Job summary
We have an exciting opportunity for a paramedic to join our growing and diverse team of PCN staff across Hillingdon. These permanent positions would appeal to enthusiastic, motivated and proactive individuals who are keen to further develop their skills and be an integral part of a developing primary care workforce.
In this role you will work closely with GP practices within your PCN as well as the additional staff that have already been recruited including pharmacist, first contact physiotherapists and social prescribers.
Main duties of the job
Working as part of a (MDT), the job holder will play a key role in the development of PCNs in delivering enhanced care at GP practice level. The job holders primary role will be to work autonomously throughout the Hillingdon area, to provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undiagnosed problems relating to minor illness or injury using their existing enhanced clinical assessment and treatment skills.
The job holder is required to use their own car for transport/ home visits. The role function will support GPs by making urgent visits to patients, initiate appropriate care and effective treatment to patients in a pre-hospital environment, selecting and applying appropriate skills and equipment safely and (within the scope of their role) support the progression of care plans of patients with long term medical conditions, working to improve the health and wellbeing of the people of Hillingdon. The Paramedic will also be given dedicated time to help develop services and clinics for the PCN, playing a key role in PCN functions going forward
About us
The Confederation, Hillingdon CIC works with general practiceand other healthcare providers in Hillingdon to deliver high quality clinicalservices to patients. Our aim is toimprove care for patients by working collaboratively across primary care andour partners as part of the Integrated Care Partnership. The Confederation teamalso work to develop and support individual GP practices, PCNs andNeighbourhoods and their changing needs. We are of the NHS but independent,innovative and transformational.
General capacity across primary care is being expandedrapidly. The Confederation is determined to develop as an attractive place towork that provides rewarding roles and opportunities to grow in order toattract and retain great staff that in turn provides the highest quality care.
Our Values:
1. We work together to make a difference for patients
2. We care enough to go the extra mile
3. We support, trust, and empower
4. We sincerely value each other
5. We support Primary Care to own its destiny
Job description
Job responsibilities
Paramedics work autonomously within the community at an advanced level of practice, using their enhanced clinical assessment and treatment skills, to provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems relating to minor illness or injury, abdominal pains, chest pains and headaches. They are health professionals who practice at an advanced level having the capability to make sound judgements in the absence of full information and to manage varying degrees of risk when there are complex, competing or ambiguous information or uncertainty.
Key duties and responsibilities
1. assess and triage patients, including same day triage, and as appropriate provide definitive treatment or make necessary referrals to other members of the PCN team
2. advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to other community or voluntary services.
3. be able to:
a. perform specialist health checks and reviews
b. perform and interpret ECGs; alongside other results as appropriate
c. perform investigatory procedures as required
d. undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs, etc.
e. perform investigatory procedures needed by patients and those requested by GPs and the wider PCN
4. support the delivery of anticipatory care plans and lead certain community services ( monitoring blood pressure and diabetes risk of elderly patients living in sheltered housing)
5. provide an alternative model to urgent and same day home visits for the PCN and undertake clinical audits
6. communicate at all levels across PCNs and other organizations, ensuring effective, patient-centred service
7. communicate proactively and effectively with all colleagues across the multi-disciplinary team, attending and contributing to meetings as required
8. collaborate with other members of the PCN including doctors, nurses and other AHPs, accepting referrals and referring to them for specialist care
9. maintain accurate and contemporaneous health records appropriate to the consultation, ensuring accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice
10. prescribe, issue and review medications as appropriate following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines and local care pathways. This will be done in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within scope of practice
11. work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments
12. provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions
13. assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis, and patients with complex needs
14. clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective, and plan clinical care accordingly
15. prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care
16. diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan
17. support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care
Quality Requirements
18. enhance own performance through continuous professional development, keep up to date with current evidence-based practice, and impart own knowledge and skills to PCN colleagues to meet the needs of the service
19. recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the HCPC and College of Paramedics
20. assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation
21. 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
22. in partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate
Administrative requirements
23. produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures
24. be aware of data protection (GDPR) and confidentiality issues particularly within a PCN
25. use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information
26. review and process data using accurate read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
Supervision
The postholder will have access to appropriate clinical supervision and an appropriate named individual in the PCN to provide general advice and support on a day to day basis. There will also be a Clinical Lead at the Confederation level providing support for teaching, training and peer support.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
6. BSc in a training programme approved by the College of Paramedics Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration
7. Able to operate at an advanced level of clinical practice
8. Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) Level 7 or Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCOF) Level 11
9. Has completed their two-year Consolidation of Learning period as a newly qualified paramedic
Desirable
10. Pre-reg MSc in a training programme approved by the College of Paramedics non-medical prescribing qualification
11. Full UK driving license
12. Has a further three years experience as a band 6 (or equivalent) paramedic