Job responsibilities
JOB
PURPOSE
This
is an innovative role to give newly qualified or more experienced Physician
Associates a one year rotation through two hospital-based Medical and/or
Surgical specialties. The PAs will spend six months rotating through two departments.
The details for the rotations will be finalised by the date of interview.
The
PAs will provide expert assistance to the multidisciplinary teams in the
provision of a high quality service to patients. The post holders will work
under the direction of a supervising Consultant and mentor, working
collaboratively with other members of the clinical team within the Trusts
policies and clinical guidelines. The job will involve inpatient work.
Successful appointees will perform delegated duties with a high degree of
clinical skill and knowledge, working within clinical environments such as
operating theatres, wards and outpatient clinics.
It
is not mandatory that the Physician Associate has prior experience of a
relevant speciality. The post-holders will undergo training, supervision and
accreditation to activities relevant to each recruiting department.
3. JOB DIMENSIONS
The
Physician Associate role is being developed to work alongside the
departments doctors, advanced practitioners and other team members.
They
will be trained in a broad range of skills to undertake clinical care of
patients as appropriate to the clinical environment and specialty. They will
be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialities as required
and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.
PAs
will be clinically supervised by a designated consultant for each post. There
will also be an individual mentor to oversee professional development,
supported by an annual appraisal and a professional portfolio.
It
is expected that the Physician Associate will become involved in all
activities of a department or CSU, including clinical governance, quality
improvement projects, research and teaching. Physician Associates will also
represent the departments at local and external meetings as appropriate.
KNOWLEDGE,
SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
The post-holder must have
completed the following to work as a Physician
associate in the Trust.
Please note: These conditions are
not a requirement to be selected for interview
but are absolute requirements to be able to start work
Bachelor Degree prior to taking
Physicians Associates Programme.
Successfully completed a PG
Diploma/masters qualification in Physician Associate Studies from an accredited
UK training programme;
Passed the UK RCP National
Certification Examination for Physician Associates (PANCE)
Be registered on the UK Physician
Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) to be able to work in the Trust.
Membership of the Faculty of
Physician Associates
Knowledge/
Skills:
Ability to adhere to regulations as
well as working flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust and our patients
Ability to communicate effectively
with colleagues, patients, relatives, other staff and agencies
Ability to contribute to effective
patient flow through the Trust
Ability to exercise sound
judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
Ability to maintain confidentiality
Ability to organise and prioritise
workload effectively
Ability to respond to questions in
a tactful and professional manner
Ability to work cohesively within
the multi-disciplinary team, including the desire to motivate and lead
An inquiring and critical approach
to work and performance
Commitment to CPD and professional
development.
Excellent verbal and written
communication skills
Experience of conducting clinical
audit and quality improvement projects
Knowledge of medical diagnoses,
procedures and terminology
Personal
Attributes
Ability to work all shifts.
Ability to work autonomously and
within a team.
Able to remain calm and polite
under pressure.
Confidence to exchange patient
management with other members of the MDT and achieve agreement or
co-operation.
Desire to work for and with
patients to enhance their care
Energy and enthusiasm and the
ability to work under pressure
Flexible, positive, problem-solving
approach to clinical work
Good interpersonal skills with
effective oral and written communication skills.
Holistic and caring attitude
towards patient care
Strong professional commitment to
providing high quality compassionate care.
6. THE LEEDS WAY VALUES
Our
values are part of what make us different from other trusts, so we see this
as a strength, as well as a responsibility. They have been developed by our
staff and set out what they see as important to how we work. Our five values are:
Patient-centred
Collaborative
Fair
Accountable
Empowered
All
our actions and endeavours will be guided and evaluated through these values
Additionally
the following are core values which relate specifically to this post:
Commitment to maintaining a clean
and safe environment
Commitment to own development by
achieving high standards in theoretical and practical domains within the
clinical setting.
Commitment to providing
high-quality evidence- based care to patients and their carers.
Commitment to the clinical area
including valuing the contribution of all team members and encouraging a
positive and creative working environment.
Commitment to the development of
all staff within the unit.
Commitment to working in a
multidisciplinary team
7. CORE BEHAVIOURS AND SKILLS
Ability to act professionally at
all times.
Awareness of evidence based
practice.
Communication skills.
Conflict management
Mentoring skills.
Organisational skills.
Preceptor ship skills.
Stress management
Teaching and assessment skills
Team player.
Time management skills.
Understanding of the process of
change
Uses initiative to resolve issues
within their own control
Well-developed clinical practice
skills.
8. CORE KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING
Awareness of Leeds Teaching
Hospitals Trust guidelines and policies
Understanding of relevant local and
national clinical guidelines and protocols
Understanding of relevant National
Service Frameworks
Understanding of the local and
national NHS agenda
Understanding of the role of the
clinical supervisor to the PA
Uses initiative to resolve issues
within their own control
9. PRINCIPAL DUTIES & AREAS OF
RESPONSIBILITY
The
PA will be required to work as part of the clinical team, under supervision
of a named Consultant, to deliver high quality patient care.
This
will include duties and responsibilities in the following areas:
Clinical
Delivery
and participation in the clinical care of patients.
To
exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care
for patients. Working within a set of
defined parameters when working in a particular specialty.
Provision
of a level of advanced and comprehensive health assessment based on a
specialist body of knowledge under established parameters.
Appropriate
assessment, examination, investigation, diagnosis and treatment of patients,
resulting in the safe management and appropriate referral or discharge of
patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations within the
boundaries of the role as a trainee.
Recognition
of patients with changing health status and undertaking appropriate actions.
Communication
of highly complex and highly sensitive information with patients and families
and within the healthcare team.
Liaison
with other hospital services to enable detailed planning for patient
management, referral and discharge.
Undertaking
advanced clinical skills according to agreed protocols and service need.
Interpretation
of laboratory and radiological results and initiate appropriate patient
management.
Maintenance
of own clinical development by keeping abreast of new treatments and
technologies within emergency and unscheduled care.
Improvements
on the quality of the patient experience by identifying and meeting the
individual clinical needs of patients.
Review
with a supervisor, all aspects of the patients plan of care and identify and
address issues that may result in a sub-standard service.
Contribution
to the review and development of integrated care pathways and clinical
guidelines to ensure a standardised approach to care.
Practice
with confidence and competence within professional guidelines, and
established parameters.
Ensure
accurate documentation and records of patient care.
Assist
in the development of patient management systems, processes and tools within
the work area and adjacent clinical/assessment areas.
Ability
to adapt specialist clinical knowledge and skills to different clinical
settings and influence service delivery and patient care.
Implementation
of effective systems and processes for infection control management and
relevant audit within their clinical area.
Acting
in such a way that safeguards the health and wellbeing of children and
vulnerable adults at all times, in keeping with LTHT safeguarding policies.
Management
and Leadership
Develop
own leadership skills within the clinical environment and team.
Contribute
in the development of a specialist service and act as a change agent and
facilitate the change process whilst encouraging others to be innovative and
adaptable in the approach to change.
