Paramedic

Job responsibilities

• Provide a clinical paramedic service using clinical skills to deliver holistic care to patients accessing primary care services.

• Work collaboratively with GPs, nursing staff and non-clinical support staff.

• Use his/her individual skill and experience to make a positive contribution to the organisation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical Responsibilities

• assess and triage patients, including same day triage, and, as appropriate, provide definitive treatment (including prescribing medications following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines and local care pathways) or make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team

• Undertake telephone triage work and telephone advice calls.

• Advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to the PCNs social prescribing service, and where appropriate, other community or voluntary services.

• Provide first point of contact with the practice for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems to establish diagnosis and management plan.

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous electronic health records appropriate to the consultation, ensuring accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice.

• Request and interpret tests appropriate to patients needs

• Make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team and other services/agencies as appropriate.

• Undertake home visits for elderly/frail/housebound patients as assessed by GP when appropriate.

• Undertake routine reviews or urgent visits as deemed appropriate by the GP

• be able to:
• perform specialist health checks and reviews within their scope of practice and in line with local and national guidance;
• perform and interpret ECGs;
• perform investigatory procedures as required; and
• undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, and other samples within their scope of practice, and within line of local and national guidance;
• Support the delivery of anticipatory care plans and lead certain community services (eg monitoring blood pressure and diabetes risk of elderly patients living in sheltered housing)
• Identify any unmet physical/social needs, undertaking systems review, and assessing medication compliance.

Professional/Managerial Responsibilities

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

• Manage own time, workload and resources effectively. Work autonomously and be accountable for his/her own professional actions.

• Undertake professional development as required by the role to ensure that up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained.

• Monitor the effectiveness of your clinical practice through quality and assurance strategies such as the use of audit and peer review

• Pro-actively promote the role of Paramedic within the PCN and externally.

• Help the practice operate in a cost-effective manner

• Assist in training and assessment as required

Communication

The post-holder will

communicate effectively with patients, and, where appropriate, family members and their carers, where applicable, complex and sensitive information regarding their physical health needs, results, findings and treatment choices.

Feedback relevant information to the GP

Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team within the PCN including attending meetings where appropriate.

communicate proactively and effectively with all colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team and Primary Care Network staff, attending and contributing to practice and PCN meetings as required.

Qualifications

Essential

• Educated to degree/diploma level in Paramedicine or equivalent experience;
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC);
• Has completed and been signed off formally within the clinical pillar competencies of the Advanced Clinical Practice Framework;

Desirable

• BSc in a training programme approved by the College of Paramedics
• Masters degree in Advanced Clinical Practice or equivalent;
• Advanced Life Support Provider;
• Independent Non-medical prescribing qualification;

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Ability to communicate effectively with patients, and, where appropriate, family members and their carers;
• Self motivated and ability to manage and prioritise workload in a busy environment;
• Awareness of the importance of confidentiality.
• Proficient in use of IT-based patient documentation systems.

Driving License

Essential

• Clean UK driving licence.

Experience

Essential

• Has completed the two-year Consolidation of Learning period as a
• newly qualified paramedic;
• Has further three years experience as a band 6 (or equivalent) paramedic; and
• Is working towards developing Level 7 capability in paramedic areas of practice;
• Has completed and been signed off formally within the clinical pillar competencies of the Advanced Clinical Practice Framework;
• Knowledge of professional ethics and their application in practice
• Sound knowledge and understanding of health, safety and risk management
• Knowledge and application of the principles of clinical governance
• Proficiency in use of IT-based patient documentation systems.

Desirable

• Experience of working in primary and community care;

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).