Physician Associate Ambassador

Job responsibilities

Title: Physician Associate Ambassador

Responsible to: NCL Training Hub

Line Management: NCL Training Hub Programme Director

Part-Time: 0.5 WTE (2.5 days)

Salary: Band 8a – Range £52k to £58k depending on experience in Primary Care - pro rata

Term: 1 year – July 22 to June 23

Job Summary

This post holder will act as a Physician Associate (PA) Ambassador to support workforce development of the Physician Associate profession across 5 boroughs in North Central London: Barnet, Camden, Enfield, Haringey, Islington.

The post holder will support and deliver a portfolio of projects relating to recruitment, workforce planning, and professional support of PAs working with key stakeholders including employers, health education institutes (HEIs), NHS England and Health Education England (HEE).

Main Responsibilities

This post will include the following duties and responsibilities:

1. Work with the North Central London (NCL) Training Hub, the Programme Director and the borough Training Hub Programme Managers and their PA leads in their primary care networks (PCNs), to develop and implement projects to promote the integration of PAs into the primary care workforce.
2. Support education, training and advice to employers to develop the model of integrated PA roles across primary and secondary care (e.g. Urgent, Acute and Emergency Care).
3. Communicate and work with key stakeholders to promote and develop the PA role.
4. Provide workforce planning advice including capturing PA numbers in NCL and its localities and advise on workforce supply needs.
5. Support the 5 PA Fora across NCL, and work towards establishing an NCL PA Forum to support continuing professional development for PAs in their early years.
6. Provide career and recruitment advice to potential PAs and employers and encourage primary care employers to hold career events in conjunction with HEIs.
7. Coordinate and support the delivery of a PA Preceptorship Programme through the locality Training Hub.
8. Work with HEIs to encourage further primary care placements for PAs in training and liaise with practices and encourage them to provide these placements.
9. Work towards establishing structures and mechanisms to embed PA educators in all sectors of ICS; actively supporting the development of multi-professional faculty in NCL.
10. Act as a mentor and link other PAs with suitable mentors if required.
11. Share experiences, innovations and good practice with key stakeholders and national events.
12. Initiate, lead and develop a professional support network, action learning set or similar, to support continuing professional development for PA graduates in their early years.
13. Take part in the regional PA Ambassador Forum and lead on regional projects as required.
14. Develop business case/s for additional funding and support.
15. Assist in developing a workforce strategy to further embed the Physician Associate profession across identified clinical areas - this will include role development and mentoring of existing and incoming Physician Associates.
16. Coordinate and report to the NCL PA Ambassador Programme Steering Group; operationalising the strategic direction and key priorities set by the steering group, and advise on other national and regional priorities (e.g. HEE and NHSE).
17. Submit highlight reports to the NCL PA Ambassador Programme Steering Group; report to NCL Joint Operational Group as and when required.
18. Attend monthly Ambassador meetings.

Clinical Responsibilities

The post-holder will not be required to fulfil clinical responsibilities as part of this contract, though, it is expected that the post-holder concurrently delivers PA responsibilities at practice-level.

Training and development

The post-holder will not be required to fulfil clinical training and development as part of this contract, though, it is expected that the post-holder concurrently keeps up to date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to Practice, at practice-level.

Professional

1. Take the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every six years - required for Physician Associates AND maintain your professional registration working within the latest Code of Professional Conduct (CIPD).
2. Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by Haringey GP Federation.
3. Demonstrate clinical leadership.
4. Pro-actively promote the role of the PA at practice level, borough-wide, and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.
5. Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

Qualifications

Essential

• If UK Trained:
• Degree at 2:1 level or above
• Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
• OR if US Trained:
• Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• ALL Applicants must have:
• Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for Physician Associates as soon as it is in place
• DBS clearance
• Current and valid certification or recertification by the Physician Associate National Examination

Desirable

• Certified CPR/ALS and PALS
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development activities
• Basic Life Support

Other

Essential

• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the NCL Training Hub
• Highly motivated
• Energy and enthusiasm
• 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 and agencies
• Commitment to / passion for Continuing Clinical Education and Professional Development
• Declared history of medical-legal cases including any pending

Desirable

• UK Driving licence

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Essential

• Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team
• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
• Confident in use of email
• Excellent record keeping skills
• Sound IT knowledge/IT literacy (Microsoft Suite, etc.)

Desirable

• Proficient in use of EMIS
• Broad understanding of management theories and their application
• Up to date knowledge of national priorities in PA development, primary care and NHS
• Social media communication experience, including using Twitter and Facebook
• Presentation skills including PowerPoint
• Small group work skills

Experience

Essential

• Working as a Physician Associate in General Practice and / or Secondary care
• Management of patients with long-term conditions
• Knowledge of NHS
• Understanding of the current issues and challenges facing primary care
• Current / recent experience of working in a UK General Practice environment

Desirable

• Proven track record of successful local project or initiative
• Previous education or leadership experience
• Experience of chairing meetings
• Experience of report writing
• Awareness of other Medical Associate Professions

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).