Job responsibilities
The Physician Associate will be required to work autonomously in the practice, providing a range of services such as assessment, diagnosis, treatment, telephone triage, clinical decision making and referring patients appropriately, as well as supporting the management team in the reviewing of clinical policy and procedure when required. The Physician Associate will work collaboratively with the healthcare team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. The Physician Associate will provide a holistic and clinical service, with support from GPs as required, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as appropriate. The Physician Associate will be expected on a typical day to carry out home visits, Care Home visits and consult with patients who present via booked appointments. The Physician Associate will also review and act appropriately on blood results and referrals/correspondence regarding their patients.
You will be working as part of an allied healthcare professional team and will be supported and supervised by a GP and/or ANP
Our current vacancies suit primary care experienced Physician Associates keen to work in an exciting, rewarding and demanding environment. You will provide safe, clinical decision-making and expert care.
You will also benefit from:
Dedicated and bespoke Physician Associate training and CPD
Continuous GP clinical supervision and support
Access to online training portal
Access NHS Pension
A comprehensive induction and orientation programme
Flexible schedule: Monday to Friday between practice hours of 8am to 6:30pm
5 weeks annual leave pro rata plus bank holidays
Other responsibilities within the PCN:
- Understand, and contribute to, the PCN strategic plan
- Improve quality within limitations of the service
- Understand the implications of national priorities for the team and/or service
- Demonstrate understanding of, and conforms to, relevant standards of practice
- Demonstrate ability to identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol
- Work closely, and in partnership with, the Social Prescribing Link Worker(s) or social prescribing service provider and Health and Wellbeing Coach(es)
- Recognise the roles of other colleagues within the PCN and their role in patient care
- Demonstrate use of appropriate communication to gain the co-operation of relevant stakeholders (including patients, senior and peer colleagues, and other professionals, other NHS/private organisations e.g. CCGs)
- Demonstrate ability to work as a member of a team
- Recognise personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary
- Liaises with other GP Practices and staff as needed for the collective benefit of patients
Teaching & Training:
Participate in teaching and training
Participate in the induction of new staff, students and other attached professionals as necessary
Receive review and appraisal within the PCN, and training as necessary to update skills and knowledge
Participate in the educational and training events of the PCN and practices
Confidentiality & GDPR:
All members of staff are bound by the requirements of the General Data Protection Regulation 2018 and any breaches of the Act or of the confidential nature of the work of this post could lead to dismissal
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff respect their privacy and act appropriately
In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers of the PCN may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the PCN policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal data and sensitive data
Take responsibility for the coordination of procedures to safeguard confidentiality
Health & Safety:
Assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the PCN Health & Safety Policy, to include:
- Using personal security systems within the workplace according to PCN guidelines
- Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
- Correct personal use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and ensuring correct use of PPE by others, advising on appropriate circumstances for use by clinicians, staff and patients
- Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
- Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
- Reporting potential risks identified
Equality and Diversity:
Support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
o Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with PCN procedures and policies and current legislation
o Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
o Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights
Personal/Professional Development:
Maintain continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met
Participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, such training to include:
o Participation in an annual individual performance review, annual Appraisal including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development and to ensure fit for revalidation
o Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Maintain professional registration where appropriate and provide evidence as required
- Is enrolled in, undertaking or qualified from appropriate training as set out by the Personalised Care Institute
Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN, and will:
Recognise and work within own competence
- Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Deliver care to NICE guidelines, NHS/CCG policy and evidence-based care
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
- Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Cooperate fully and openly with the investigation of patient complaints (or other investigations), including drafting responses to complaints as appropriate
Participate in Significant Event Analysis reviews
Information Resources:
Keep clear, contemporaneous patient records according to good practice guidelines; review, enter and process data using accurate Read codes and good record structure in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for medico-legal, monitoring, financial and audit processes
Understand and follow the requirements of confidentiality (including the Data Protection Act) and the Freedom of Information Act and refer on any queries as appropriate
Follow PCN and practice policy regarding the use of email and computer tasks as the main internal method of non-verbal communication and the use of the internet as the main source of internal and external information, including the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition
Communication:
Communicate effectively with clinical and non-clinical colleagues
Liaise with our colleagues in Primary Care, community services, hospitals, and other agencies (such as local authority, social services and voluntary agencies) to ensure appropriate care is provided for patients
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
Communicate difficult, often unpleasant or sensitive, messages to patients and families
Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues