Job summary
Physicians Associates 2 posts
Network North is a limited company set up by Network North Primary Care Network to allow the employment of roles within the PCN National Contract.
We are a network of 5 practices (Chapelgreen, Ecclesfield, Foxhill, Grenoside & Mill Road surgeries) providing extended services to a population in the north of Sheffield to 45,000 patients who are seeking to establish a well-structured Physicians Associate service.
This will be practice based and will work alongside the existing Clinical Pharmacy Team in order to share experiences and learning.
Your experience will have been gained within primary care or another healthcare setting.
We are seeking applications from suitable candidates for roles up to full-time and therefore applicants wishing to work less than full-time are still encouraged.
The network is well structured with a Clinical Director, shared Lead Management roles and a well-functioning Steering Group made up of a representative from each practice.
Main duties of the job
Job summary
As a PA you will be acting within your professional
boundaries, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical
assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care under the
supervision of a GP. You will
demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within
the general practice, in consultation with the duty GP. You will work with the
multi-disciplinary general practice team to support the delivery of policy and
procedures and meet the needs of patients.
Mentorship and supervision will be provided by designated
senior medical personnel. The level and type of supervision will be dependent
on the post holders skills and knowledge and determined by the organisations
clinical governance arrangements. You will follow recommended annual appraisals
and continuing professional development set out by the Faculty of Physician
Associates (FPA).
About us
Network North is a limited company set up by Network
North Primary Care Network to allow the employment of roles within the PCN
National Contract.
We are a network of 5 practices (Chapelgreen,
Ecclesfield, Foxhill, Grenoside & Mill Road surgeries) providing extended
services to a population in the north of Sheffield to 45,000 patients who are
seeking to establish a well-structured Physicians Associate service.
Employment will be offered via Network North Ltd who
can offer the NHS Pension as part of the employment offer alternatively the
arrangement for a secondment can also be available.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: Physician Associate (PA) Primary Care
REPORTS TO: Senior Clinical Pharmacists and designated lead GP
Network North Director and relevant Practice Managers (Management & Admin)
HOURS: 37 hours per week (full time)
Job summary
As a PA you will be acting within your professional boundaries, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care under the supervision of a GP.
1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
- To deliver a high standard of patient care using advanced autonomous clinical skills with in-depth theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice working under the supervision of a GP
- To manage a clinical caseload and deal with presenting patient’s needs in a primary care setting
- To provide clinical leadership where appropriate within the practice and support other members of the team to develop and maintain clinical skills appropriate to your role and expertise.
- To develop a PCN wide service provision in an area of speciality that is of interest and concern to the PCN
2. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
See person spec
3. PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
The post holder will under appropriate supervision:
- Provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan working in partnership with patients.
- Undertake as agreed surgery-based consultations for emergency or routine problems including management of long term conditions.
- Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports within the scope of a PA’s practice.
- Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice
- Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support with an emphasis on prevention and self-care
- Refer patients directly to other services or agencies using appropriate referral pathways
- Ensure safe handover of care within and outside the practice as appropriate
- Work directly with members of the practice primary health care team and support integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with wider primary care / social care networks
- Identify community health needs and participate in the development of patient/family-centred strategies to address them
- Contribute to the practice quality targets to consistently achieve high standards of safe, evidence-based, cost-effective patient care and service delivery
Training and development
- Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to keep 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.
- Undertake a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with the improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means.
- Audit of clinical practice
- Significant event review / root cause analysis
- Review of relevant literature
- Promote and support a learning culture within the practice and assist in clinical instruction, mentoring and supervision of medical, nursing or physician associate students and other learners that may periodically be attached to the practice
- Contribute to regular multi-disciplinary and or practice educational meetings
- Participate in multi-disciplinary protocol and patient group directions (PGDs) development as appropriate
- Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets
Administration
- Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes in accordance with relevant standards
- Work in accordance with internal administrative systems relating to but not limited to the management of clinical data,
- Send and receive written information on behalf of the practice relating to the physical and social welfare of patients
- Ensure that all practice policies are fully implemented
- Support, contribute to and participate in external inspections
4. ADVANCED CLINICAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical Specialism
- Develop a PCN service provision within an agreed clinical area. Under the guidance of the Senior Clinical Pharmacists and supported by designated Lead Clinician, to develop a specialist service across the PCN footprint that is tailored to meet the requirements of a specific population against the backdrop of Enhanced Service Specifications. This may include, but not be limited to:
- Care Home provision, both acute and routine
- The development of acute and routine PA clinics
- Learning Disability Assessment
- Develop clinical interests and specialism within the Enhanced Specification to become the Lead clinician for the service within the PCN in due course
5. PROFESSIONAL
- 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)
- Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the practice
- Demonstrate clinical leadership
- Pro-actively promote the role of the PA within the practice and externally to key stakeholders and agencies
- Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
5. HEALTH AND SAFETT
- Always comply with the practices’ health and safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System (IRS)
- Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
6. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
- Co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to support equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
7. COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
· Establish and maintain effective communication pathways with all practice staff and visiting clinical team members such as district nurses, modern matrons, health visitors etc.
8. JOB DESCRIPTION
· This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account developments within the practice.
Our commitment to you
· We will provide a supportive learning environment, especially structured in the first preceptorship year
- We will help you set out and revise specific educational goals
- We will ensure appropriate clinical supervision
- You will receive regular appraisals,
- You will be supported and financed to attend agreed CPD i.e. 25 hours courses/conferences and expected to do another 25 hours of learning which can be practice based audits, teaching students or personal study and reflection
- We will develop a system to facilitate a smooth process for the management of signing off X-ray requests and prescriptions
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: Physician Associate (PA) Primary Care
REPORTS TO: Senior Clinical Pharmacists and designated lead GP
Network North Director and relevant Practice Managers (Management & Admin)
HOURS: 37 hours per week (full time)
Job summary
As a PA you will be acting within your professional boundaries, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care under the supervision of a GP.
1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE
- To deliver a high standard of patient care using advanced autonomous clinical skills with in-depth theoretical knowledge and evidence-based practice working under the supervision of a GP
- To manage a clinical caseload and deal with presenting patient’s needs in a primary care setting
- To provide clinical leadership where appropriate within the practice and support other members of the team to develop and maintain clinical skills appropriate to your role and expertise.
- To develop a PCN wide service provision in an area of speciality that is of interest and concern to the PCN
2. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
See person spec
3. PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical
The post holder will under appropriate supervision:
- Provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan working in partnership with patients.
- Undertake as agreed surgery-based consultations for emergency or routine problems including management of long term conditions.
- Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports within the scope of a PA’s practice.
- Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice
- Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support with an emphasis on prevention and self-care
- Refer patients directly to other services or agencies using appropriate referral pathways
- Ensure safe handover of care within and outside the practice as appropriate
- Work directly with members of the practice primary health care team and support integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with wider primary care / social care networks
- Identify community health needs and participate in the development of patient/family-centred strategies to address them
- Contribute to the practice quality targets to consistently achieve high standards of safe, evidence-based, cost-effective patient care and service delivery
Training and development
- Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to keep 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.
- Undertake a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with the improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means.
- Audit of clinical practice
- Significant event review / root cause analysis
- Review of relevant literature
- Promote and support a learning culture within the practice and assist in clinical instruction, mentoring and supervision of medical, nursing or physician associate students and other learners that may periodically be attached to the practice
- Contribute to regular multi-disciplinary and or practice educational meetings
- Participate in multi-disciplinary protocol and patient group directions (PGDs) development as appropriate
- Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets
Administration
- Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes in accordance with relevant standards
- Work in accordance with internal administrative systems relating to but not limited to the management of clinical data,
- Send and receive written information on behalf of the practice relating to the physical and social welfare of patients
- Ensure that all practice policies are fully implemented
- Support, contribute to and participate in external inspections
4. ADVANCED CLINICAL DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY
Clinical Specialism
- Develop a PCN service provision within an agreed clinical area. Under the guidance of the Senior Clinical Pharmacists and supported by designated Lead Clinician, to develop a specialist service across the PCN footprint that is tailored to meet the requirements of a specific population against the backdrop of Enhanced Service Specifications. This may include, but not be limited to:
- Care Home provision, both acute and routine
- The development of acute and routine PA clinics
- Learning Disability Assessment
- Develop clinical interests and specialism within the Enhanced Specification to become the Lead clinician for the service within the PCN in due course
5. PROFESSIONAL
- 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)
- Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the practice
- Demonstrate clinical leadership
- Pro-actively promote the role of the PA within the practice and externally to key stakeholders and agencies
- Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
5. HEALTH AND SAFETT
- Always comply with the practices’ health and safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System (IRS)
- Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
6. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
- Co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to support equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
7. COMMUNICATION AND WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
· Establish and maintain effective communication pathways with all practice staff and visiting clinical team members such as district nurses, modern matrons, health visitors etc.
8. JOB DESCRIPTION
· This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account developments within the practice.
Our commitment to you
· We will provide a supportive learning environment, especially structured in the first preceptorship year
- We will help you set out and revise specific educational goals
- We will ensure appropriate clinical supervision
- You will receive regular appraisals,
- You will be supported and financed to attend agreed CPD i.e. 25 hours courses/conferences and expected to do another 25 hours of learning which can be practice based audits, teaching students or personal study and reflection
- We will develop a system to facilitate a smooth process for the management of signing off X-ray requests and prescriptions
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- -Experience of general practice and/or secondary care
- -Demonstrable patient assessment skills
- -Any desirable/additional specialty specific requirements
- -Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
- -Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
- -Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
- -Detailed knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements including information governance
- -Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
- -Bachelor Degree in Life Science/Biomedical/Nursing or Allied Health Science
- -Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)
- -Valid national certification and recertification every six years stipulated by PAMVR
- -For USA trained candidates: Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- -Basic or advanced Life Support
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of general practice and/or secondary care
- -Demonstrable patient assessment skills
- -Any desirable/additional specialty specific requirements
- -Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
- -Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
- -Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
- -Detailed knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements including information governance
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- -Experience of general practice and/or secondary care
- -Demonstrable patient assessment skills
- -Any desirable/additional specialty specific requirements
- -Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
- -Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
- -Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
- -Detailed knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements including information governance
- -Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
- -Bachelor Degree in Life Science/Biomedical/Nursing or Allied Health Science
- -Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)
- -Valid national certification and recertification every six years stipulated by PAMVR
- -For USA trained candidates: Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
- -Basic or advanced Life Support
Experience
Essential
- -Experience of general practice and/or secondary care
- -Demonstrable patient assessment skills
- -Any desirable/additional specialty specific requirements
- -Demonstrates an in-depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
- -Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
- -Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
- -Detailed knowledge of maintaining confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements including information governance
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.