Primary Care Paramedic inDidcot inDidcot PUBLISHED 16 OCT 2024

· Oak Tree Health Centre, Tyne Ave, Didcot OX11 7GD.

· Job Type: Permanent. Full time or Part time.

· Working hours: normal hours of work are not variable. However, working pattern may vary. Your normal hours of work are between 7.30 am. and 8.00 pm. Monday to Saturday. Candidates who cannot commit to these hours may not apply.

· Salary: dependant on experience.

Purpose: To assist the practice team in the service and delivery of the care management of the practice population. Responsible to: GP Partners and business manager.

Role Summary

· Adhere to HCPC code of conduct and, at all times, work within the scope of professional practice.

· To perform as an autonomous practitioner working independently and with other health care professionals to assess, diagnose and treat patients with a range of acute, non-acute and chronic medical conditions, initiating direct referrals as appropriate.

· To manage daily surgeries comprising face-to-face consultations, telephone/email consultations and telephone triage work. There may also be a requirement for some visiting of patients either in their own home or in a care home environment.

· To collaborate with GPs, Advanced Practitioners, Nursing staff, Pharmacists and non-clinical support staff alike. Use his/her individual skill and experience to make a positive contribution to the organisation and the development of a ‘One Team’ approach.

· To support new working methods and emerging technologies designed to manage the increasing demand in primary care.

· To support the education and training to other staff and students as appropriate and to take a role in encouraging teamwork and sharing best practice.

· To support on the delivery of relevant QOF and enhanced service specifications, monitoring and reacting to achievement and targets.

About us

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Responsibilities

· Undertake clinical practice at a specialist level using expert knowledge and clinical skills to deliver holistic care to people accessing primary care services in both the practice and home environments.

· Assess undiagnosed patients with a range of acute, non-acute and chronic medical conditions. Take history, make appropriate physical examinations, formulate diagnoses and carry through management treatment plans ensuring relevant follow up.

· Discuss with GP where appropriate and make referrals to other health professionals in primary and secondary care.

• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug and non-drug based treatment methods into a management plan. Utilisation of either prescribing qualification (if held), senior support or PGDs.
• Accurately triage and prioritise patients, including in emergency situations.
• Understand and apply legal policy that supports the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedure and local guidance. Be aware of Safeguarding issues and responsibilities with regards to reporting.
• Work within policies relating to domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour, and refer as appropriate.
• Perform health checks and reviews.

· Perform and interpret ECGs; alongside other results as appropriate.

· Undertake the collection of specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, etc.

· Perform investigatory procedures needed by patients and those requested by GPs and the wider surgery team.

· Maintain accurate record keeping and coding in clinical software and utilise clinical and non-clinical tools and resources.

· Provide and administer medication in line with PSD and PGD requirements or under independent prescribing qualification (if held).

· Support the effective management of Infection Prevention & Control.

· Ensure clinical practice is safe, effective and responsive and remains within the boundaries of competence and acknowledge limitations.

· Ability to support GP administrative workload (pathology results and Document recording software with suitable training and support.

*On completion of Independent Prescribing Qualification:

· Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice, national and local guidelines and within scope of own qualifications.

Supervision and Professional Development

· Enhance own performance through continuous professional development, keep up to date with current evidence-based practice, and impart own knowledge and skills to surgery colleagues to meet the needs of the service.

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

· Participate in and successfully complete 6-month probationary phase including monthly meetings with line manager to set targets.

· Participate in and contribute to quarterly reviews after completion of probationary phase and agreement of substantive employment.

· Participate in regular clinical supervision utilising facilitators in both the practice and PCN.

· Identify and access development opportunities / courses to increase the scope of their role with agreement and support of line manager.

· To maintain current professional registration and indemnity.

Quality Management

· Support the successful management of QOF requirements within the surgery.

· Participate in research and utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.

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

Demand Management

· Create opportunities to address patients care needs in the most expedient way, taking into account that continuity of care and access to services are often in direct conflict.

· Influence patients to recognise the difference between their needs and their wants and manage their expectations of what we can realistically deliver in a manner that is fair and proportionate for all care priorities.

· Make improved use of the telephone and other technologies including active signposting to services and healthcare professionals. Encourage patients to rely on face-to-face consultation only where there is a clinical need to do so.

Communication

· Provide and receive highly complex, sensitive or contentious information and occasionally deal with situations which are hostile or emotive.

· Use developed communication, negotiation, and conflict management skills which require empathy, reassurance and persuasive skills to overcome barriers to acceptance.

· Regularly communicate service-related information to Partners, Salaried GPs, Management, Nursing Services, Dispensary and non-clinical staff as well as to patients, relatives and carers.

· Make operational judgements, manage conflicting views and reconcile differences in professional opinion.

· Build and communicate effective working relationships with a wide array of statutory and voluntary organisations for the benefit of patient care and to facilitate good working relationships.

· Develop and deliver presentations to large groups and to take an active role in clinical meetings.

Equality and Diversity

The role holder will:

· Support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues and act in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice policies and current legislation.

· Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

· Behave in a manner which is welcoming to, and of, the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.

Health and Safety

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

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

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 role holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. 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 Practice 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.