Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the main responsibilities of this role. The job holder will always work within their scope of clinical practice. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

• Provide care for presenting patients from initial history-taking and clinical assessment through to diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care
• Provide a holistic clinical service, with support from GPs as required, implementing agreed management plans and following approved protocols as appropriate
• Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice, alongside analysing and actioning diagnostic test results
• Develop integrated patient-centred care through appropriate working 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
• Undertake home visits when required
• Develop and agree a personal development plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to practice, operating under appropriate clinical supervision
• Receive referrals and directed patients from triage services and other clinicians
• Manage a caseload of complex patients and potential care institutions
• Plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions for patients with acute and chronic physical and psychological conditions
• Utilise as needed the full range of non-drug therapies for all patients, consider pharmacological interventions and make recommendations to prescribers in accordance with evidence-based practice and national, local and practice protocols
• 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
• Provide targeted support and proactive reviews for vulnerable, complex patients and those at risk of admission and re-admission to secondary care
• Be responsive to the changing needs of patients and service provision in terms of scope and nature of clinical practice
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality
• Undertake clinical responsibilities as required by the organisation within scope of practice defined by RCP/GMC
• Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the GMC
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultations, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
• Actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., COVID-19 and flu clinics) through advice or direct care
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area
• In addition, the Physician Associate may be requested to:
• Support delivery of QOF, incentive schemes, QIPP and other quality or cost effectiveness initiatives
• Undertake any tasks consistent with the level of the post and the scope of the role, ensuring that work is delivered in a timely and effective manner

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Post graduate diploma or degree (Physician Associate)
• Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register

Desirable

• An independent prescribing qualification

Experience

Essential

• Experience and an awareness of common acute and chronic conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice
• Understanding and knowledge of healthcare provision in GP surgeries, QOF, Enhanced Services and national standards that inform practice (NSF, NICE Guidelines)
• Understanding GMC Good Medical Practice and the medico-legal aspects of PA role

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care setting
• Experience of working as a Physician Associate
• Experience in triage

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

Dr Firth and Partners, The New Surgery

Address

Chess Medical Centre

260-290 Berkhampstead Road

Chesham

Bucks

HP5 3EZ

Employer's website

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