About this role
Job summary
This role offers a distinctive opportunity to work as an independent practitioner and join a dynamic and committed primary care team, delivering high quality, friendly patient services to our community. As a PCN paramedic, your wealth of experience, clinical knowledge and capabilities will take centre stage as you deliver the highest patient treatment and safety standards.
You will foster a culture of excellence and knowledge sharing to ensure the highest level of care for our patients. If you do not have experience in this area of care but you can demonstrate a robust clinical background, we will support your learning in this area.
Main duties of the job
The Paramedic will work within practices across the PCN triaging patients, seeing those with minor illness and injuries as well as specific groups of patients where the paramedic has the knowledge and expertise in clinical management. The Paramedic will work closely with the PCN clinical and administration teams to improve the provision of same day patient appointments across the PCN.
The paramedic will develop, enable, and support a culture of multidisciplinary care with a focus around developing PCN services in line with national and local specifications. Working directly with various practice teams; this role will directly link to colleagues in community and acute settings ensuring patient health and outcomes are met in a collaborative and innovative environment. The paramedic will support evening and weekend extended access clinics working on a rota the other clinical staff.
The role will require a commitment to register on a First Contact Practitioner pathway (FCP), which we will fully support you in. You will collaborate closely with GPs and other Healthcare Professionals, conducting patient assessments, assisting with care plans, making referrals, updating records, ensuring patient safety and managing patients within the appropriate care setting.
About us
Waterfield House Surgery is a thriving, forward-thinking teaching practice serving approximately 6,500 patients in Pembury, West Kent. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, accessible care while maintaining the traditional values of general practice.
About Tunbridge Wells PCN
Tunbridge Wells Primary Care Network (PCN) is made up of 8 member GP practices servicing over 80,000 patients. We offer PCN services ranging from PCN Paramedics, First Contact Physio, Social Prescribing and Clinical Pharmacy to make a range of services more accessible to our patients.
Job description Job responsibilities
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
To assess, diagnose, treat, refer, or signpost patients who require a visit with undifferentiated or undiagnosed conditions relating to minor illness or minor injury. Triage symptoms supporting same day treatment where required and referring on to other services where appropriate. Use clinical skills to provide education to patients, promoting self-care and empower them to make informed choices about their treatment. To support Primary Care to develop, transform, and improve services to meet the needs of patients locally. Participate in MDT meetings to discuss frequent service users to put comprehensive care packages in place that lead to more optimal use of services and improved care. Mentorship and supervision of colleagues and peers, including train the trainer courses to skill-up other members of the team and partner organisations. Be open to learning from other professionals including General Practice and Nursing to expand the scope of your own practice and holistic care. Educating and enabling patients to actively manage their own health needs, particularly patients with long term conditions.
Ensure that professional standards are maintained and within the guidance by the Department of Health, the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Paramedics (COP)
CLINICAL RESPONSIBILITES
To provide holistic patient care, investigations, and treatment. Supply medications as appropriate following policy, patient group directives and local pathways (qualification dependent) Participate in setting standards for care and auditing clinical outcomes. Identify and complete necessary interventions, within scope of practice and following guidance from existing policy and procedures. Work closely with other care providers and agencies to ensure quality and safety. Refer all safeguarding concerns, using established safeguarding referral pathways. Accurately and professionally document all patient contacts, following all relevant organisational policy and procedure. Know own limits in relation to scope of practice and recognise when a requirement exists to refer to or seek advice from other clinicians.
WORKING RELATIONSHIPS
Although focused on practice-based work, the role will require regular interface with other professionals to promote greater integration of the PCN in the wider community setting including:
Patients GPs, nurses, and other practice staff PCN Clinical Director Other healthcare professionals involved in medicines management team including the ICB Medicines Management Team GP prescribing leads in practices Community nurses and other allied health professionals including dietetics. Community pharmacists and support staff Hospital staff with responsibilities for prescribing and medicines optimisation Care Home staff where required
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Engages in annual appraisal, developing objectives to inform a Personal Development Plan based on local policy. This may include use of feedback from both colleagues and patients. Participate in teaching and training of medical, nursing, and all other practice staff. Complete all mandatory and statutory training required by the role Takes responsibility for personal development, learning and performance and maintain education through attendance on any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that professional development requirements are met. Undertakes additional training where necessary to provide enhanced services and participate in training programmes implemented by the PCN/practices as part of this employment. Attend regular mentoring and supervision sessions with the supervising GP/Senior Paramedic Provides a positive role model to members in the team and/or service Demonstrates an understanding of current educational policies relevant to working areas of practice and keeps up to date with relevant clinical practice. Maintains a professional profile of advanced clinical practice knowledge and skills through participation in internal and external development opportunities. Adheres to guidance regarding accountability for decisions and actions, supported by a professional culture of CPD, peer networking/review and engagement in evidence-based practice.
QUALITY
Under supervision and support of the PCN team, the post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practices, and will: Participates in clinical governance activity and contribute to the improvement in quality of health outcomes through audit, risk management and the Quality and Outcomes Framework Reports concerns about risk, quality, and safety in line with local policy. Participates in investigation of incidents and events as required. Identifies, applies, and disseminates research findings relating to own practice Collects data for audit purposes and uses clinical audit to monitor quality in the service and implements change according to findings. Participates in clinical trials and equipment testing. Meets timescales/deadlines for audits and written returns to ensure that the Practice meets quality standards and receives the designated funding (e.g. Quarterly Enhanced Services returns, annual QOF audit).
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Recognised qualification in Paramedic Science (Foundation Degree or Undergraduate Degree) Professional registration HCPC. Minimum 5 years working at Band 6 Paramedic role. Evidence of working towards developing level 7 capability in Paramedic practice.
Desirable
Suitably qualified to undertake Independent Prescribing Qualification; modules will include but are not limited to Advanced Clinical Assessment, Mental Health, Pharmacology, Paediatrics, Minor Health & Injuries. Management of patients with complex needs. Primary Care experience/ triage and manging long term conditions i.e. asthma, COPD, diabetes, CHD Experience of TEPs/EOLC
Knowledge and skills Essential
Skills for communication of complex information, requiring developed interpersonal and oral/ written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively at a range of levels including Board members, patients, and colleagues. Experience using the main Microsoft office packages with particular focus around MS Outlook and Calendar management. Problem solving skills and ability to respond to sudden unexpected demands. Ability to collect and analyse patient data to effectively diagnose and treat problems Skills for supporting project management and planning workload Excellent time management skills with the ability to re-prioritise. Advanced keyboard skills, use of a range of software Ability to work on own initiative and organise own workload with minimal supervision working to tight and often changing timescales
Desirable
Experience in following, reporting on, and reviewing Patient Group Directions (PGDs) Experience of developing, delivering, and analysing clinical audits. Skills for manipulating information.
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 Waterfield House Surgery
Address 186 Henwood Green Road
Pembury
Tunbridge Wells
TN2 4LR
United Kingdom
Employer's website http://waterfieldhousepractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)