Job summary
Surrey Downs Health & Care
We are looking to recruit Physician Associates to join our HomeFirst Service.
This post has been developed to support the expansion of the SDHC HomeFirst Services in conjunction with the new UCR and VW specifications. The frailty service spans across the acute and community system with the development of the virtual wards and new acute frailty and bed based rehab unit, the Mary Seacole Unit. The diagram below shows how the HomeFirst Services fits into the wider system approach towards supporting people across their health journey.
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will work across the virtual ward and Mary Seacole Unit, which are based at EGH. They will be part of the MDT that undertake holistic assessments and commence management plans. The PA will also be expected to contribute to the in-reach of the emergency department and SDEC to proactively identify and support home patients that could receive treatment in the community.
The Mary Seacole Unit is an integrated unit that combines an acute frailty unit with a community rehabilitation unit. It is based within Epsom General Hospital. The unit supports patients living with frailty, acute medical illnesses and rehabilitation needs. Care is offered by an enhanced MDT, with a goal to support back to their place of residence as soon as possible. The post holder will be part of the medical team and will work closely with both junior and senior medical staff as well as all other members of the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) present on the ward. The appointee will share the responsibilities of ensuring ongoing medical care is facilitated including expediting investigations, making specialty referrals and ensuring management plans are carried out to completion. This will include ensuring discharge summaries are accurate and complete.
About us
Surrey Downs Health and Care deliver care closer to people's own communities through our Primary Care Networks, Community Hospitals, Specialist Services and our innovative partnership of local NHS organisations.
Surrey Downs Health and Care has a track record of providing person centered care that goes beyond organisational boundaries to do what is best for the individual. This partnership includes:
- The three GP federations GP Health Partners, Dorking Health Care and Surrey Medical Network representing practices that operate in the Surrey Downs area
- CSH Surrey
- Epsom and St Helier's University Hospitals NHS Trust
- Surrey Council County
Historically, there have been boundary lines between the organisations that provide care to people in their homes, in GP surgeries and in hospitals, but we have always been united in our mission to provide great care to the people who need us.
It's on those grounds that the Surrey Downs Health and Care was formed - we want local people to receive the care that they need in the right environment. By bringing together our expertise, we can improve patient care and enable local people to access the right support, care and treatment more easily than ever before.
In bringing this partnership together, we are working to the same set of values that will translate into better care for our residents.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assess and examine acute medical patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment.
- Exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care for an agreed caseload of patients with a range of presenting complaints.
- Have, develop and maintain extensive specialist knowledge and experience in managing frailty and general patients, acting as a resource for the clinical team and allied health professionals.
- Contribute to achieving and maintaining key Performance Indicators for frailty service as well as virtual ward
- Support work within frailty service related to national audits.
- Support recruitment into clinical research being carried out in the department.
- Communicate with GPs and other health professionals that may have had contact with frailty service +/- virtual ward.
- Contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
- Be an active participant in the development of frailty service through the Trust and community services.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.
- Be accountable for care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Assistants (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body when in place). To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Assess and examine acute medical patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment.
- Exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care for an agreed caseload of patients with a range of presenting complaints.
- Have, develop and maintain extensive specialist knowledge and experience in managing frailty and general patients, acting as a resource for the clinical team and allied health professionals.
- Contribute to achieving and maintaining key Performance Indicators for frailty service as well as virtual ward
- Support work within frailty service related to national audits.
- Support recruitment into clinical research being carried out in the department.
- Communicate with GPs and other health professionals that may have had contact with frailty service +/- virtual ward.
- Contribute to the development of efficient pathways of care in accordance with current best practice and national guidelines.
- Be an active participant in the development of frailty service through the Trust and community services.
- Ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments.
- Be accountable for care given and to comply with the Fitness to Practice and Code of Conduct standard as established by the UK Managed Voluntary Register for Physician Assistants (and subsequently the appropriate statutory regulating body when in place). To work within the framework of the scope of professional practice.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oMember of FPA
- If trained outside UK oCurrent and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA) oRegistration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for physician assistants as soon as it is in place
- If UK Trained oBA/BS Degree prior to undertaking PA program oPG Dip in Physician Assistant Studies from a UK training programme oCurrent and valid certification or re-certification by the Physician Assistant National Examination
Desirable
Other
Essential
- oHolds a clean full UK Driving Licence
Experience
Essential
- oKnowledge of medical procedures and terminology
- oAbility to organise and prioritise workload effectively
- oAbility to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
- oAbility to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team
- oAbility to manage and lead a working group
- oAbility to implement and interpret policies and procedures
- oExperience of conducting clinical audit
- oAssist in the educational development of Physician Assistant students through student shadowing and/or teaching
- oAwareness of current developments and initiatives in acute medicine services.
Desirable
- oAssist in the development of the role of Physician Assistant
Skills
Essential
- oAbility to work well with colleagues and within a team
- oAbility to adhere to regulations as well as work flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust
- oVerbal and written communication skills
- oAbility to maintain confidentiality
- oAbility to respond to questions in a tactful and professional manner
- oEnergy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- oAn inquiring and critical approach to work
- oCaring attitude toward patients
- oAbility to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies
- oCommitment to CME and professional development.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- oMember of FPA
- If trained outside UK oCurrent and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA) oRegistration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for physician assistants as soon as it is in place
- If UK Trained oBA/BS Degree prior to undertaking PA program oPG Dip in Physician Assistant Studies from a UK training programme oCurrent and valid certification or re-certification by the Physician Assistant National Examination
Desirable
Other
Essential
- oHolds a clean full UK Driving Licence
Experience
Essential
- oKnowledge of medical procedures and terminology
- oAbility to organise and prioritise workload effectively
- oAbility to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
- oAbility to motivate and develop the multi-disciplinary team
- oAbility to manage and lead a working group
- oAbility to implement and interpret policies and procedures
- oExperience of conducting clinical audit
- oAssist in the educational development of Physician Assistant students through student shadowing and/or teaching
- oAwareness of current developments and initiatives in acute medicine services.
Desirable
- oAssist in the development of the role of Physician Assistant
Skills
Essential
- oAbility to work well with colleagues and within a team
- oAbility to adhere to regulations as well as work flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust
- oVerbal and written communication skills
- oAbility to maintain confidentiality
- oAbility to respond to questions in a tactful and professional manner
- oEnergy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure
- oAn inquiring and critical approach to work
- oCaring attitude toward patients
- oAbility to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies
- oCommitment to CME and professional 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.
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).
Additional information
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.
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).
