Physicians Associate (PA) General Practice

Job responsibilities

See attached JD for further information. Summary provided as below:

By joining the Haringey GP Federation, you will benefit from:

• Dedicated and bespoke Physician Associate structured training and support programme.
• A comprehensive induction and orientation programme.
• Access to the North Central London training hub and educational events.
• Training tailored to your individual developmental needs by a Senior Physician Associate with background in academia and Physician Associate teaching.
• Opportunity for career progression as a result of our bespoke training programme
• Continuous GP clinical supervision and support
• You will be supported and financed to attend agreed CPD i.e., 25 hours
• Opportunity to progress into a leadership role
• Access to NHS Discounts and NHS Pension
• 5 weeks annual leave pro rata

Job summary

As a PA you will be acting within your professional boundaries, providing care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care under the supervision of a GP. You will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within the general practice, in consultation with the duty GP. You will work with the multi-disciplinary general practice team to support the delivery of policy and procedures and meet the needs of patients.

Mentorship and supervision will be provided by designated senior medical personnel. The level and type of supervision will be dependent on the post holder’s skills and knowledge and determined by the organisation’s clinical governance arrangements. You will follow recommended annual appraisals and continuing professional development set out by the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA).

1. SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

• To deliver a high standard of patient care using advanced autonomous clinical skills with in-depth theoretical knowledge and evidence based Practice working under the supervision of a GP
• To manage a clinical caseload and deal with presenting patient’s needs in a primary care setting
• To provide clinical leadership where appropriate within the Practice and support other members of the team to develop and maintain clinical skills appropriate to your role and expertise.

2. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

Refer to person specification

3. PRIMARY DUTIES & AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

Clinical

The post holder will under appropriate supervision:

• Provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan working in partnership with patients.
• Undertake surgery-based consultations for emergency or routine problems including management of long-term conditions. In addition, undertake telephone calls.
• Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports within the scope of a PA’s Practice. Discuss the result and implications of laboratory investigations with patients.
• Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice.
• Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support with an emphasis on prevention and self-care.
• Refer patients directly to other services or agencies using appropriate referral pathways.
• Ensure safe handover of care within and outside the Practice as appropriate.
• Work directly with members of the Practice Primary Health Care Team (PPHCT) and support integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with wider primary care / social care networks.
• Identify community health needs and participate in the development of patient/family-centred strategies to address them.
• Contribute to the practice quality targets to consistently achieve high standards of safe, evidence-based, cost-effective patient care and service delivery.

Training and development

• Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to keep up to date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to Practice. This requires 50 hours of CPD every year: a minimum of 25 hours must be in accredited direct learning programmes.

• Undertake a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with the improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means.
• Audit of clinical practice
• Significant event review / root cause analysis
• Review of relevant literature
• Research unusual symptoms and treatment options through consultation with general practitioners, physicians and other specialists.
• Promote and support a learning culture within the Practice and assist in clinical instruction, mentoring and supervision of medical, nursing or physician associate students and other learners that may periodically be attached to the Practice
• Contribute to regular multi-disciplinary and or Practice educational meetings.
• Participate in Multi-Disciplinary Protocol and Patient Group Directions (PGDs) development as appropriate.
• Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of Practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets.

Administration

• Fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required paperwork for legal and administrative purposes in accordance with relevant standards.
• Work in accordance with internal administrative systems relating to but not limited to the management of clinical data.

• Send and receive written information on behalf of the Practice relating to the physical and social welfare of patients.
• Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in the setting up and/or improving of Practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets and work to deliver the NHS contract pertinent to the Practice including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and locally enhanced services.
• Ensure that all Practice policies are fully implemented.

4. Professional

• Take the UK PA National Re-Certification Exam every six years - required for Physician Associates AND maintain your professional registration working within the latest Code of Professional Conduct (CIPD).
• Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by Haringey GP Federation.
• Demonstrate clinical leadership.
• Pro-actively promote the role of the PA within the practice and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.
• Respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.

5. Health and Safety

• Comply at all times with the Practice Health and Safety policies by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System (IRS).
• Comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).
• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Reporting potential risks identified.

Job Description

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities. There may be other duties required of the post-holder commensurate with the position. This description will be open to regular review and may be amended to take into account developments within the Practice. All staff are expected to comply with company policy which is guided by UK law.

Our commitment to you

We will provide a supportive learning environment, especially structured in the first preceptorship year. We will help you set out and revise specific educational goals. We will ensure appropriate clinical supervision.You will receive regular appraisal.

Qualifications

Essential

• If UK Trained:
• Degree at 2:1 level or above
• Postgraduate Diploma/Masters in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
• If US Trained:
• Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
• AND:
• Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for physician Associates as soon as it is in place
• DBS clearance
• Current and valid certification or recertification by the Physician Associate National Examination

Desirable

• Member of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register
• Evidence of Continuing Professional Development activities
• Basic Life Support

Other

Essential

• Declared history of medical-legal cases including any pending

Desirable

• UK Driving licence

Experience

Essential

• Advanced clinical practice skills
• Clinical examination skills
• Management of patients with common acute medical conditions
• Management of patients with common acute medical conditions
• Management of patients with long-term conditions
• Knowledge of the NHS
• Understanding of the current issues and challenges facing primary care
• Recent experience of working in a UK General Practice environment
• Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team

Desirable

• Management of patients with complex needs
• Experience of preventative medicine
• Experience with chronic disease management
• Experience of working to achieve standard within the Quality and Outcome Framework (QOF)

Skills, Abilities and Personal Attributes

Essential

• Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively
• Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures
• Confident in use of email
• Excellent record keeping skills
• Sound IT knowledge/IT literacy (Microsoft 365, etc.)
• Ability to work flexibly to meet the needs of the Practice
• Highly motivated
• Energy and enthusiasm
• The ability to work under pressure
• An enquiring and critical approach to work
• Caring attitude to patients
• Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives and agencies
• Commitment to Continuing Clinical Education and Professional Development

Desirable

• Proficient in use of EMIS

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).