
to teaching and training of colleagues within the Network.
COMMUNICATIONS AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
As
well as the multidisciplinary clinical team, there is a need to work closely
with reception and administration staff to ensure the smooth running of the
practices within the PCN, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant
person and ensuring everyone works closely within the team.
There
is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other stakeholders,
including secondary care, community services and social care.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
To
attend mandatory training and fire lectures regularly and assist with fire
policy/evacuation procedure when necessary and to Participate in any training
as required by the PCN aligned to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme and
strategic direction of the PCN.
Maintain
continued professional development (CPD) by attendance at courses and study
days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development.
- To participate in Individual
Performance Review and Personal Development plans on an annual basis and
to undertake training and development as identified within these
discussions and as indicated by the requirements of the post.
CLINICAL GOVERNANCE AND QUALITY ASSURANCE
- To
realise the importance of confidentiality when dealing with patients and
staff, particularly when giving or receiving information over the
telephone in accordance with the Data Protection Act.
- Maintain
the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team
and service objectives and always acting in the best interest of patients.
- To
accurately collect, collate and input data to Information Systems as
required by procedures to ensure that patient database records are up to
date and accurate.
Enhance
own performance through Continuous Professional Development, imparting own
knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service.
To
impart knowledge and skills to colleagues, both formally and informally by
promoting peer review and best practice within the work environment. To communicate
at all levels within the team ensuring an effective service is delivered. Ensure evidenced-based care is delivered at
the highest standards ensuring delivery of high quality patient care. Work with
local and national evidenced based policies and procedures.
INFORMATION
GOVERNANCE
- Post-holders will be required to always
comply with Information Governance related standards and policies when
dealing with confidential information, which includes any information
relating to the business of the company and its service users and
employees.
- Post-holders are bound by a duty of
confidentiality and must conduct their duties in line with the NHS
Confidentiality Code of Practice, Data Protection Act and Freedom of
information Act.
- Post-holders must maintain high
standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring
information is always recorded accurately and kept up to date. The
post-holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in
other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties.
- All Information obtained or held
during the post-holders period of employment that relates to the business
of the company and its service users and employees will remain the
property of the Taurus Healthcare. Information may be subject to
disclosure under legislation at the Companys discretion and in line with
national rules on exemption.
- Any breach of confidentiality or computer misuse could
lead to disciplinary action, and in serious cases could result in
dismissal. Breaches after the post-holders employment has ended
could result in the Company taking legal action against them.
Please see attached document for full job description and personal specification.
