Acute Care Specialist

Position Overview

We are looking for a committed and skilled Acute Care Specialist to become a vital member of our diverse healthcare team. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in providing urgent care services, collaborating with general practitioners, nursing staff, paramedics, and other healthcare professionals to ensure prompt and effective treatment for our patients. This position will primarily involve home visits, complemented by in-person clinic consultations.

Key Responsibilities

• Performing initial evaluations and triage for patients with urgent medical needs.
• Administering treatment and managing a variety of acute health conditions.
• Working alongside the multidisciplinary team to create and execute patient care strategies.
• Maintaining precise and timely records of patient interactions.
• Engaging in quality enhancement initiatives and aiding in the establishment of best practices in urgent care.
• Conducting home visits as necessary.
• Delivering health education and guidance to patients and their families.

Qualifications:

• Licensed healthcare professional with appropriate credentials and registration.
• Experience in urgent care, emergency services, or primary healthcare environments.
• Strong clinical evaluation and decision-making abilities.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
• Capability to function effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Dedication to delivering high-quality, patient-focused care.

Benefits:

• Attractive salary and benefits package, including a company vehicle and cycle-to-work program.
• Opportunities for professional growth and career advancement.
• Supportive and collaborative workplace culture.
• Access to continuous training and educational resources.

About St Austell Healthcare

St Austell Healthcare is an innovative and progressive primary care network, operating multiple sites in the local area. Our dedicated site focuses on delivering exceptional urgent care services to the community. We take pride in our collaborative approach, ensuring that our patients receive thorough and compassionate care.

Clinical Responsibilities

• Serve as a proficient practitioner, showcasing clinical expertise and a solid knowledge base.
• Conduct consultations with patients, including home visits or care home assessments.
• Evaluate patients with a spectrum of acute, non-acute, and chronic health issues.
• Plan, implement, and assess individualized treatment strategies for patients with known chronic conditions.
• Proactively identify, diagnose, and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing chronic conditions.
• Collaborate with other healthcare professionals to diagnose, monitor, and treat chronic conditions, utilizing non-pharmacological treatment methods in accordance with national and local guidelines.
• Diagnose and/or consult with general practitioners to confirm diagnoses and determine necessary further investigations and treatments.
• Coordinate with general practitioners to admit patients to secondary care when they require urgent medical attention.
• Refer patients to other members of the multidisciplinary team, secondary care, and relevant care providers as needed.
• Provide education and training to colleagues as appropriate, fostering teamwork and sharing best practices to ensure high-quality clinical care is delivered promptly.
• Ensure thorough and accurate documentation of every patient interaction.
• Operate as an independent practitioner while also collaborating with multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams to meet patient needs.
• Uphold professional standards in line with guidelines from relevant health authorities.
• Perform any other duties relevant to the role.
• Must have access to personal transportation.

Patient Assessment and Health Education:

• Provide dietary guidance.
• Conduct blood pressure assessments.
• Perform urinalysis.
• Facilitate health screenings.
• Administer injections.
• Address minor injuries.
• Conduct general and specific health screenings for practice patients, referring to other healthcare team members as necessary.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

• Triage and treat patients seeking healthcare services, making necessary referrals to other primary healthcare team members.
• Ensure clinical practices are safe and effective, remaining within the scope of competence.
• Advise patients on general health matters and minor ailments, referring to other healthcare professionals as needed.

Professional Standards:

• Adhere to professional body requirements and operate within the scope of practice.
• Ensure compliance with organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines.
• Maintain professionalism and serve as a role model and mentor for junior staff, including trainees and student nurses.
• Uphold confidentiality regarding patient and staff information.
• Ensure effective collaboration with all departments, providing a productive service to partner organizations and other service providers.

Communication:

• Effectively communicate complex information about patient care to patients and families.
• Provide advice and information to patients, caregivers, and families as appropriate.
• Collaborate with medical, nursing, and allied health professionals to ensure coordinated service delivery.
• Maintain accurate documentation in accordance with local policies and professional guidelines.
• Promote effective communication networks within the organization and with partner organizations.

Clinical Governance:

• Contribute to the development and maintenance of robust clinical governance and risk management frameworks.
• Support the implementation of new working methods and policies across the organization.
• Encourage a quality assurance culture that adheres to best practices in incident reporting and whistleblowing.

Engagement with Patients and Stakeholders:

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with local health teams, patient groups, and other stakeholders to enhance service delivery.
• Ensure patient feedback is collected, analyzed, and acted upon to improve services.

Confidentiality:

• Respect the confidentiality of sensitive patient information gathered during treatment.
• Access to confidential information must be limited to authorized personnel in accordance with practice policies.

Equality and Diversity:

• Support the rights of patients, caregivers, and colleagues by recognizing and respecting their diversity and individual needs.
• Act in a manner that is welcoming and non-judgmental, respecting the circumstances and rights of all individuals.

Personal and Professional Development:

• Participate in training programs as part of employment, including annual performance reviews.
• Take responsibility for personal development and demonstrate skills to others in similar roles.

Health and Safety:

• Assist in promoting and maintaining health, safety, and security in accordance with practice policies.

Appraisal and Objective Setting:

• Engage in annual performance reviews to assess past performance and set future objectives.

Quality Assurance:

• Strive to maintain quality within the practice by identifying issues and suggesting improvements.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies to meet patient needs effectively.
• Manage time, workload, and resources efficiently.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

• Ability to work independently.
• Understanding of urgent care practices.
• Excellent clinical skills.
• Strong organizational and prioritization abilities.
• Proficient IT skills.
• Experience in conducting audits.
• Knowledge of clinical governance.
• Outstanding communication skills.
• Ability to demonstrate proficiency in the English language.
• Capacity to use initiative and work autonomously.

Qualifications:

• Registered Nurse with current NMC registration.
• Qualified Paramedic with current HCPC registration.
• Experience adhering to protocols or guidelines.
• Desirable qualifications include Minor Illness Clinical Skills, Chronic Long-Term Conditions, and First Contact Practitioner qualifications.
• Experience in primary care, emergency services, or related fields is advantageous.
• Experience conducting home visits is preferred.

Other Requirements:

• Willingness to undergo further training and mentoring to enhance clinical skills.
• Flexibility to work various shifts, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to train during both office and personal hours.
• Capacity to perform under pressure while delivering high-quality care.