General Practice Paramedic

Working within a face paced and busy reception environment to triage patients requesting appointments. By working Parallel to our ACP Paramedic, you will split clinics between face-to-face consultations: assessing and managing acute presentations of minor illness or injury, telephone calls, and supporting and problem solving in our busy reception area.

You will be working alongside the acute on the day team consisting of (at full capacity) 2 nurse practitioners, a duty doctor, and our ACP Paramedic.

Currently, the role works by self-populating clinics with acute patients as the calls come in each morning. Having the flexibility to adapt to see face to face patients or calls to triage, assess and sometimes treat patients over the phone.

To undertake visits to patients in their own homes and nursing homes if required during urgent or acute episodes of care. Working with the supervision and support of a duty GP.

To provide treatment and care individually and part of the wider primary care team though referral to other agencies. To maintain accurate and comprehensive records whilst adhering to confidentiality

To recognise professional boundaries and ensure these are maintained. Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and providing support for other team members. To maintain a professional profile and maintaining professional registration where appropriate., Clinical Care

· Triage and prioritise patients appropriately

· Assess patient's health care needs using multiple methods and make professional autonomous decisions (within the boundaries of individual competence) based on clinical knowledge and skills as determined by National Standards including Health Education England.

· Make differential diagnosis using decision making and problem-solving skills.

· Screen patients for disease risk factors and early signs of illness.

· Order and interpret necessary investigations and provide treatment both individually and as part of a team using referrals to other agencies when required.

· Provide a supportive role in helping people to manage and live with illness.

· Provide counselling and health education.

· Develop, with the patient, an ongoing care plan for health with the emphasis on preventative measures.

· Work collaboratively with other health care professionals and disciplines.

· Utilise leadership and clinical education skills as required by the PCN.

· Use underlying knowledge of pathophysiology and Primary Care Pathways to recognise and rule out red flags for Cancer and other serious illness (despite presenting problems being seemingly benign and minor), taking appropriate action (including completing 2 week wait referrals or referring to Primary Care colleagues).

Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures

· Undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs etc. Perform investigatory procedures autonomously, seeking advice when required.

Administration and professional responsibilities

· Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the Practice team.

· Ensure accurate and legible documentation of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients' notes.

· Ensure clinical systems are kept up to date with accurate details recorded and amended

· Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the Practice.

· Attend and participate in meetings and peer support / learning as required

· Develop and maintain a Professional Portfolio using national guidance such as Health Education England/College of Paramedic's guidance.

· Maintain requirements for ongoing HPC registration.

· Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with Practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the Practice. It is the individuals' responsibility to remain up to date with national guidance and seeking support when required.

· Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the introduction of all members of the Practice staff where appropriate

· Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development.

· If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given.

Liaison

· There is a requirement to work closely and communicate effectively with all clinical staff, Management and Admin and clerical teams to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring everyone is aware of the different roles within the Practice team.

· There is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and agencies including secondary care

Meetings

· It will be necessary to attend and contribute to various Practice meetings as requested.

Confidentiality

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.


• In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice/PCN staff and other healthcare workers. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential


• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practices may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data


Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety and security as defined in the practice's Health & Safety Policy, all other policies, procedures, and documents linked to health & safety, and the practice Infection Control Policy and published procedures. This will include:

• 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


• Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised


• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holder's role


• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)


• Reporting potential risks identified


Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation


• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues


• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.


Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of Clinical Governance, quality and risk, and participate in Significant Event Analysis and audit reviews


• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision


• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance


• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs


• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources, he/she will also contribute to the overall team-working of the practice putting the needs of the Practice first.


Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

· Participation in an annual individual performance review.

· Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

· Maintain a relevant Professional Portfolio of learning in adherence with Health Education England's standards for Primary Care.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members


• Communicate effectively with patients and carers


• Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly


Contribution to the Implementation of Services

The post-holder will:

• Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance


• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work


• Participate in audit where appropriate


• Work with the Practice to achieve standards of quality, performance standards, budgets and targets without compromising levels of patient healthcare.


• Contribute towards the development and implementation of new standards, policies and procedures that are/will be required of GP Practices now and in the future (as directed by NHS/ DoH/ CQC, new legislation etc.)


Job Types: Part-time, Permanent

Expected hours: No more than 32 per week

Salary: Equivalent AFC band 6 depending on qualifications and experience

Contract: Permanent

Holiday: 6.6weeks starting to include Bank Holidays - pro-rate for part-time hours

Reports To: Practice Manager (HR) and ACP Paramedic (Clinical)