Physicians Associate

Job responsibilities

Job summary

This is an exciting role which will contribute to reshaping neighbourhood care for our populations. You will be working in two or our 5 GP practices, supervised and supported by experienced GPs. You will be part of our expanding and well-managed multi-disciplinary PCN team, providing specialist resource and supporting the delivery of NHS England PCN objectives for high quality primary care.

The post-holder

- Under GP supervision, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking and clinical assessment through to the diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care.

- Will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, including assessment and diagnostic skills, leading to the delivery of safe care for all patients within the service.

- Will work collaboratively with the healthcare team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

- will provide a holistic and clinical service, with support from GPs, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as appropriate.

The post holder will be working with practice and PCN teams to continually improve the service and consider opportunities for innovation and development of clinical care. This will include contributing to clinical team meetings and service audit in the practices and within the PCN, providing progress updates and sharing insights into how the PCN could better support and care for its population.

Appropriate training and CPD time will be provided within the scope of the role.

Key responsibilitiesClinical responsibilities

The role working under the supervision of a GP will:

· Work clinical sessions consisting of face to face, telephone appointments or both

· Conduct home visits: acute (on the day) and chronic (holistic patient assessments)

· Provide clinical services required (within own competencies and based on clinical guidelines) as part of PCN/practice delivery

· Respond to medical problems presented by patients, including history taking and examination

· Develop consultation skills to enable shared patient practitioner decision-making

· Develop and explain clinical management plans in partnership with patients, and modify plans according to age, comorbidity and patient wishes.

· Present findings to the supervising GP and use your clinical findings to justify the differential diagnosis and management plan

· Triage and action incoming pathology results and documents

· Organise investigation, treatment and referral where appropriate.

· Act upon alerts (e.g. QOF, local enhanced services etc.) and reminders during a consultation, in order to Make Every Contact Count

· Be able to justify choice of medication, understand the impact of comorbidities and other medications, poly-pharmacy) on agent choice and prognosis, and seek advice when needed from GPs and PCN pharmacy team

· Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice

· Adhere to the practice prescribing formulary, local and national guidelines.

· Under supervision of the GPs in the practice , make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems and the management of chronic health conditions, whether self referred or referred from other health care workers within the organisation;

· Communicate complex and sensitive information to patients, relatives or carers using good verbal and written communication skills

· Record clear and contemporaneous IT based consultation notes to agreed standards

· Collect data for audit purposes

· Provide cross cover, where necessary, to practices within the PCN (including telephone triage, on site clinics and home visits)

Other responsibilities

· Engaging in appropriate lifelong educational and audit activity - as defined by the Royal College of Physicians – Faculty of Physician Associates, to maintain clinical competence and performance, including 50 hours of annual CPD.

· Participate in teaching and training of medical, nursing, paramedic and physician associate students

· Participate in and support other staff in ensuring delivery of relevant PCN/practice objectives

· Supporting practice staff and responding to requests for advice and assistance from the practice reception, secretarial and nursing staff.

· Undertake additional training where necessary to provide services

· Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety etc

· Contribute, if required, to PCN Enhanced Access services, which provide clinical care during Network Standard Hours (18.30-20.00 Monday to Friday, 9-5 Saturday)

Duties may vary from time to time, without changing the general character of the post or the level of responsibility.

Key Working Relationships

• General practice teams including supervising GPs

• PCN Clinical Directors and PCN Manager

• IHL Managing Director

• IHL Federation team

• Patients

• PCN multi-disciplinary workforce

• Wider health and social care services as appropriate

The postholder will have access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the PCN to provide general advice and support.

Individual responsibilities

The post holder has a responsibility to adhere to all IHL policies, procedures and relevant legislation including the requirements of any professional bodies; maintain satisfactory personal performances and professional standards and to achieve agreed objectives for their role; attend mandatory training as identified by IHL and contribute to their own development.

Equality and Diversity

o Recognising the rights of patients, carers, relatives and colleagues and respecting their needs, beliefs, privacy and dignity.

o Not discriminating against patients, carers, relatives or colleagues on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 (or its amendments or later legislation).

o Respecting the rights of patients to accept or refuse treatment or a care provider.

Personal/Professional Development

o Participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.

o Participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN.

o Continuing Professional Development in line with professional registration and identified within Personal Development Plan

Confidentiality

Confidentiality in relation to patient data must be maintained at all times. In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with or allow us to gather sensitive information relating to their health or other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.

In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post holder may have access to information relating to patients and/or their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. The post holder may also have access to information relating to the Practice. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:

The post holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security as defined in the Practice’s Health and Safety policy, including use of personal security systems within the workplace, according to Practice guidelines, identifying risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in such a way as to manage those risks, making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, using appropriate infection control procedures and maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards and reporting potential risks when identified.

DBS Disclosure

This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974. You must therefore disclose all spent and unspent convictions, cautions, reprimands and final warnings. If you are offered the post, we will need to obtain a satisfactory DBS disclosure for you.

The main duties and responsibilities shown above are not exhaustive but should merely be regarded as a guide. The post-holder will be expected to conduct any reasonable activities according to the business needs at that time. These will be subject to periodic review and may be amended to meet the challenging needs of the business. The post-holder will be expected to participate in this process and the company would aim to reach agreement to changes.

Professional and Multi-Disciplinary Working

Essential

• - Ability to work well with colleagues and in a team

Experience

Essential

• - Advanced clinical practice skills
• - Clinical examination skills
• - Management of patients with common acute medical conditions
• - Management of patients with long-term conditions
• - Knowledge of NHS
• - Understanding of the current issues and challenges facing primary care

Desirable

• - Recent experience of working in UK General Practice environment
• - Management of patients with complex needs
• - Experience of preventative medicine and chronic disease management
• - Experience of working to achieve standards within the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF)

Qualifications

Essential

• If UK Trained;
• - Degree at 2:1 level or above
• - Postgraduate Diploma/Master 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)
• AND
• - Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for Physician Associates as soon as it is in place
• - DBS clearance
• - Current and valid certification or re-certification by the Physician Associate National Examination

Desirable

• - Member of Physicians Associate Managed Voluntary Register
• - Evidence of Continuing Professional Development activities
• - Basic Life Support
• - Driving licence

Research, Innovation and Service Improvement Experience

Essential

• - To assist in the development of the role of Physician Associate in the UK

Clinical Effectiveness

Essential

• - Experience of conducting clinical audit
• - Evidence of continual learning and development

Management and Administrative Experience

Essential

• - Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
• - Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
• - Confident in using Email
• - Excellent record keeping skills
• - Sound IT knowledge

Desirable

• - Proficient in use of a GP IT system, eg EMIS Web of System One

Personal Attributes

Essential

• - Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the PCN/practice
• - Highly motivated
• - Energy and enthusiasm and 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 Continuing Clinical Education and professional Development

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).