Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Responsibilities

· Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services in the Practice as delegated and agreed by the supervising GP(s)

· Provide direct clinical care to patients using established guidelines.

· Provide routine and unscheduled care (UC) for patients at the Practice within scope of practice

· To undertake triage as part of the UC team

· To undertake Unscheduled Care clinics

· To undertake home visits as part of the visiting team

· Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis

· Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly, explaining medical problems during surgery consultation and home visits

· Assess, diagnosis, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs

· Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan

· Recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment

· Initiate and interpret tests and investigations as appropriate

· Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments

· Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions

· Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

· Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care

· Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the NSF for Mental Health

· To collaborate with other members of the Primary Health Care Team including doctors, nurses, pharmacists accepting referrals and referring to them for specialist care

· Direct referral to and liaison with consultants and other professional agencies

· To record accurate data in the patient records to an agreed standard

· To ensure a high standard of clinical practice is maintained by ensuring care is based on current best practice, embarking upon further training if required and continuing to update clinical knowledge

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Working in General Practice
• Minor illness management or acute care management
• Experience in examination of adults and children

Desirable

• Walk in Centre, A&E and Primary Care experience

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Advanced clinical skills and experience of using these in different situations
• Excellent ability to make clinical decisions
• Ability to assess, treat and diagnose adults and children
• Interpret and undertake tests and investigations as appropriate
• Ability to teach others
• Dynamic/ able to use own initiative
• Good communicator
• IT Literate/ proficient use of computer
• Good presentation skills
• Good problem solving and decision making skills
• Ability to manage workload effectively
• Maintains CPD requirements of 50 hours per year (25 Type 1 and 25 Type 2)
• Team player/ ability to liaise effectively with colleagues and other members of the disciplinary team.
• Ability to liaise effectively with hospitals and other outside agencies.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant degree (for example bioscience or healthcare-related) and postgraduate diploma
• Member of Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on the UK Physician Associate Register (The Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)) until such time that the statutory regulation of PAs is achieved.
• Current and valid certification or re- certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Prince of Wales Medical Centre

Address

52 Prince Of Wales Road

London

NW5 3LN

Employer's website

https://www.princeofwalesgrouppractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)