Job summary
An exciting
opportunity has arisen for a Physician Associate in a new and developing role
within primary care in a full-time capacity. We are a friendly and inclusive Primary
Care Network based in Andover, focusing on the promotion of health and
prevention of harm to all.
A Physician Associate will have the
chance to work alongside a multi-disciplinary team of GPs, Nurse Practitioner,
Practice Nurses, Paramedics, Pharmacists and more! We are looking for a motivated,
enthusiastic, and professional individual with a good clinical background, who can
prioritise workload, be organised and is confident to work independently and as
part of a team.
We are offering a competitive
salary and a flexible approach to working. You will be provided with excellent
supervision, professional support and a clinical lead to mentor you. You'll have the opportunity to progress
and work amongst a very supportive and passionate team who are willing to support you with your career goals.
We also offer the
Physician Associate preceptorship programme which meets the HEE preceptorship
criteria.
Youll be entitled for 28 days
holiday per annum, plus bank and statutory holidays. Youll also be eligible
for a very attractive NHS pension scheme.
Main duties of the job
To be
responsible for the provision of a clinical service, working as part of the
practice multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice
to the entitled patient population. 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 following are the core responsibilities of
the physician associate. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out
other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing
levels.
About us
Primary Care Networks form a key building block of the NHS long-term plans. Bringing general practices together allow us to provide a wider range of services to patients, whilst also decreasing the workload on GPs. This improves the ability of practices to recruit and retain staff, manage finances and facilities more efficiently, and to more easily integrate with the wider health and care system.
Andover Primary Care Network is a collaborative project involving the following GP Surgeries: Adelaide Medical Centre, Andover Health Centre Medical Practice, Charlton Hill Surgery, Shepherds Spring Medical Centreand St Marys Surgery.
As we come out of the Covid Pandemic and demand pressures on primary care continue to grow, the time for reorganisation of the NHS and a political appetite for transformation of services is increasing. Primary Care in Andover suffers these pressures on top of longer standing issues of socio-economic deprivation and the resulting health problems, which have been exacerbated by the pandemic.
The PCN offers additional roles working across practices, providing alternatives for patients to seeing a GP. Using pharmacists and care-coordinators to proactively manage our elderly and complex patients. We expect the PCN to continue to develop and improve patient care in Andover, and to create opportunities for innovative ways of promoting wellbeing.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- To provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history-taking, physical examinations, and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable
- Support the management of patients conditions through offering specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes, and anticoagulation
- Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice, alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results.
- Develop integrated patient-centred care through appropriate wording with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks
- Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice and partake in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks
- Participate in duty rotas; undertaking face-to-face, telephone, and online consultations for emergency or routine problems as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long-term conditions
- Undertake home visits when required
- Identify, signpost, or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health
- Triage patients and provide the necessary treatment during home visits g. Collect pathology specimens as required
- Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
- Ensure read codes are used effectively
- Ensure continuity of care, arranging follow-up consultations or reviews as necessary
- Review the effectiveness of the treatment provided, making changes where necessary to improve patient outcomes
- Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
- Recognise, assess, and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
- Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
- Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure that the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
- Ensure that they always adhere to the relevant patient group directives and local clinical pathways
- Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies
- Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately
- Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
Secondary Responsibilities
- Support the PCN audit programme, undertaking audits when necessary
- Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
- Support and participate in shared learning within the practice
- Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate
- Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
- Take personal responsibility for own learning and development, including the requirement to maintain currency, achieving all targets set in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Work in accordance with PCN policies, including the equal opportunities policy and practice.
- Participate in clinical governance activity and contribute to the improvement in quality of health outcomes through audit, risk management and the Quality and Outcomes Framework
- Work with due regard to the Health and Safety Policies across the PCN, ensuring that all practices and procedures are undertaken in accordance with issued guidelines Generic responsibilities
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.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Primary Responsibilities
- To provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems by utilising history-taking, physical examinations, and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patient (and their carers where applicable
- Support the management of patients conditions through offering specialised clinics following appropriate training including (but not limited to) family planning, baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes, and anticoagulation
- Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice, alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results.
- Develop integrated patient-centred care through appropriate wording with the wider primary care multi-disciplinary team and social care networks
- Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice and partake in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks
- Participate in duty rotas; undertaking face-to-face, telephone, and online consultations for emergency or routine problems as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long-term conditions
- Undertake home visits when required
- Identify, signpost, or refer patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, preventing adverse effects on the patients health
- Triage patients and provide the necessary treatment during home visits g. Collect pathology specimens as required
- Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation
- Ensure read codes are used effectively
- Ensure continuity of care, arranging follow-up consultations or reviews as necessary
- Review the effectiveness of the treatment provided, making changes where necessary to improve patient outcomes
- Prioritise health issues and intervene appropriately
- Recognise, assess, and refer patients presenting with mental health needs
- Support patients in the use of their prescribed medicines or over the counter medicines (within own scope of practice)
- Liaise with external services/agencies to ensure that the patient is supported appropriately (vulnerable patients etc.)
- Ensure that they always adhere to the relevant patient group directives and local clinical pathways
- Support the clinical team with all safeguarding matters, in accordance with local and national policies
- Understand practice and local policies for substance abuse and addictive behaviour, referring patients appropriately
- Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
Secondary Responsibilities
- Support the PCN audit programme, undertaking audits when necessary
- Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
- Support and participate in shared learning within the practice
- Continually review clinical practices, responding to national policies and initiatives where appropriate
- Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach, i.e., root cause analysis (RCA)
- Take personal responsibility for own learning and development, including the requirement to maintain currency, achieving all targets set in their Personal Development Plan (PDP)
- Work in accordance with PCN policies, including the equal opportunities policy and practice.
- Participate in clinical governance activity and contribute to the improvement in quality of health outcomes through audit, risk management and the Quality and Outcomes Framework
- Work with due regard to the Health and Safety Policies across the PCN, ensuring that all practices and procedures are undertaken in accordance with issued guidelines Generic responsibilities
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.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Regularly and autonomously managing minor ailments/ illnesses.
- Working with all age groups from young children to the elderly.
- Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
- Working across organisational boundaries with Health and Social Care.
- Multi agency Child Protection Training Level 2 (minimum)
- Awareness of NHS developments
- Able to demonstrate enthusiasm for developing clinical skills.
- Evidence of working within acute clinical practice
- Evidence of excellent clinical record keeping and clinical leadership development
Desirable
- 3 years experience in either A&E, General Practice, Walk-In Centres, GP OOH
- Evidence of working in a community / primary care setting
- Experience of working to protocols, guidelines, and Patient Group Directives.
- Experience of telephone triage and sign posting patients.
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate Physician Associate Diploma from an accredited PA Programme or MSc
- Professional registration with the Faculty of Physician Associates and/or the General Medical council following implementation of statutory regulation, working within the latest code of professional conduct (CIPD).
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Can demonstrate a broad base of competencies and skills
- Broad based experience of IT Systems including Clinical database and Clinical information system, Word and Excel
- Knowledge of National Standards that Inform Practice (NICE guidelines).
- Understanding of legal and ethical issues/responsibilities relating to nursing practice.
- Awareness of knowledge of own professional accountability and autonomous practice.
- Infection Control (Health & Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activates) 2010.
- Competent in history taking, physical examination of all systems, diagnosis, and management.
- To be competent and confident in the clinical duties required for the post.
- EMIS competent.
- Experience of conducting audits examining clinic notes, RCGP Toolkit, meeting National OOH standards, interpreting data, feeding back of results.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Work closely and communicate with PCN, Proactive Care Team and community teams and HHFT.
- High level documentation skills.
Personal attributes & qualities
Essential
- Ability to deliver consistently high-quality health care.
- Flexible and adaptable approach to a varied and high-volume workload with the ability to multi-task and to work well under pressure
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Consistently compassionate and respectful approach placing a high value on the dignity of patients, relatives, carers and colleagues
- Good clinical judgement and decision-making skills.
- Ability to support patients during acute episodes of illness and to self-manage long term conditions where feasible.
- Adaptability at work at various locations.
- Ability to work autonomously without supervision as well as a good team player.
- Demonstrates continual professional development and lifelong learning.
- Maintains a positive attitude to work demands.
- Ability to understand the limits of his or her competencies and the wisdom to seek advice when these are reached.
- Able to work as a proactive, supportive, and flexible team player.
- A demonstrable commitment to relevant professional development in line with the Practices Development Plan.
- Ability to self-motivate, organise, and prioritise own workload.
- Adaptability to cover holiday and sickness absences when necessary.
Other requirements
Essential
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable
- Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Regularly and autonomously managing minor ailments/ illnesses.
- Working with all age groups from young children to the elderly.
- Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
- Working across organisational boundaries with Health and Social Care.
- Multi agency Child Protection Training Level 2 (minimum)
- Awareness of NHS developments
- Able to demonstrate enthusiasm for developing clinical skills.
- Evidence of working within acute clinical practice
- Evidence of excellent clinical record keeping and clinical leadership development
Desirable
- 3 years experience in either A&E, General Practice, Walk-In Centres, GP OOH
- Evidence of working in a community / primary care setting
- Experience of working to protocols, guidelines, and Patient Group Directives.
- Experience of telephone triage and sign posting patients.
Qualifications
Essential
- Post-graduate Physician Associate Diploma from an accredited PA Programme or MSc
- Professional registration with the Faculty of Physician Associates and/or the General Medical council following implementation of statutory regulation, working within the latest code of professional conduct (CIPD).
- Current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK Physician Associate National Examination
Knowledge and skills
Essential
- Can demonstrate a broad base of competencies and skills
- Broad based experience of IT Systems including Clinical database and Clinical information system, Word and Excel
- Knowledge of National Standards that Inform Practice (NICE guidelines).
- Understanding of legal and ethical issues/responsibilities relating to nursing practice.
- Awareness of knowledge of own professional accountability and autonomous practice.
- Infection Control (Health & Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activates) 2010.
- Competent in history taking, physical examination of all systems, diagnosis, and management.
- To be competent and confident in the clinical duties required for the post.
- EMIS competent.
- Experience of conducting audits examining clinic notes, RCGP Toolkit, meeting National OOH standards, interpreting data, feeding back of results.
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
- Work closely and communicate with PCN, Proactive Care Team and community teams and HHFT.
- High level documentation skills.
Personal attributes & qualities
Essential
- Ability to deliver consistently high-quality health care.
- Flexible and adaptable approach to a varied and high-volume workload with the ability to multi-task and to work well under pressure
- Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
- Consistently compassionate and respectful approach placing a high value on the dignity of patients, relatives, carers and colleagues
- Good clinical judgement and decision-making skills.
- Ability to support patients during acute episodes of illness and to self-manage long term conditions where feasible.
- Adaptability at work at various locations.
- Ability to work autonomously without supervision as well as a good team player.
- Demonstrates continual professional development and lifelong learning.
- Maintains a positive attitude to work demands.
- Ability to understand the limits of his or her competencies and the wisdom to seek advice when these are reached.
- Able to work as a proactive, supportive, and flexible team player.
- A demonstrable commitment to relevant professional development in line with the Practices Development Plan.
- Ability to self-motivate, organise, and prioritise own workload.
- Adaptability to cover holiday and sickness absences when necessary.
Other requirements
Essential
- Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check
- Full UK driving licence.
Desirable
- Access to own transport and ability to travel across the locality on a regular basis
Additional information
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see
NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).