Job description

Job responsibilities

Participate in all treatment and preventative healthcare services as delegated and agreed by clinical leads.

Provide direct clinical care using established clinical guidelines.

Consult and refer patients, in person or digitally, to physicians, medical specialists and other health professionals as indicated.

Undertake history taking, physical examination and clinical assessment of appropriately triaged/booked patients; establish working diagnoses within scope, explain findings and management options, with GP supervision.

Play an integral part in the Network DES Contract for Care Homes across each PCN.

Recommend diagnostic investigations and treatment within scope and agreed protocols; treatment decisions must be appropriately supervised and PAs must not prescribe.

Request and interpret laboratory investigation results when necessary.

Undertake diagnostic examinations and treatment procedures for which appropriately trained, competent and authorised, under clinical supervision.

Instruct and educate patients in preventative healthcare.

Conduct telephone/video consultations, including discussing laboratory investigation results and implications and dealing with routine/emergency complaints.

Request/arrange laboratory and other diagnostic investigations where permitted by local policy and within scope, with supervision.

Fully document patient care and complete required legal/administrative paperwork.

Participate in clinicians duty rota, including home visits where appropriate.

Establish working diagnoses and propose management plans within scope, seeking advice/referring to the supervising GP or appropriate clinician where required.

Provide clinical tasks to nursing staff and Primary Care Team as required.

Communicate with Primary Care colleagues and hospital specialists to discuss/refer patients, coordinate activities or exchange information to improve care.

Deal with community hospitals, consultants, healthcare providers, insurance companies and community organisations to refer/consult on cases and participate in community service/education projects.

In line with current NHS England guidance, PAs will not routinely see undifferentiated patients. Patients must be appropriately triaged/booked into a defined pathway before PA assessment, except where a nationally/locally agreed protocol permits otherwise.

Signposting

Ensure patients are referred to the appropriate healthcare professional for the appropriate level of care within an appropriate period, e.g. pathology results, common/minor ailments, acute conditions and long-term condition reviews.

Audit and Risk Stratification

Participate in care planning and management of high-risk patients as part of the multidisciplinary team.

Participate in audit activities to optimise prescribing resources.

Feedback clinical audit results in agreed areas, implement recommendations and complete the audit cycle.

Make recommendations based on audit and shared learning outcomes.

Work with practices to identify and recall patients due for review, ensuring appropriate monitoring tests are performed.

Analyse, interpret and present prescribing information at practice and population level to support decision-making and evidence-based practice.

Care Quality Commission

Work with the general practice team to ensure CQC compliance.

Public Health

Support public health campaigns.

Provide specialist knowledge on public health programmes available to the public.

Collaborative Working Relationships

Recognise colleagues roles and their contribution to patient care.

Use appropriate communication to gain co-operation of stakeholders including patients, senior/peer colleagues and other NHS/private organisations.

Work as a team.

Recognise personal limitations and refer to appropriate colleagues when necessary.

Develop and maintain effective relationships within/outside the practice and locality.

Foster strong links with locality services.

Explore and initiate collaborative working opportunities.

Integrate general practice with community and hospital teams.

Liaise with stakeholders for collective patient benefit, including patients; GPs, nurses and practice staff; healthcare professionals, optometrists, dentists, health/social care teams and dieticians; locality/GP leads; locality managers; community nurses/AHPs; community/hospital pharmacy teams; hospital staff.

Knowledge, Skill and Experience Required

Completion of postgraduate medical training in Physician Associate studies (UK).

Preferably minimum 2 years PA experience, demonstrated within a practice portfolio.

Current GMC registration as a Physician Associate.

Experience/awareness of common acute and long-term conditions seen in general practice.

Recognise priorities when problem-solving, identify deviations from normal patterns and refer to seniors/GPs when appropriate.

Follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.

Leadership

Understand role in governance and implement appropriately.

Understand and contribute to workplace vision.

Engage with PPGs and involve them in development of the role and practices.

Improve quality within service limitations.

Review yearly progress and develop plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.

Motivate self to achieve goals.

Promote diversity and equality in people management and lead by example.

Management

Understand implications of national priorities for team/service.

Understand effective resource utilisation.

Understand and conform to relevant standards of practice.

Identify and resolve risk management issues according to policy/protocol.

Extend boundaries of service delivery within the team.

Education, Training and Development

Maintain GMC registration and comply with GMC professional practice requirements.

Maintain CPD in accordance with GMC requirements, organisational policy and PDP, keeping knowledge/skills current and within scope.

Participate in annual appraisal and GMC ongoing professional development/revalidation requirements as applicable to PAs.

Maintain evidence of CPD, learning, reflection and professional development.

Undertake mandatory and role-specific training needed to maintain competence in clinical skills/procedures.

Keep up to date with medical research, technology and evidence-based practice through education courses, professional meetings, journals etc.

Undertake research/analysis to improve clinical care, diagnosis and treatment, including audit, literature review and researching unusual symptoms/treatment options with physicians/specialists.

Provide literature reviews and review/analyse the significance of diagnostic test results.

Assist in clinical instruction/supervision of medical/nursing students and other learners, including educational development and mentoring of PA students.

Attend regular multidisciplinary meetings to discuss and learn from significant clinical events.

Attend regular educational meetings to update clinical knowledge, policy/guidelines and disseminate relevant information.

Reflect regularly on practice and record learning encounters to identify learning needs and support lifelong learning/CPD.

Demonstrate learning contributing to role performance/personal development; discuss at annual appraisal and agree courses/learning with clinical supervisor.

Support learning activities with reflective entries demonstrating application of learning to clinical scenarios.

Research and Evaluation

Critically evaluate/review literature.

Identify gaps in the evidence base supporting practice.

Generate evidence suitable for practice/local presentations.

Apply research evidence to the workplace.

Understand research governance principles.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

Comply with Practice Health and Safety policies, safe working procedures and incident reporting system.

Comply with UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018, Access to Health Records Act 1990 and information governance policies/procedures.

9. Infection Control

Comply with infection prevention/control policies and complete related mandatory training.

Equality and Diversity

Co-operate with equality of employment policies/procedures; treat co-workers, patients and visitors equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

Comply with UK GDPR, Data Protection Act 2018 and organisational information governance/confidentiality requirements. Information about patients, carers, colleagues, healthcare workers or organisational business may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with policy, information governance requirements and legislation.

Special Working Conditions

Travel independently between practice sites where applicable and attend meetings hosted by other agencies.

Contact with body fluids such as wound exudates and urine during clinical practice.

Development Review

Discuss and agree key performance objectives, development needs and PDP at Annual Appraisal Reviews.

Job Description Agreement

This job description outlines key tasks and responsibilities only. Other duties commensurate with the position may be required. It is subject to regular review and may be amended for developments within Primary Care. Staff should be prepared to take on additional or relinquish existing duties to maintain efficient primary care services.

Person Specification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Flexible and adaptable to team and service needs.
• Flexible approach to change.
• Reliable and confident.

Knowledge, skills & abilities

Essential

• Evidence of continuing professional development.
• Ability to assess clinically triaged patients, undertake appropriate examination and establish a working diagnosis within scope, with appropriate escalation.
• Able to demonstrate promotion of Best Practice through clinical governance mechanisms.
• Able to promote or create a climate of clinical inquiry within practices and network.
• Ability to work within own scope of practice and understanding when to refer to GPs
• Able to prioritise own workload.
• Full Driving License and Use of Own Vehicle
• Able to use Information Technology systems.
• Good interpersonal skills, including negotiation and communication.
• Able to teach skills to all levels, to patients and health professionals.
• Organisational skills.
• Leadership skills
• Able to organise and prioritise own workload, work proactively within scope, and recognise when supervision or escalation is required.

Desirable

• Broad knowledge within General Practice and Primary Care.
• Presentation skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• Postgraduate medical training in Physician Associate Studies (UK)
• Current registration with the General Medical Council (GMC) as a Physician Associate

Experience

Essential

• High level of personal and professional accountability, with the ability to work safely within defined scope of competence and supervision arrangements.
• Experience of dealing with a range of clinical conditions
• Understanding and experience of research and audit.
• Experience of developing effective working relationships.

Desirable

• Experience of working as a physician associate
• Understand the importance of evidence-based practice
• Video Consultation Skills

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Local Primary Care GP Federation

Address

Suite 5, Blackburn Enterprise Centre

Furthergate

Blackburn

Lancashire

BB1 3HQ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://lpcfederate.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The Advance Care Planning Practitioner (ACPP) will be part of the Quality Improvement project to support general practices and care homes across Primary Care Networks to identify individuals who may be at the end of their life utilising the EARLY clinical search tool and support the clinical validation process.

They will lead the coordination of the palliative care register and subsequent advance care planning with the individual and those close to them regardless of the setting in which they live. The GP will still have input into the care of the individual as needed.

Evaluation of the ACPP role and producing an end of Quality Improvement project report will be integral to the role.

Primary Duties and Areas of Responsibility

Liaise with GP's regarding the practice palliative care register, promoting the use of the EARLY clinical search tool to proactively identify those who may be in the last 12 months of their life but not on the palliative care register.

Support with the clinical validation process and where clinically appropriate review those who may benefit from having an advance care planning discussion

Ensure correct documentation and coding is recorded via EMIS to allow information sharing via EPACCS and other modes of information sharing

Act as a core member of the wider PCN MDT liaising with other providers of palliative and end of life care to refer and/or signpost to other services to meet the needs of the person and those important to that individual.

Coordinate palliative care register meetings, ensuring individuals have access to equitable care whilst ensuring those with complex needs, including symptom management, have a GP review

Utilising advance communication skills undertake a holistic assessment of the individuals physical, psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs to elicit their preferences and wishes.

With regards to the above, formulate the individuals advance care plan ensuring they, and those close to them, are central to the future care shared decision-making process.

Recognising inequalities in palliative and end of life care, to lead on the collection of quantitative and qualitative data, the development of a quality improvement plan and reporting to monitor progress

Auditing and reporting on the key deliverables and progress of the quality improvement pilot to the Pennine Lancashire Palliative and End of Life Care Steering Group, sharing best practice across Lancashire & South Cumbria primary care organisations

Feed into the management and development of the ACPP role

Feed into the National Palliative Care Agenda and program of work

Education, Training and Development

Demonstrates self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside clinical pharmacist to identifying areas to develop

Participates in the delivery of formal education programmes

Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice.

To participate/undertake staff surveys and routine audits as and when required

Review and agrees new ways of working to ensure best use of systems

Participate within team competencies to ensure quality of service.

Health and Safety/Risk Management

The post-holder must comply at all times with the organisations Health and Safety policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the organisations Incident Reporting System.

The post-holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1984) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990).

Infection Control

All staff must comply with Prevention and Control of Infection Policies and complete any related mandatory training.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder must co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.

Respect for Patient Confidentiality

All members of staff are bound by the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the organisation may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with policies and procedures, IG regulations and Data Protection Act relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between sites (where applicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies.

The post-holder may have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates, urine etc. while in clinical practice.

Development Review

Key performance objectives, development needs and completion of a Personal Development Plan will be discussed and agreed at Annual Appraisal Reviews.

Job Description Agreement

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the key tasks and responsibilities only. 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 development within primary care. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the efficient running of primary care.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Extensive clinical experience in a palliative and end of life care role within the last 2 years
• Relevant face to face interaction within the last 2 years
• Experience of leading on relevant audit process including interpretation and reporting of the data
• Experience in feeding into meetings across neighbourhoods
• Experience of liaising with external agencies/organisations and services to refer on/signpost

Desirable

• Ability to present verbal and written reports

Other

Essential

• Ability to prioritise workload, balancing clinical and non-clinical activities
• Reflective practitioner
• Ability to travel within the Blackburn Primary Care Neighbourhoods
• Excellent general communication skills, both written and verbal, with a personable nature
• Ability to work autonomously but also feed into a team dynamic

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered General Nurse
• Advanced Communication Skills (ACST) training completed or equivalent
• 1st degree in related field
• Recent evidence of related study

Desirable

• MSc Palliative and End of Life Care

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Local Primary Care GP Federation

Address

Suite 5, Blackburn Enterprise Centre

Furthergate

Blackburn

Lancashire

BB1 3HQ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://lpcfederate.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical practice

Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis and/or with complex needs

Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly

Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition (as appropriate)

Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan

As an independent prescriber, prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework and within scope of practice

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care

Support and manage health needs of women presenting for family planning, cervical cytology or sexual health consultation

Assess, identify and refer patients presenting with mental health needs

Implement and participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for both adults and children

Provide expert nursing advice to other nurses working

Work with the clinical and management team to develop new services for patients

Participate in MDT virtual care home ward rounds, proactively identifying patients to be assessed in conjunction with care home staff.

Work as part of the MDT to optimise patient care and refer to or liaise with other key services such as the dietetics team, Specialist care home nurse, district nursing teams and the palliative care team.

Attend any training courses which are identified as being key to current practice.

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and to gain appropriate consent to treatment.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.

Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.

Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.

Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable form to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.

Communicate suggested management plans to the patients registered GP practice.

Work closely with the wider MDT.

Delivering a quality service

Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC.

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.

Deliver care according to NICE guidelines and evidence-based care.

In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.

Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need.

Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture

Team working

Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working

Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence

Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team

Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care

Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the management team

Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

Leadership

Demonstrate understanding of the nurses role in governance and is able to implement this appropriately within the workplace

Demonstrate understanding of, and contribute to, the workplace vision

Demonstrate an ability to improve quality within limitations of service

Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Review yearly progress and develop clear plans to achieve results within priorities set by others.

Demonstrate ability to motivate self to achieve goals

Follow professional and organisational policies/procedures relating to performance management

Demonstrate ability to extend boundaries of service delivery

Promote diversity and equality in people management techniques and lead by example

Education, Training and Development

Understand and demonstrate the characteristics of a role

Demonstrate understanding of the mentorship process

Demonstrate ability to conduct teaching and assessment effectively according to a learning plan

Demonstrate self-development through continuous professional development activity; working alongside senior managers to identifying areas to develop

Demonstrate an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keep up to date with relevant clinical practice

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the federation as part of this employment

Research and Evaluation:

Demonstrate ability to critically evaluate and review literature

Demonstrate ability to identify where there is a gap in the evidence base to support practice

Demonstrate ability to generate evidence suitable for presentations locally and at place

Demonstrate ability to apply research evidence base into working place

Demonstrate understanding of principles of research governance.

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between sites (where applicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies.

The post-holder may have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates; urine etc. while in clinical practice.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered First level Nurse Msc or equivalent
• Relevant Nursing/Health degree
• Clinical Supervision Training
• Independent Prescribing Qualification

Desirable

• Mentor/Teaching qualification

Experience

Essential

• Working autonomously in an advanced nursing role
• Significant post registration experience
• Recent primary and community nursing experience
• Nurse-led management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Nurse-led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical guidelines
• Clinical Leadership
• Audit
• Research
• Nurse prescribing

Desirable

• Working with community development initiatives
• Health needs assessment
• Experience of working within primary care or General Practice
• Experience of case led management

Skills

Essential

• Clinical Leadership Skills
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Change management
• Teaching and mentorship in a clinical setting
• Resource management

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).

Employer details

Employer name

Local Primary Care GP Federation

Address

Suite 5, Blackburn Enterprise Centre

Furthergate

Blackburn

Lancashire

BB1 3HQ

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://lpcfederate.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)