About this role
Job summary
Kearsley Medical Centre is seeking a dedicated, enthusiastic, autonomous Prescribing Paramedic Practitioner on a part-time basis, to join our busy practice team in supporting the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of our acute demand.
Job title
Prescribing Paramedic Practitioner
Hours
24 hours per week. Monday PM, Tuesday/Wednesday full day, Thursday PM (Specific working times may be negotiated)
Location
Kearsley Medical Centre, Jackson Street, Kearsley, Bolton, BL4 8EP
Salary
Band 7 equivalent / salary dependent on experience and qualifications
Reporting
Clinically accountable to the GP Partners and designated clinical supervisor; organisationally accountable to the Practice Manager.
Pension
NHS Pension Scheme, subject to eligibility and scheme rules.
Shortlisting: 18th November
Interview date: 25th November (may be subject to change)
Main duties of the job
The post-holder will provide high-quality, evidence-based clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management for patients presenting with undifferentiated, acute and long-term health needs. Working at an advanced level appropriate to their training, competence and scope of practice, the Prescribing Paramedic Practitioner will undertake face-to-face and telephone consultations, home visits and care-home visits where required. The post-holder will use independent prescribing skills, where appropriately qualified and annotated on the HCPC Register, to support timely treatment and medicines optimisation. The role will complement the work of GPs and the wider clinical team and contribute to the safe and effective operation of the practice's Total Triage and duty systems.
About us
Kearsley Medical Centre is a GP practice in Bolton, serving a registered population of approximately 13,000 patients. The practice is a training practice and has a multidisciplinary team comprising GP Partners, salaried GPs, practice nurses, an assistant practitioner and advanced clinical practitioners. The post-holder will work as part of this team to provide accessible, safe and effective primary care.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Clinical assessment and management
Undertake comprehensive, person centred assessments of patients presenting with undifferentiated illness, acute presentations, minor injury and exacerbations of long term conditions, within individual competence.
Take and interpret relevant clinical histories, perform physical examinations and use appropriate clinical reasoning to develop differential diagnoses and management plans.
Recognise red flags, clinical deterioration and situations requiring urgent escalation, emergency services, GP review or referral to secondary care.
Initiate, request and interpret appropriate investigations, including pathology and other diagnostic tests, and act on results in a timely manner.
Provide appropriate treatment, safety-netting, follow up and referral, ensuring patients understand their management plan and when to seek further help.
Undertake home visits and care-home visits for acute and urgent episodes of care, where clinically appropriate and in line with practice arrangements.
Support continuity of care and work collaboratively with GPs, nurses, ACPs, pharmacists, reception triage teams and external services.
Independent prescribing and medicines management
Prescribe medicines as an HCPC annotated independent prescriber, within relevant legislation, the practitioner's demonstrated competence, the agreed scope of practice and local medicines governance arrangements.
Undertake clinical assessment before prescribing, establish and document a working or confirmed diagnosis, consider relevant contraindications, allergies, interactions, comorbidities and patient preferences, and agree treatment through shared decision making.
Prescribe, review, amend and stop medicines where appropriate; provide clear advice on dose, duration, administration, potential adverse effects, monitoring and follow up.
Use current evidence and recognised resources, including the British National Formulary, relevant NICE guidance, local formulary and Greater Manchester and Bolton prescribing guidance.
Undertake medication reviews and medicines optimisation within competence, identifying polypharmacy, interactions, adherence issues, medicines-related risks and opportunities for deprescribing or referral.
Maintain accurate prescribing records and ensure prescriptions are issued securely and in accordance with practice policy and applicable legal requirements.
Report and manage suspected adverse drug reactions, prescribing incidents and near misses through the appropriate reporting and governance processes.
Work within the limits of the prescriber's competence; seek advice or refer to an appropriate clinician when a presentation or prescribing decision falls outside that scope.
Participate in prescribing audit, review of prescribing practice and continuing professional development to maintain safe and effective prescribing.
Primary care and team working
Work with the Total Triage service as required, prioritising patients according to clinical need and risk.
Provide clinical advice and support to colleagues within professional competence, escalating concerns and supporting safe patient pathways.
Contribute to the development, review and implementation of clinical protocols, pathways and standard operating procedures.
Support health promotion, prevention, patient education and self-management, including signposting to appropriate community and voluntary sector services.
Undertake clinical procedures and collect pathological specimens, including venepuncture and swabs, where trained and competent.
Maintain effective working relationships with community, urgent care, secondary care and other relevant health and social care providers.
Clinical records, quality and team working
Maintain complete, contemporaneous and accurate patient records using the practice clinical system, including assessment findings, clinical reasoning, diagnosis, prescribing decisions, advice, safety netting and follow up arrangements.
Maintain confidentiality and comply with data protection legislation, information governance requirements and practice policies.
Work in accordance with HCPC standards, the professional code of conduct, relevant legislation, national guidance and Kearsley Medical Centre policies and procedures.
Identify and report clinical risks, safeguarding concerns, significant events, complaints and incidents in accordance with practice procedures.
Participate in clinical audit, quality improvement, service evaluation and learning from incidents to improve patient outcomes and service delivery.
Ensure appropriate arrangements are in place for test results, referrals, clinical correspondence and follow up of patients under the post holder's care.
Professional responsibilities
Maintain current HCPC registration as a paramedic and comply with the HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics and Standards of Proficiency.
Maintain the HCPC prescribing annotation required for the prescribing responsibilities of this post and practise only within the medicines entitlements recorded on the Register.
Maintain a portfolio of continuing professional development, reflective practice, supervision and evidence of ongoing competence in both paramedic and prescribing practice.
Participate in annual appraisal, clinical supervision, peer review and agreed performance development processes.
Take responsibility for personal workload, recognising professional limits and seeking support where required.
Support the learning and development of colleagues and students where appropriately experienced and trained.
Communication, equality and patient experience
Communicate clearly, sensitively and effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and partner organisations, adapting communication to individual needs.
Respect patients' privacy, dignity, values, beliefs, rights and preferences, and promote equality, diversity and inclusion.
Use shared decision making and ensure patients are involved in decisions about their care and treatment.
Provide information in an accessible format and use interpretation or other communication support where required.
Act professionally, compassionately and without judgement, maintaining appropriate boundaries at all times.
Safeguarding
The post-holder must understand and fulfil their responsibilities in relation to safeguarding children and adults at risk, complete mandatory safeguarding training at the level required for the role, recognise and act on concerns, make appropriate referrals and document actions in accordance with local and practice safeguarding procedures.
Clinical supervision and prescribing governance
The post-holder will have access to an identified GP clinical supervisor and appropriate peer support. The practice will ensure that the prescribing role is supported by appropriate clinical governance, including an agreed scope of practice, access to current formularies and prescribing guidance, suitable clinical systems, processes for results and follow-up, prescribing audit, incident reporting and access to advice when required. The post-holder remains professionally accountable for their own clinical and prescribing decisions. Any supervision arrangements do not remove that individual accountability.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Science/Paramedic Practice or an equivalent recognised qualification; current, unrestricted HCPC registration as a paramedic; successful completion of an HCPC-approved independent prescribing programme with the appropriate independent prescriber annotation on the HCPC Register; evidence of current competence and CPD.
Desirable
- Postgraduate qualification in Advanced Clinical Practice (MSc or equivalent); postgraduate study relevant to primary care, urgent care or a clinical specialty; additional relevant clinical qualifications.
Clinical, skillset and other requirements
Essential
- Demonstrable ability to assess, diagnose, manage and evaluate patients with undifferentiated and complex presentations at a level appropriate to the role; evidence of autonomous clinical decision-making and understanding of professional scope and limitations.
- Current HCPC independent prescribing annotation; demonstrable knowledge of prescribing law, pharmacology, medicines optimisation, monitoring, adverse drug reactions and safe prescribing systems; ability to prescribe only within competence and local governance arrangements.
- Strong clinical assessment, examination, diagnostic reasoning, treatment planning and safety-netting skills; ability to recognise serious illness and deterioration; understanding of evidence-based practice, safeguarding, infection prevention and control, and clinical governance.
- Excellent written, verbal and listening skills; ability to communicate complex information clearly, sensitively and appropriately; ability to work effectively with patients, carers and a multidisciplinary team.
- Ability to prioritise workload, manage competing demands, work under pressure, maintain accurate records and use clinical systems confidently; flexible, reliable and able to work autonomously while recognising when to seek advice.
- Full, valid UK driving licence and ability to travel to undertake home visits; satisfactory enhanced DBS clearance where required; occupational health clearance and satisfactory references; willingness to undertake mandatory training.
Desirable
- Experience of independent prescribing in general practice, urgent care or another relevant clinical setting; experience undertaking medication reviews and prescribing audit.
- Experience of chronic disease management, prevention and health promotion; additional procedural skills relevant to primary care; experience of clinical audit or quality improvement.
- Experience supporting, mentoring or teaching colleagues or students; relevant teaching or assessing qualification.
- Experience of service development, pathway design or leading clinical improvement.
- Ability to speak additional community languages or other skills that support the practice population.
Experience
Essential
- Normally a minimum of three years' relevant post-registration paramedic experience, with substantial experience of assessing and managing patients in clinical practice.
Desirable
- Experience in general practice, primary care, urgent treatment centre/minor injuries, emergency department, out-of-hours or community services; experience of home visiting and care-home settings.
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
Kearsley Medical Centre
Address
Jackson Street
Bolton
BL4 8EP
United Kingdom
Employer's website
https://www.kearsleymedicalcentre.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)