Advanced Paramedic

Job responsibilities

Applicants should be experienced (minimum 5 years post qualified) Paramedics who, acting within their professional boundaries, 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 predominantly in the patient’s home but may be remotely or at the Practice.

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 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. The workload will consist of a mixture of urgent home visit assessments, pro-active assessments as part of our well being team and duty day cover with opportunity to then follow up the patients seen.

The role is varied and diverse with clinical support and mentorship provided; there will be a strong focus on self-development and team engagement. In turn, the post holder will be expected to contribute to the teaching and training of more junior and less experienced colleagues.

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 condition 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 postholder’s 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.

A full Job Description & Person Specification is attached to this advert.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum 5 years experience post qualified.
• Experience in managing the care of patients with undifferentiated undiagnosed conditions or a designated caseload.
• Practical experience of completing examinations and assessments, care planning, implementing interventions and evaluation of outcomes.
• Proven ability to recognise and manage risk.
• Accurate record keeping skills.
• Ability to understand scope of own practice and competence and to maintain learning to ensure safe, competent, and confident practice.
• Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations.
• Awareness of GDPR and confidentiality, mandatory training will be required at induction.

Desirable

• Working towards or willing to work towards FCP or ACP status.
• Experience of working in the primary and/or urgent care sectors.
• Experience of telephone (remote) clinical triage.
• Leadership or mentorship experience.
• Experience of using IT systems such as EMIS.

Qualifications

Essential

• Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration.
• Undergraduate attainment at minimum of Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) Dip.He. in relevant subject.
• Able to operate at an advanced level of practice within Level 7 capabilities as defined by (NHE/I PCN DES) and HEE.
• Full UK driving license and access to a vehicle.

Desirable

• Safeguarding training children and adults level 2, or willing to complete.
• College of Paramedics Diploma in Primary & Urgent Care.
• Non-medical prescribing qualification.

Skills

Essential

• Good interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Ability to manage and prioritise own workload.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate confidently with staff of all seniority levels.
• Good level of accuracy and attention to detail.

Personal Qualities & Attributes

Essential

• Reliable, conscientious and flexible approach to work.
• Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities.
• To be able to work independently on own initiative.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Other Job Requirements

Essential

• Understanding of confidentiality and Data Protection.

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).