Job description

Job responsibilities

STEYNING HEALTH CENTRE

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Paramedic Practitioner

REPORTING TO: GPPartners and Practice Manager

HOURS: 37 hours per week

PLACE OF WORK: Steyning Health Centre. Also to be available for our branch surgeryat Upper Beeding as required.

JOB SUMMARY:

To work as part of the On the Day Clinical Team, the postholder will be an experienced paramedic practitioner. They will provide care for the presentingpatient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatmentand evaluation of care. They willdemonstrate safe, clinical decision making, acting within their professionalboundaries and qualifications. They willwork alongside a Minor Illness Triage Nurse, Paramedic Practitioner and theDuty Doctor in delivering an On the Day service, which will include telephonetriage, face to face consultations and, as necessary, visit patients in theirhome. They will also work collaborativelywith the GP Partners, Nurse Manager, Practice Nurses and Health Care Assistantsto effectively and efficiently meet the needs of patients.

MAIN DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIES:

Clinical

To assist in the telephone triage of on theday patient requests, to advise on or signpost for self care, arrange for faceto face consultations to either see themselves, a member of the clinical team, aMinor Illness Triage Nurse, Paramedic Practitioner, a Practice Nurse/HCA, or toarrange a home visit.

To prioritise presenting patients healthproblems appropriately in urgent or emergency situations, including initiationof emergency care.

Support patients to adopt health promotionstrategies that promote healthy lifestyles and apply principles of self carewhere appropriate.

Provide information and advice to patients inrelation to prescribed or over the counter medications, side effects andinteractions.

Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluatetreatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiateddiagnosis on an acute basis within competencies and not including neonates.

Clinically examine and assess patient needs froma physiological and psychological perspective, interpret test results and planclinical care accordingly.

To arrange investigations with the practicenurse team and/or health care assistants as appropriate for patients who attendthe on the day service to ensure the most efficient service and outcome.

To arrange investigations as appropriate withsecondary care or community services when an immediate need is presented.

To follow up patients in the short term toensure continuity of care.

To discuss with the duty doctor the needs of patientspresenting with complex health needs or conditions requiring treatment,hospital admission or referral.

To liaise with secondary care and communityteams as appropriate to ensure the immediate care and treatment needs ofpatients are met as appropriate.

Undertake appropriately triaged home visits withinthe boundaries of professional qualifications and in accordance with thepractice Home Visit Policy.

To ensure that any information or adviceprovided is evidence based and that knowledge and skills are maintained forsafe and effective practice.

Communication

Demonstrate sensitive communication styles toensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

Communicate effectively with patients andcarers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication toovercome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferredways of communicating.

To promote effective communication with the DutyDoctor, Paramedic Practitioner and Minor Illness Triage Nurses to ensure thesmooth running of the on the day service and ensure good relationships withinthe on the day team.

To discuss continued development of the serviceto promote best practice and a high standard of care with the GP Partners,Nurse Manager and general management team.

To communicate effectively with the NurseManager, working to build good relationships within the nursing team as awhole, attending nursing meetings and attending training as appropriate.

To communicate effectively with the admin teamto ensure good relationships and the needs of patients are met.

Managing Risk

Manage and assess risk within the areas ofresponsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff andpatients.

Use developed communication, negotiation andconflict management skills to overcome barriers.

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure theyare safe and free from hazards, and conform to health, safety and securitylegislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Take all reasonable personal precautionsnecessary to avoid any potential health risks to colleagues, people receivingcare and the public.

Apply infection control measures within thepractice according to local and national guidelines and in accordance with thepractice policy.

Be aware of current evidence, knowledge anddevelopments in reducing mistakes and the effect of them, and the impact ofhuman factors and system failures.

OTHER DUTIES:

To help cover staff holidays and sickness whenrequired.

To participate in regular staff trainingsessions to ensure development of skills and knowledge; to assess own learningneeds and undertake learning as appropriate.

To participate in nursing, clinical,multi-disciplinary and whole team meetings as required.

To observe and comply with all appropriatestatutory requirements in relation to Child and Adult Safeguarding and to befamiliar with the reporting process should his be required.

To ensure that policies and procedures publishedon the IQ Compliance Toolkit are read regularly.

To contribute to policy development andimplementation of procedures and guidelines in relation to their own area ofwork.

To participate in an annual performance reviewand to manage individual revalidation process.

To assist in the training and assessment of newstaff who are recruited to the on the day team in collaboration with theNurse Manager.

To carry out any other reasonable duties whichmay be requested from time to time.

This job description is subject to review in thelight of changing service needs. Change will be made in consultation with therole holder and will be reviewed at their annual appraisal.

EXCLUSIONS

The post holder will NOT perform the following:

Unsupervised surgical or operative procedures toinclude joint injections and minor surgery

Work in alternative medicine to includeprescribing complementary medicines

Undertake internet consultations

CONFIDENTIALITYNOTICE:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients and theircarers entrust us with sensitive information in relation to their health andother matters. The post holder may alsohave access to confidential information relating to staff and other healthcareworkers, or relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is tobe regarded as strictly confidential.The post holder will be expected to work within the guidelines of DataProtection and Information Governance.

Managing information

To use the practice computer system toaccurately and comprehensively record all interactions, including telephone andface to face contacts, with patients.

To use read codes in accordance with practicepolicy to ensure ease of monitoring and audit processes.

To assist the practice team in meeting QOFtargets by ensuring complete and accurate recording of patient treatment andadvice.

To assist in audits and inspections asappropriate.

EQUALITY ANDDIVERSITY:

The post holder will support the equality, diversity andrights of patients, carers and colleagues in relation to privacy, dignity,needs and beliefs in accordance with practice policy and procedures.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Previous experience working as a Paramedic Practitioner in primary / urgent / emergency care
  • Able to manage patient complex needs
  • Clinical examination skills
  • Experience of leading a team.
  • Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; good telephone skills
  • Experience dealing with difficult patients / conflict management
  • Experience of leading a team
  • Effective record keeping
  • Local and national health policy
  • Good understanding of clinical governance
  • Able to assess risk
  • Able to work within professional boundaries and qualifications
  • Desirable

  • Experience in Emergency care
  • Knowledge of public health issues
  • Primary Care experience
  • Experience in the use of Systmone computer system.
  • Experience in training
  • Qualifications

    Essential

  • Paramedic Practitioner Qualification BSc / MSc
  • Desirable

  • Prescription qualification
  • Other requirements

    Essential

  • Willingness to work flexibly to cover holidays and sickness.
  • Full clean driving licence, access to car with current insurance.
  • Willingness to participate in staff training and meetings
  • Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection, Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding
  • Person Specification

    Experience

    Essential

  • Previous experience working as a Paramedic Practitioner in primary / urgent / emergency care
  • Able to manage patient complex needs
  • Clinical examination skills
  • Experience of leading a team.
  • Excellent communication skills including written and verbal; good telephone skills
  • Experience dealing with difficult patients / conflict management
  • Experience of leading a team
  • Effective record keeping
  • Local and national health policy
  • Good understanding of clinical governance
  • Able to assess risk
  • Able to work within professional boundaries and qualifications
  • Desirable

  • Experience in Emergency care
  • Knowledge of public health issues
  • Primary Care experience
  • Experience in the use of Systmone computer system.
  • Experience in training
  • Qualifications

    Essential

  • Paramedic Practitioner Qualification BSc / MSc
  • Desirable

  • Prescription qualification
  • Other requirements

    Essential

  • Willingness to work flexibly to cover holidays and sickness.
  • Full clean driving licence, access to car with current insurance.
  • Willingness to participate in staff training and meetings
  • Understanding of Confidentiality and Data Protection, Equality and Diversity, Safeguarding