Physician Associate

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main duties of the job

Working under the supervision of a doctor as part of a medical team

Have direct contact with patients, taking medical histories, carrying out physical examinations, updating records

Make diagnoses, analyse test results, and deliver treatment

Support clinical care for people with long term conditions

Consider prescribing and other necessary clinical interventions

Work to a professional code of ethics

Provide varied support and show flexibility in your role

Show a caring attitude towards patients

Have well-developed communication skills to provide treatment plans.

You will be required to engage effectively with PCN teams, practice staff and external/internal stakeholders to support delivery of your key performance measures. This will require an inclusive, transparent, open approach to your role, where you are happy to be accountable to others, but can also lead by example. You will be passionate about our business, creating a high-performance culture that delivers exemplary patient care.

Attributes

We are looking for a confident individual to work as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team in a patient facing role to assess and treat patients using expert knowledge. To work with patients to support engagement with appropriate services and treatment.

Main duties, as a physician associate, you will be

Working under the supervision of a doctor as part of a medical team

Have direct contact with patients, taking medical histories, carrying out physical examinations, updating records

Make diagnoses, analyse test results, and deliver treatment

Support clinical care for people with long term conditions

Consider prescribing and other necessary clinical interventions

Work to a professional code of ethics

Provide varied support and show flexibility in your role

Show a caring attitude towards patients

Have well-developed communication skills to provide treatment plans.

You will be required to engage effectively with PCN teams, practice staff and external/internal stakeholders to support delivery of your key performance measures. This will require an inclusive, transparent, open approach to your role, where you are happy to be accountable to others, but can also lead by example. You will be passionate about our business, creating a high-performance culture that delivers exemplary patient care.

Contribute to supporting the smooth running of the Primary Care Network.

• Attend meetings as required and any other local or regional meetings as requested by the PCN Manager or Clinical Director.
• Attend clinical meetings with the other PCN team members for the purpose of reviewing the departmental activity and sharing general information.

Communication

Communicate effectively with other team members;

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication;

Enthusiastic about health promotion and lifestyle change.

Personal and people development

Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance, including participating in supervision;

Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development;

Work with management on any new training requirements;

To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team.

Health, safety and security

Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines;

Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks;

Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within their area of responsibility;

Use the computer monitor safely.

Service improvement

Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives;

Work closely with the whole PCN team at Southend East PCN.

Quality

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients;

Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems;

Know the organisations policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook;

Be able to manage their own time effectively.

Equality and diversity

Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures;

Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers;

Information processes

Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the PCN;

Maintain accurate and contemporaneous electronic patient records on SystmOne;

Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Attend annual updates and mandatory training as required;

Highlight any gaps in knowledge/training needs to their line manager to allow them the opportunity to offer support in order to fulfil the duties of this post;

Act in a manner that safeguards children and/or vulnerable adults as applicable to the role;

Work in line with organisational policies and procedural guidelines.

This JD is not intended to be an exhaustive list of activities but rather an outline of the main areas of responsibility. The role is likely to evolve to meet the changing needs of the service.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Completed a post-graduate physician associate course (either PG Diploma or MSc)
• Passed the UK Physician Associate (PA) National Re-Certificaton Exam, which needs to be taken every 6 years

Experience

Desirable

• 2 years working in primary 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).

Employer details

Employer name

Southend East Primary Care Network

Address

Norton Place

162 Ness Road

Southend

Essex

SS1 3HT

Employer's website

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