An exciting opportunity has been created to join our expanding team of healthcare professionals at DGS Health to be part of our primary care network team. The future of general practice will focus on working across multiple practices within networks, collaborating, building relationships and working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to provide safe, high quality integrated care to improve the health of population.
Working within a Primary Care Network offers both variety and flexibility, in terms of your day to day work, training and development, career progression but also opportunities to work flexibly across network locations.
We are looking for an experienced or newly qualified Physician Associate to join our team in Gravesend Central PCN with this particular role being based within Pelham Medical Surgery and St.Gregory's Surgery.
Main duties of the job
We are looking for candidates who are enthusiastic and adaptable to change, with excellent clinical skills and a good level of competence in use of I.T. in systems such as EMIS. Candidates should exhibit good organisational skills and ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of healthcare professionals and other stakeholders including patients, families and carers. The successful candidate will work at practice level, independently, but also as part of a supportive practice team and the Primary Care Network, to deliver safe and effective use of medicines by applying their clinical and technical skills to a variety of tasks.
These are new, exciting posts in which you could make a real impact. As the role is patient-facing, you will see how your role directly impacts the community you serve.
About us
The Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley area is located in North Kent, only a 15 minute commute by train from London St Pancras, and our main GP Federation office is metres away from Ebbsfleet International Rail Station. The area is undergoing considerable housing, retail and leisure development including the Ebbsfleet Garden City Area. The area also boasts the Bluewater retail centre, and there are a good variety of high performing schools including state, grammar and independent schools. All practices in the area are members of the GP Federation and we work together to design and deliver clinically led and managerially enabled services.
We place great value on our staff and recognise our success is a result of the quality and commitment of the staff we recruit.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB SUMMARY
The post holder will provide care for patients through clinical assessment, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment, and evaluation of care.
Post holder will deliver a high standard of patient care within in depth theoretical knowledge and evidence based practice working under the supervision of a GP.
To manage a clinical caseload and deal with presenting patients needs in a primary care setting. Physician Associates will have a key role in supporting delivery of Network Contract DES services.
KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILTIES
The post holder will provide first point of contact care for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems utilising history taking, physical examinations, problem solving and clinical decision making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan in partnership with the patients (and their carers where applicable)
Review, analysis and action diagnostic test results
Deliver integrated patient centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary care network multi-disciplinary team and social care networks
Undertake face to face, telephone, video and online consultations for emergency or routine problems, as determined by the PCN, including management of patients with long term conditions. Where required by the PCN physician associates can offer specialised clinics following appropriate training including but not limited baby checks, COPD, asthma, diabetes and anti-coagulation
Provide health/disease promotion and prevention advice to patients
Utilise clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice, participate in clinical audits, significant event reviews and other research and analysis tasks.
ADMINISTRATION
Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.
Show a caring attitude towards patients, have well-developed communication skills to provide treatment plans. And work to their professional code of ethics
Keep up to date with relevant medical research, technology and evidence-based medical practice by attending continuing education courses and professional meetings, reading journals etc.
Work to deliver with other members of the practice and Primary Healthcare Team, the objectives of the PCN GP contract, including the terms of the Quality and Outcomes Framework and Practice Based Commissioning.
Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice in order to discuss the health and social needs of particular patients.
TRAINING / EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT/ QUALIFICATIONS
In the UK, physician associates must complete a full-time post graduate diploma, which is offered by 25 universities. Applicants must already have a degree in a life or healthcare science and experience of working in the health service. Programmes must all meet the national standards laid down in the competence and curriculum framework approved by the Faculty of Physician Associates, which is part of the Royal College of Physicians.
Undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education (CPD) every year.
Take and pass the national re-certification exam every 6 years in accordance with the requirements of the PA Managed Voluntary Register and as recommended by the National Examination Sub Committee of the UKUBPAE (UK Universities Board of Physician Associate Education) and subsequently as required by the statutory regulating body when in place.
Perform a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means:
o Audit of clinical practice.
o Review of relevant literature.
o Research unusual symptoms and treatment options, through consultation with physicians and other medical specialists.
Assist in clinical instruction and supervision of medical and nursing students as well other learners (need to have completed relevant mentoring course, to the area of practice) that may periodically be attached to the practice, including the educational development and mentoring of Physician Associate students.
Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings organised by the Practice in primary care network in order to discuss and learn from recent significant events relating to clinical practice occurring within the Practice.
Attend regular educational meetings organised by the practice in order to update clinical knowledge, practice policy and guidelines and disseminate other useful information relevant to the provision of adequate healthcare for patients.
Regularly reflect on own practice (and keep a record of learning encounters) in order to identify learning needs and encourage self-directed lifelong learning and continued professional development.
Responsibilities underpinning the role
* To develop and facilitate a good working relationship with community PAs and other local providers of healthcare
* To plan and organise the post holders own workload, including audit and project work, and training sessions for members of the practice team and other partners are required
* To record personally generated information and maintain a database of information relating to the work done in the practice(s)
* To maintain registration as a PA and comply with appropriate professional codes
* As appropriate to the post, to maintain and develop professional competence and expertise, keep up to date with medical/therapeutic evidence and opinion, and local and national service, legislation and policy developments, agree objectives and a personal development plan and participate in the appraisal process
* To attend local, regional and national meetings of relevance
* All employees should understand that it is their personal responsibility to comply with all organisational and statutory requirements (e.g. health and safety, equal treatment and diversity, confidentiality and clinical governance)
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
* Postgraduate Diploma/Master in Physician Associate from an accredited UK University
* A degree in a life or healthcare science
* Member of Faculty of Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR)
* Valid national certification and recertification every six years stipulated by PAMVR
* Commitment to personal development
Desirable
* Evidence of ongoing education/training.
Experience
Essential
* Experience of working in the health service
* Demonstrable patient assessment skills
* Demonstrates an in depth knowledge of related medical conditions, treatments and pharmacology
* Experience of supporting doctors in clinical decision making
* Ability to work autonomously within the scope of supervised practice
Desirable
* Experience working in both primary and secondary care
* At least 6 months post registration experience
Knowledge
Essential
* Awareness of current issues from a primary and secondary perspective.
* Knowledge of NICE guidance relating to medicines optimisation.
* Good working knowledge of drug therapies.
* Knowledge of Audit principles and evidence of participation in audit / Quality Improvement projects
* Experience of applying evidence to clinical practice
Desirable
* Familiarity with GP computer systems such as EMIS.
* Evidence of knowledge of research methodology
Employer details
Employer name
DGS Health LTD
Address
Pelham Medical Practice
17 Pelham Road
Gravesend
Kent
DA110HN
Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.
B0282-24-0006
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