Qualified Critical Care Paramedic

Job responsibilities

Clinical

• Undertake the full range of operational Critical Care Paramedic duties as a solo responder or part of a team.
• To work as a team member, under appropriate supervision, to deliver critical care treatment in a variety of situations.
• To collect, analyse and utilise patient information from the patients history, physical examination, laboratory, and radiographic and other diagnostic data and identify relevant problems.
• Undertake other additional clinical skills under supervision and direction, which have been formally agreed by the Trusts Medical Directorate.
• Perform clinical duties in accordance with national clinical practice guidelines, Critical Care Clinical Practice Guidelines and Trust guidelines.
• To administer medications under Trust and National guidance, within the appropriate legislative framework including patient group directions (PGDs).
• As appropriate, assess, treat, refer or discharge patients who access the health service but who do not need hospital admission where clinically safe to do so.

• Responsible as an autonomous practitioner using local care pathways as required.
• Ensure that consent is obtained before undertaking assessment treatment or intervention.
• To carry and store medications in accordance with National Guidelines, Trust Policy and patient group directions (PGDs).
• Ensure the prompt, legible and accurate completion of all patient and incident records, providing a full and accurate record of decision making in accordance with the Caldicott principles, current legislation and regulatory framework.
• Ensure the sharing of information is always done in compliance with information governance procedures.
• Make reasoned decisions regarding initiating, modifying or ceasing treatment or procedures and ensuring accurate documentation of decisions.Being accountable and responsible for clinical decisions made during the course of duty, and seek senior clinical advice where appropriate.
• Demonstrate the ability to communicate complicated information when dealing with complex patients and their subsequent care ensuring that this is appropriately passed to relevant parties.
• Effectively communicate sensitive information when dealing with clinical incidents. An example of this is when handing over patients to another healthcare professional or making a safeguarding referral.
• Drive all relevant vehicle types operated by the Service in accordance with the emergency vehicle driver training standards and the Highway Code and relevant legislation
• Conduct vehicle and equipment checks in line with Trust policies and procedures ensuring that it is safe and fully serviceable, reporting all defects, deficiencies and accident damage in accordance with the Trusts service procedures.
• Maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness of vehicles and equipment and those parts of the station specified by the local management team.
• Ensure the safe transfer of patients, to and from vehicles, following health and safety and other appropriate procedures, taking account of the safety of patients, self, colleagues and others, using appropriate equipment and manual handling techniques.

Undertake shifts on the Critical Care Desk undertaking the full range of duties:

• Undertake training and maintain currency in the use of Trust command and control systems (Computer Aided Dispatch system, telephony, radio system). Requires the use of visual display equipment for prolonged periods.
• Review incoming 999 calls, undertaking call interrogation where necessary using telephone or video, to identify the need for a critical care resource.
• Utilise communication equipment to speak with CCPs, other ambulance clinicians and patients.
• As a senior clinician provide remote clinical advice to all grades of clinical staff supporting shared decision making.
• Provide support to the Trust dispatch function by interrogating calls and identifying appropriate resourcing.
• Provide support to the Trust dispatch function and support patient safety by reviewing high acuity calls, risk assessing and prioritising for resource allocation.
• Maintain appropriate records where decisions are made, or advice is given.

Management/Leadership

• Provide clinical leadership in an operational environment.
• Ability to organise and manage the scene of a complex incident during initial stages until a Manager / Commander arrives. This could involve organising or managing patients, bystanders or other responding services.
• Supervise and mentor designated staff and students, taking appropriate action when performance falls below expected standard.
• Use appropriate knowledge and skills when working with or mentoring students and new staff to ensure they are competent in undertaking clinical procedures and utilising appropriate equipment.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and ensure these are reported and documented in an appropriate manner and are escalated and followed up as appropriate.
• Facilitate debriefing following challenging cases.
• To liaise with and effectively communicate with the local clinical partners and networks.
• To participate in the critical reviews of audits, complaints, compliments and clinical/non clinical incidents with a view to improving patient care, supporting learning from incidents.

Education

• To undertake all necessary elements of training and education required for the role.
• To undertake all necessary assessment elements required for the role.
• To be responsible for ensuring compliance with statutory and mandatory training and undertake CPD to maintain fitness to practice and adherence to the regulatory body Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards.
• Attend supervision and appraisal sessions with line manager and appropriate others, as required.
• Support teaching activity as a subject matter expert within local Operating Units and in formal teaching environments.

Quality Improvement

• Support development of the CCP role.
• Participate in Trust clinical audit and effectiveness processes as required including evaluation of clinical procedures, processes and instructions to ensure the highest standards of service are achieved in the interest of patient care. Where appropriate, make proposals for change to own working practices and policies within own working area.
• To participate in research activity as required to promote and develop the critical care agenda.
• To assist in the development and review of clinical guidelines and PGDs within the trust.

Qualifications

Essential

• HCPC registered Paramedic with no current sanctions.
• Post Graduate Certificate in relevant subject and willing to work towards an MSc
• Post graduate specialist training in pre-hospital Critical Care
• IHCD/FutureQuals Emergency Driving
• Current driving licence (manual) with C1
• Mentorship/Education Qualification

Desirable

• Member of the College of Paramedics
• Life support course (newborn, paediatric, adult)
• Diploma in Immediate Medical Care (RCSEd)

Knowledge

Essential

• Expert clinical knowledge in the field of pre-hospital critical care
• Strong understanding of medicines management and associated legislation relevant to paramedic practice
• Understanding of human factors / CRM in pre-hospital care
• Knowledge of pre-hospital critical care provision in the UK
• Familiarity with current research in pre-hospital and critical care medicine

Experience

Essential

• Current demonstrable experience of working in pre-hospital care critical care role within or on behalf of an NHS ambulance environment
• Experience of working in a solo autonomous CCP role
• Experience of supervising and mentoring staff in a clinical environment

Desirable

• Experience of undertaking research or audit activity
• Experience of working in a clinical leadership role

Skills

Essential

• Good numeracy and literacy skills
• Well developed communication skills
• Identifies challenges and works with others to identify solutions
• Demonstrates leadership in practice
• Ability to work under pressure in a resource limited environment

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrate ability to reflect and learn from situations
• Demonstrates humility
• Emotional Resilience
• Professional in their conduct
• Highly motivated and flexible in their approach
• Demonstrate a commitment to lifelong learning and development

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).