About this role
Job summary
We are looking for an experienced and confident Urgent Care Practitioner to join our friendly and supportive GP practice in North Wrexham, providing a dedicated home visiting service to our patients.
Following initial triage by a GP, you will work autonomously to assess patients in their own homes, as well as in residential and nursing care settings. You will use your clinical judgement to undertake a comprehensive assessment, formulate an appropriate management plan and, where necessary, liaise with the GP and other members of the multidisciplinary team.
This is a varied and rewarding role with a strong focus on supporting patients to receive high-quality care in their usual place of residence and, wherever appropriate, avoiding unnecessary hospital attendance. The post involves close multi-agency working, including liaison with social services, community nursing teams and other health and care professionals.
The role would particularly suit an experienced paramedic, advanced nurse practitioner or other qualified autonomous practitioner who enjoys independent working while remaining part of a close and accessible clinical team.
A prescribing qualification is not essential.However, applicants who hold an independent prescribing qualification are encouraged to state this in their application.
***We are taking application from those who would like permanent work as well as bank work as part of a team - please specify in your application your desired work pattern. ***
Main duties of the job
The Urgent Care Practitioner will provide a responsive home visiting service for patients with acute healthcare needs who have been triaged by a GP as requiring assessment in their usual place of residence.
Working independently, but with full GP support and advice available when required, the postholder will visit patients in their own homes and in residential and nursing care settings. They will undertake clinical assessment, identify acute healthcare needs, formulate appropriate management plans and recognise when escalation or further medical assessment is required.
The postholder will work closely with the practice multidisciplinary team and liaise with community nursing teams, Community Resource Teams, social services and other health and care professionals to provide coordinated care. A key aim will be to support patients to remain safely at home wherever clinically appropriate and avoid unnecessary hospital attendance or admission.
Depending on the successful applicants previous experience, qualifications and areas of interest, the role may also include supporting palliative and end-of-life care, advance care planning, and routine assessment and management of patients with chronic disease in the community.
We are keen to support professional development, and training will be available to enable the successful applicant to develop their skills and broaden the scope of the role.
About us
Alyn Family Doctors is a long-established group of family doctors working in partnership across the villages of Llay, Gresford and Rossett, near Wrexham in North Wales.
We care for approximately 12,700 patients, with eight GP partners working alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and support staff. We are a member of the North and West Wrexham Primary Care Cluster and work closely with other health, community and social care services.
While we value the principles of traditional family medicine, we consider ourselves a forward-thinking practice. We are keen to embrace new ideas, make effective use of innovative IT and digital solutions, and continually evolve the way we work to improve both patient care and the working lives of our team.
Our aim is to provide care tailored to the individual, treating every patient with dignity, respect and compassion. We place particular importance on continuity of care, enabling patients to develop relationships with a consistent clinical team who understand their history, circumstances and preferences.
We encourage collaborative multidisciplinary working and value the skills and professional judgement of every member of our team. We work with our local communities to promote healthy living, independence and wellbeing, while continually developing our services to meet the changing needs of our population.
Job description Job responsibilities Job ResponsibilitiesClinical Practice
The postholder will:
Work autonomously as part of the practice multidisciplinary team to deliver safe, effective and high-quality patient care, with GP support and clinical advice available when required.
Undertake advanced clinical assessment of patients presenting with acute and urgent healthcare needs, using appropriate clinical skills, professional judgement and evidence-based decision-making.
Assess patients in their own homes and in residential and nursing care settings following initial triage by a GP.
Obtain an appropriate clinical history, undertake physical examination, formulate differential diagnoses and develop an appropriate management plan within their professional scope of practice.
Recognise seriously unwell or deteriorating patients and arrange appropriate escalation, emergency care or hospital assessment where required.
Deliver care in accordance with current NICE guidance, relevant national guidance, local pathways and evidence-based practice.
Initiate treatment within their professional competence and scope of practice.
Review and advise on medication where appropriate and, if an independent prescriber, prescribe within their competence and in accordance with national and local guidance. Where the postholder is not a prescriber, they will liaise with the supporting GP where medication is required.
Request appropriate diagnostic investigations within agreed practice and local protocols, including blood tests, X-rays and other investigations where authorised to do so.
Make appropriate referrals to primary, community and secondary care services and other agencies.
Involve patients, carers and relatives appropriately in clinical decision-making and care planning, promoting shared decision-making wherever possible.
Work collaboratively with members of the practice multidisciplinary team, including GPs, nursing staff and other healthcare professionals.
Liaise effectively with community nursing teams, Community Resource Teams, social services and other statutory and voluntary organisations to support coordinated patient care.
Support patients to remain safely in their usual place of residence wherever clinically appropriate and contribute to the avoidance of unnecessary hospital attendance or admission.
Extended Clinical ResponsibilitiesDepending on the postholders previous experience, qualifications and competencies, and following appropriate training where required, responsibilities may also include:
Supporting the assessment and management of patients receiving palliative and end-of-life care.
Contributing to advance care planning and discussions regarding patients future care preferences.
Undertaking planned assessment and review of patients with chronic diseases in their own homes or care settings.
Supporting proactive care of patients with frailty, complex health needs or difficulties accessing practice-based services.
Developing additional areas of clinical practice relevant to the needs of the practice and its patient population.
Care Management and CommunicationThe postholder will:
Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, relatives and carers, including when discussing confidential, complex or sensitive information.
Coordinate care with other professionals and services, ensuring effective communication and safe clinical handover where responsibility for care is transferred.
Monitor patient outcomes and review management plans, initiating or recommending changes where clinically appropriate.
Maintain clear, accurate and contemporaneous clinical records of all patient contacts using the practice electronic clinical record system.
Record relevant clinical decisions, investigations, referrals, treatment, safety-netting and follow-up arrangements.
Take appropriate action in relation to adult and child safeguarding concerns, following practice, local and national safeguarding policies and procedures and keeping the welfare of the individual at the centre of decision-making.
Identify, document and appropriately escalate significant events, adverse incidents and other notifiable matters.
Maintain responsibility and accountability for their own clinical decisions and practice, working at all times within their professional competence and scope of practice.
Recognise the limits of their competence and seek advice or support from a GP or other appropriate clinician when required.
Professional and Administrative ResponsibilitiesThe postholder will:
Maintain professional registration and comply with the standards and requirements of their relevant professional regulatory body.
Maintain and develop their clinical knowledge and skills through continuing professional development (CPD).
Maintain an appropriate personal development or learning plan and remain up to date with relevant national guidance, clinical evidence and local service developments.
Participate in regular clinical supervision and annual appraisal.
Reflect on their own clinical practice and use feedback, peer review and clinical outcomes to support continued professional development.
Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement and service evaluation as required.
Contribute to the development of clinical pathways, protocols and ways of working relevant to the role.
Participate constructively in practice and multidisciplinary team meetings where appropriate.
Contribute to a culture of learning, patient safety, continuous improvement and effective multidisciplinary working.
GeneralThe postholder will be expected to work flexibly within the scope of the role and undertake other appropriate duties commensurate with their professional qualifications, experience and level of responsibility.
The precise scope of the role may develop over time in response to the needs of the practice and its patients. Where additional clinical responsibilities are introduced, appropriate training, supervision and support will be provided.
Person Specification
Knowledge and skills Essential
Excellent communication and interpersonal skill Ability to liaise and communicate effectively with all members of the multidisciplinary team and other services Ability to perform holistic assessment, critically analyse patient information or situations and make clinical judgements and decisions as to the best course of action Ability to act independently within occupational guidelines Clear understanding of professional responsibility and accountability Practical knowledge across a wide range of clinical conditions Understanding of equality and diversity issues in a healthcare delivery setting. Ability to travel between sites across the cluster in a timely manner. Own transport
Desirable
Ability to communicate through the medium of Welsh Knowledge and understanding of local health and social care pathways Care and management of patients with end of life needs
Qualifications Essential
Registered paramedic or registered nurse Degree in professional practice or equivalent level of development in relevant clinical area Current professional portfolio reflecting professional development Full and valid UK driving licence
Desirable
Non-medical prescribing qualification or working towards at Masters level ILS
Experience Essential
Significant clinical practice and experience working in an autonomous/extended role Experience of delivering patient care in an urgent care, primary care or community setting Experience of multi-disciplinary working
Desirable
Experience of primary 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 Alyn Family Doctors
Address Llay Health Centre
School Road
Llay
Wrexham
LL12 0TR
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.alynfamilydoctors.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)