Job summary
Band 8a £47,126 – £53,219 pa 2 days
Band 7 £40,057 – £45,839 pa 3 days
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Physician Associate Lead to join Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust based at the Linden Centre, Chelmsford. The role is split between management working at Band 8a for 2 days and for the remaining 3 days you will be working in a clinical capacity at Band 7.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be responsible for leading on the development of education, training, and workforce development opportunities in relation to Physician Associates (PA) within EPUT working collaboratively across the Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (MSE ICS).
We are seeking an enthusiastic and dynamic individual with a flexible approach who has both management and clinical experience to play a key role in the management of patients and to support the effective functioning of the wards and contribute to wider service developments.
The successful post holder will work alongside the medical and nursing teams delivering high standards of patient care. The post holder will be accountable for ensuring that high quality patient care is delivered at all times. The Physician Associate will be supervised by a designated consultant with regular meetings to support on-going development within the role.
Candidate must have PGDip Physician Associate studies or MSc Physician Associate Studies and Membership of UKAPA.
About us
Our Vision
“To be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care”.
Our Purpose
“We care for people every day. What we do together, matters”.
Our Values
We Care
We Learn
We Empower
Our strategic objectives
We will deliver safe, high quality integrated care services.
We will enable each other to be the best that we can.
We will work together with our partners to make our services better.
We will help our communities to thrive.
If you share that vision and want to make a difference to the people that use our services, then please contact us to find out more.
EPUT are looking for motivated staff who shares our Trust values of Open, Compassionate and Empowering. In return, EPUT can offer you a range of benefits and development including;
- Season Ticket Loan
- NHS discounts for staff
- Excellent Training facilities and opportunities
- Buying and Selling annual leave scheme
- The opportunity to work bank shifts and expand knowledge and experience in other areas
- Salary Sacrifice schemes including lease cars and Cycle to Work
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Ensure that appropriate frameworks for Physician Associate practice are established and maintained.
- Develops CPD framework for Physician Associates in line with the regulatory body requirements.
- Ensuring continuing education opportunities are in place across EPUT for both the development of trainee and qualified PAs.
- Work in collaboration with stakeholders to identify and invest in the ICS level demand for Physician Associates and education capacity.
- Establish ICS patient pathway priorities for workforce planning.
- Act as a key point of contact with professional bodys, higher education institutions and other stakeholders.
- Establish a proactive Physician Associate community of practice.
- Physician Associates will have a base on one or more of the psychiatric inpatient wards at EPUT but may also be asked to undertake work in conjunction with Crisis or other Community teams .
- Physician Associates will be expected to work flexibly and co-operatively with other members of the clinical team and will be required to cover for colleagues during periods of absence. The Physician Associate role will complement other roles in the team and strengthen the multi-disciplinary team.
- They will have continuing responsibility for patients in association with others in the clinical team.
- They will ensure accurate records are maintained. Physician Associates will be supported to undertake mandatory training and other training specific to their role.
- They will undergo an annual PDR or appraisal in relation to the agreed objectives in advance.
- Physician Associates will be provided with a weekly timetable outlining fixed clinical commitments such as ward rounds, hand overs, supervision and training.
- Practice under the supervision of a Consultant Psychiatrist or under the supervision of a senior clinician as delegated by the consultant, to contribute towards clinical/risk assessments, development of treatment plans, documentation including discharge summaries and reports.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, handovers and other relevant clinical meetings.
- Treat patient and their family members using a high degree of empathy and advanced communication skills.
- Respond in a timely way to requests to assess or review patients physical and / or mental health.
- Record clinical notes about patient contacts and provide advice to staff on further management / investigations / interventions within their competence.
- Review and summarise patient notes for the purposes of contributing to discharge summaries and reports.
- Undertake assessment and assistance to ward staff in the event of medical emergencies.
- Work collaboratively with the relevant team Psychiatrists, Junior Doctors, Senior Nurses, Nursing Staff, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Psychologists to ensure good working relationships.
- Liaise with primary care and relevant secondary health care providers relating to a patients care or treatment.
- Liaise with community teams about a patients on-going care and treatment needs Support health promotion activities including those relating to smoking, drugs and alcohol.
- Provide psycho-educational support to patients and carers / families.
- Support proactive screening and interventions with regard to the physical health of patients.
- Liaise with pharmacy regarding issues relating to medication.
- Contribute to the development of physical health competencies in mental health staff in a range of settings.
- Carry out procedures which will include (but not be limited to):
- ECG
- Venepuncture
- IV cannulation
- Interpretation of blood or other investigation results
Job description
Job responsibilities
- Ensure that appropriate frameworks for Physician Associate practice are established and maintained.
- Develops CPD framework for Physician Associates in line with the regulatory body requirements.
- Ensuring continuing education opportunities are in place across EPUT for both the development of trainee and qualified PAs.
- Work in collaboration with stakeholders to identify and invest in the ICS level demand for Physician Associates and education capacity.
- Establish ICS patient pathway priorities for workforce planning.
- Act as a key point of contact with professional bodys, higher education institutions and other stakeholders.
- Establish a proactive Physician Associate community of practice.
- Physician Associates will have a base on one or more of the psychiatric inpatient wards at EPUT but may also be asked to undertake work in conjunction with Crisis or other Community teams .
- Physician Associates will be expected to work flexibly and co-operatively with other members of the clinical team and will be required to cover for colleagues during periods of absence. The Physician Associate role will complement other roles in the team and strengthen the multi-disciplinary team.
- They will have continuing responsibility for patients in association with others in the clinical team.
- They will ensure accurate records are maintained. Physician Associates will be supported to undertake mandatory training and other training specific to their role.
- They will undergo an annual PDR or appraisal in relation to the agreed objectives in advance.
- Physician Associates will be provided with a weekly timetable outlining fixed clinical commitments such as ward rounds, hand overs, supervision and training.
- Practice under the supervision of a Consultant Psychiatrist or under the supervision of a senior clinician as delegated by the consultant, to contribute towards clinical/risk assessments, development of treatment plans, documentation including discharge summaries and reports.
- Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, handovers and other relevant clinical meetings.
- Treat patient and their family members using a high degree of empathy and advanced communication skills.
- Respond in a timely way to requests to assess or review patients physical and / or mental health.
- Record clinical notes about patient contacts and provide advice to staff on further management / investigations / interventions within their competence.
- Review and summarise patient notes for the purposes of contributing to discharge summaries and reports.
- Undertake assessment and assistance to ward staff in the event of medical emergencies.
- Work collaboratively with the relevant team Psychiatrists, Junior Doctors, Senior Nurses, Nursing Staff, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Psychologists to ensure good working relationships.
- Liaise with primary care and relevant secondary health care providers relating to a patients care or treatment.
- Liaise with community teams about a patients on-going care and treatment needs Support health promotion activities including those relating to smoking, drugs and alcohol.
- Provide psycho-educational support to patients and carers / families.
- Support proactive screening and interventions with regard to the physical health of patients.
- Liaise with pharmacy regarding issues relating to medication.
- Contribute to the development of physical health competencies in mental health staff in a range of settings.
- Carry out procedures which will include (but not be limited to):
- ECG
- Venepuncture
- IV cannulation
- Interpretation of blood or other investigation results
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PGDip Physician Associate studies or MSc Physician Associate Studies.
- Current MVR registration or GMC registration in line with statutory body regulations.
- Membership of UKAPA
Desirable
- Significant experience as a practising Physician Associate.
- Experience in training and supporting Physician Associate students.
- Evidence of teaching, supervision & assessment skills.
- Leadership/management qualification.
- Project management qualification.
Knowledge,clinical experience and skills
Essential
- Significant experience as a qualified PA.
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in Mental healthcare & familiarity with a range of theoretical and clinical approaches.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
- Development of policy and practice change.
- Proven management and leadership experience.
- Clinical work in an autonomous role.
- Previous project management experience.
- A good understanding of the challenges associated with Physician Associates and Physician Associate training.
- A good understanding of the National PA agenda, policies, frameworks etc. Including understanding of CPD framework requirements.
- Understanding and knowledge of the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Information Governance, GDPR, Equality Act and confidentiality issues.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a Mental Health setting.
- Experience of working with Mental health patients from different cultural background.
- Involvement with local and national committees.
- Experience in business case development.
- A good understanding of the public sector and NHS policy, in relation to primary, secondary and community care.
- Experience in strategic planning.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- PGDip Physician Associate studies or MSc Physician Associate Studies.
- Current MVR registration or GMC registration in line with statutory body regulations.
- Membership of UKAPA
Desirable
- Significant experience as a practising Physician Associate.
- Experience in training and supporting Physician Associate students.
- Evidence of teaching, supervision & assessment skills.
- Leadership/management qualification.
- Project management qualification.
Knowledge,clinical experience and skills
Essential
- Significant experience as a qualified PA.
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in Mental healthcare & familiarity with a range of theoretical and clinical approaches.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
- Development of policy and practice change.
- Proven management and leadership experience.
- Clinical work in an autonomous role.
- Previous project management experience.
- A good understanding of the challenges associated with Physician Associates and Physician Associate training.
- A good understanding of the National PA agenda, policies, frameworks etc. Including understanding of CPD framework requirements.
- Understanding and knowledge of the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Information Governance, GDPR, Equality Act and confidentiality issues.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
Desirable
- Experience of working within a Mental Health setting.
- Experience of working with Mental health patients from different cultural background.
- Involvement with local and national committees.
- Experience in business case development.
- A good understanding of the public sector and NHS policy, in relation to primary, secondary and community care.
- Experience in strategic planning.
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
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).
