Job responsibilities
Responsibilities
of the role
As
one of our CEMS Paramedics or Nurses, you will provide valuable clinical and
driving skills to primarily support the Doctor or ACP across a range of
taskings. Driving our modern fleet of blue-light response vehicles and working
closely as part of a two person team, you will become a valued and respected
member of the CEMS medical team. You will independently, and collaboratively
assist in the delivery of advanced clinical assessment and enhanced medical
care in the pre-hospital setting. CEMS Paramedics and Nurses will undertake the
management of patients across all ages and all levels of acuity, often
involving complex presentations, either independently or more commonly as part
of a two person team. A large percentage of these patients will be managed in
the community by delivering care beyond the scope of a typical ambulance or
primary care response. CEMS Paramedics and Nurses will be empowered to
undertake referrals to hospital and community services, acquire additional
clinical skills and extend their scope of practice. Working closely alongside
colleagues, CEMS Paramedics and Nurses will have the opportunity to expand
their clinical skills and medical knowledge whilst delivering first class
patient care. All CEMS Paramedics and Nurses will have already acquired a broad
experience of pre-hospital care and emergency driving, both essential in
supporting Doctor and ACP colleagues who may come from a diverse primary and
emergency care background.
Where
patients need to be referred into other parts of the NHS, we aim to direct
patients to the right speciality first time and enhance their pre-hospital
management by the interventions we perform. You will play a key role in
ensuring clinicians arrive safely at incidents, and provide skilled
pre-hospital care to patients across Lincolnshire. To undertake this role, you
will be an experienced registered Paramedic or Nurse, with demonstratable NHS
front-line experience relevant to the role, and enthusiasm for working in new
ways of healthcare delivery. You will have no restrictions on your practice in
the UK. Additional experience gained from working in primary care, emergency
medicine, palliative care, in leadership roles or instructing/assessing on pre-hospital
care courses is desirable.
We
feel recruiting Paramedics and Nurses into the CEMS role is an exciting
opportunity for the organisation, as well as providing a career opportunity for
experienced health professionals seeking a new challenge. Your commitment will
be rewarded by access to clinical mentorship, in-house and external training as
well as a comprehensive sign off process.
As
one of our CEMS Paramedics or Nurses, you must be able to demonstrate you are
comfortable working as an equal in the multi-disciplinary team, meet the
essential criteria and ensure you understand, and are able to apply the
principles of effective crew-resource management (CRM).
MAIN
DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational Clinical
Response - Patient Care
Undertake the full range of standard
clinical skills and competencies within either a NMC Scope of Practice for
Registered Nurses, or HCPC Registered Paramedic, practicing independently and
collaboratively as part of an enhanced pre-hospital emergency care team.
Undertake
the clinical assessment, investigation and treatment of patients experiencing
illness and injury across the spectrum of acuity and across all ages, either
independently or alongside senior clinicians.
Perform clinical duties in accordance with LIVES and CEMS
Standard Operating Procedures and clinical guidelines, recognising own
limitations and scope of practice.
Respond by
road to patients who have been identified as being suitable for a CEMS
response by either the senior CEMS Clinician in ambulance control, or dedicated
EMAS LIVES Dispatchers.
Provide
skilled pre-hospital knowledge and guidance at complex incidents, demonstrating the ability to organise and
manage the scene until more skilled assistance arrives. This may involve
organising and managing patients, bystanders or liaising with other emergency
services e.g., Fire and Rescue, Police and Coastguard.
Support other
healthcare professionals requesting advice from CEMS medical team by providing
telephone, or video consultations according to scope of practice.
Participate in
holistic and comprehensive patient assessment, encouraging patients to exercise
choice over their healthcare needs and treatments.
Utilise
appropriate and relevant information to assist patients, carers and advocates
to make informed health choices in line with national guidelines.
Manage
patients of all ages, with varying acuity and complexity, where required
delivering emergency care interventions and resuscitation according to scope of
practice.
Delivery or
advanced resuscitation, manual defibrillation and ALS drug therapies.
Perform
clinical procedures, including intravenous cannulation, venepuncture, urinary
catheterisation and bladder scanning in pre-hospital care settings.
Identify,
prepare, and administer medicines by all routes correctly in accordance to
scope of practice and organisational policy and procedures.
Administer
Controlled Drugs, either independently within JRCALC, upon direction of an
independent prescriber, or through a Patient Group Direction.
Assist in
enhanced diagnostics and advanced treatments in the pre-hospital environment as
part of the team in line with LIVES policies, procedures and operational
guidelines.
Perform duties
in often unpredictable pre-hospital care settings where dynamic risk assessment
is needed, and operate in often difficult, remote or challenging conditions
with appropriate support and PPE (Personal Protective Equipment).
Respond to
major incidents as part of the pre-agreed major incident plans alongside other
partner agencies.
Liaise with
ambulance control, relevant hospitals, community services and EMAS colleagues
as required throughout the shift.
Communicate
effectively, demonstrating compassion and re-assurance, particularly when
dealing with people who may have difficulty understanding e.g., children,
people with learning disabilities, cognitive or mental impairment, and
demonstrate ability to adapt and overcome barriers using interpersonal
communication skills.
Ensure
informed consent is obtained wherever possible. Where consent cannot be given,
CEMS Paramedics and Nurses will be empowered to act in the patients best
interests according to the Mental Capacity Act and LIVES Standard Operating
Procedures.
Input data
into clinical and administrative databases and systems.
Utilise
appropriate experience, knowledge and skills as part of a two person team in
order to provide high quality patient focused care in the pre-hospital setting.
Dynamically
assess incident scenes and identify environmental and clinical risks to
patients, self and colleagues, taking into appropriate action to minimise these
wherever possible.
Identify
safeguarding concerns and ensure these are reported and documented accurately
according to LIVES and CEMS clinical guidelines and Standard Operating
Procedures.
Complete
timely, accurate, contemporaneous clinical records and documentation in
accordance with Caldicott principles, current legislation, information
governance and regulatory frameworks.
Ensure any
near misses, operational incidents (actual or potential) are recorded and
reported in accordance with LIVES CEMS Standard Operating Procedures.
Liaise with
other agencies and participate in, and if required, lead a hot debrief.
Carry out
manual handling of patients in emergency situations following a dynamic risk
assessment, and utilising ambulance moving and handling equipment as necessary.
Identify and
take action when other peoples behaviour undermines equality and diversity.
Take
responsibility for own health and wellbeing, to ensure you are able to perform
your clinical role in a safe, effective and professional manner, whilst
recognising any ongoing care of physical and mental wellbeing needs.
Maintain high
standards of care and service, treating everyone with dignity and respect
whilst promoting patient choice and non-discriminatory practice.
Take
reasonable care and attention when handling and using expensive medical
equipment and medicines, reporting defects or damage in accordance with
Standard Operating Procedures.
Maintenance of
accurate stock records, consumables and drugs.
Clinical Support Activities
Handover
information from shift to shift using CEMS internal systems.
Maintain
appropriate standards of cleanliness of vehicles, medical, monitoring and
communications equipment.
General care
and cleaning of personal protective equipment used during clinical operations.
Daily, weekly
and monthly checks of equipment, drugs and monitoring equipment in accordance
with agreed team checklists and standard operating procedures.
Maintenance of
accurate stock records of consumables and drugs.
Share
knowledge, skills and experience as part of the a close-knit team.
Provide
support and mentorship to internal and external learners, new starters, and
students on placement.
Controlled
drug documentation in line with LIVES controlled drug procedures.
Undergo
training and induction to undertake shifts within the EOC (Emergency Operations
Centre) at ambulance control, facilitating appropriate allocation and dispatch
of LIVES assets and provide remote advice to LIVES, EMAS and other partner
agencies and colleagues.