Advanced Paramedic

Job summary

We have an exciting opportunity for an Advanced Paramedic to join our Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme Team in the North & West Primary Care Network.

Applicants should be Paramedics with a minimum of five years post-qualification experience who, acting with their professional boundaries, will provide care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and appropriate follow up and evaluation of care.

The role will include working as part of the duty team and playing a vital part in performing urgent assessments in the patient's home and also at the Practice.

The post holder must have access to a vehicle for home visits with mileage expenses remunerated by submission of a monthly mileage form. (Please note it is the post holder's responsibility to ensure that their car insurance is covered for business use.)

We reserve the right to close this vacancy early if we receive sufficient applications for the role. Therefore, if you are interested, please submit your application as early as possible.

Main duties of the job

The successful applicant will work collaboratively as part of the general practice multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of the Primary Care Network priorities for improved health and care across our geographical area.

The workload will consist of a mixture of urgent home visit assessments, pro-active assessments and in-house clinics supporting the duty day cover.

The successful applicant will work within the community as an autonomous, accountable paramedic practitioner, using advanced clinical skills in the provision of a holistic approach for individuals including assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to deliver high-quality services to patients who present with undifferentiated or undiagnosed conditions relating to minor illness, minor injury, or urgent problems promoting self-care and empowering them to make informed choices about their treatment.

About us

The North & West Herefordshire PCN GP Practices serve rural and market town communities responding to the wide - ranging health needs of the population. The network includes Kington Medical Practice, Ryeland Surgery Leominster, Mortimer Medical Practice, Tenbury Wells Surgery and Weobley & Staunton on Wye Surgeries. It is a highly organised and forward-looking PCN with strong relationships between practices and community providers.

Taurus Healthcare was established in 2012, as the provider arm of the GP Federation serving 185,000 patients in Herefordshire. Founded and owned by the partners of the entire Herefordshire Primary Care community, Taurus is focused on providing excellent out-of-hospital services for patients. Our ethos is to provide high-quality and cost-effective health outcomes that are delivered as close as possible to the patient's home, whilst ensuring that patients who do require in-hospital services are seen as quickly and effectively as possible.

Taurus Healthcare offers many employee benefits, such as:

Access to a generous NHS pension scheme with employer contribution. 33 to 38 days annual leave entitlement, including bank holidays, depending on service (pro-rata for part-time staff) Access to the Blue Light extensive discount scheme. Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Purpose

Applicants should be experienced (minimum 5 years post qualified) Paramedics who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for patients from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and appropriate follow up and evaluation of care.

They will demonstrate safe clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills and safety netting for patients within general practice.

The role will include working as part of the duty team and playing a vital part in performing urgent assessments predominantly in the patients home but may be remotely or at the Practice.

The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision-making process, with the ability to prioritise and triage the needs of patients, accordingly, instigating appropriate investigations or referrals to colleagues and other care providers.

They will be able to follow local and national guidelines and pathways, working to the latest evidence base, and will practise in a reflective manner, completing significant event analyses and audits to evaluate the effectiveness of the care they provide.

They will work collaboratively as part of the general practice multidisciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of the Primary Care Network priorities for improved health and care across our geographical area. The role will exist within a team and will be both varied and diverse with clinical support and mentorship provided to allow the successful recruit to flourish. The workload will consist of a mixture of urgent home visit assessments, pro-active assessments as part of our well being team and duty day cover with opportunity to then follow up the patients seen.

The role is varied and diverse with clinical support and mentorship provided; there will be a strong focus on self-development and team engagement. In turn, the post holder will be expected to contribute to the teaching and training of more junior and less experienced colleagues.

Main Responsibilities

To be an integral part of a Network-wide team of clinicians, including GPs, ACPs/ECPs, nurses and paramedics, delivering acute and planned care to the population.

To work within the community, as an autonomous, accountable, Paramedic Practitioner, in the provision of a holistic approach for individuals including assessment, diagnosis and treatment, to deliver high quality patient services.

To assess, investigate, diagnose, treat, refer, or signpost patients/service users who present with undifferentiated or undiagnosed condition relating to minor illness, minor injury, or urgent problems.

The post holder will use advanced clinical skills to provide education to service users, promoting self-care and empowering them to make informed choices about their treatment.

The post holder must have access to a vehicle for home visits with mileage expenses remunerated by submission of a monthly mileage form. (Please note it is the postholders responsibility to ensure that their car insurance is covered for business use).

Diagnosing and treating patients presenting with minor illness and/or minor injury Works from the surgery as an autonomous practitioner caring for patients and families. Triage and treat acutely unwell patients wishing to see a health care professional, making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team. Consulting at 15 minutes once competent within the practice clinical system. Support assessment and care of patients accessing the Practice using telephony or an online consultation platform after training if necessary. Triage and treat appropriate patients in the practice or on home visits and discuss with patients GP after assessment. To help with the avoiding unplanned admissions, when required. To help with care home provision, when required. Review patient documents and pathology results and assist in maintaining patient records where appropriate. Assist with the annual flu and other immunisation programmes. Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments, with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary. Undertake assessment for patients within their place of residence including care homes and those attending the surgery, using diagnostic skills, initiation of investigations and feeding back to the patients' GP where appropriate. Prescribe/issue medications as appropriate following policy, patient group directives and local pathways. Independent Prescriber qualifications desirable, however, candidates will be supported to undertake this as part of their future development. To impart knowledge and skills to colleagues, both formally and informally by promoting peer review and best practice within the work environment. To communicate at all levels within the team ensuring an effective service is delivered. Ensure evidence-based care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of high quality patient care. Work with local and national evidence-based policies and procedures. Contribute to teaching and training of colleagues within the Network.

Communications & Working Relationships

As well as the multidisciplinary clinical team, there is a need to work closely with reception and administration staff to ensure the smooth running of the practices within the PCN, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring everyone works closely within the team.

There is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other stakeholders, including secondary care, community services and social care

Personal Development

To attend mandatory training and fire lectures regularly and assist with fire policy/evacuation procedure when necessary and to Participate in any training as required by the PCN aligned to the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme and strategic direction of the PCN. Maintain continued professional development (CPD) by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development. To participate in Individual Performance Review and Personal Development plans on an annual basis and to undertake training and development as identified within these discussions and as indicated by the requirements of the post.

Clinical Governance & Quality Assurance

To realise the importance of confidentiality when dealing with patients and staff, particularly when giving or receiving information over the telephone in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations. Maintain the high standards of the service by contributing towards individual, team and service objectives and acting at all times in the best interest of patients. To accurately collect, collate and input data to Information Systems as required by procedures to ensure that patient database records are up to date and accurate. Enhance own performance through Continuous Professional Development, imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service. To impart knowledge and skills to colleagues, both formally and informally by promoting peer review and best practice within the work environment. To communicate at all levels within the team ensuring an effective service is delivered. Ensure evidenced-based care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of high-quality patient care. Work with local and national evidenced based policies and procedures.

Information Governance

Post holders will be required to comply with Information Governance related standards and policies at all times when dealing with confidential information, which includes any information relating to the business of the company and its service users and employees. Post holders are bound by a duty of confidentiality and must conduct their duties in line with the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice, Data Protection Act and Freedom of information Act. Post holders must maintain high standards of quality in corporate and clinical record keeping ensuring information is always recorded accurately and kept up to date. The post-holder must only access information, whether paper, electronic or in other media, which is authorised to them as part of their duties. All Information obtained or held during the post-holders period of employment that relates to the business of the company and its service users and employees will remain the property of the Taurus Healthcare. Information may be subject to disclosure under legislation at the Companys discretion and in line with national rules on exemption. Any breach of confidentiality or computer misuse could lead to disciplinary action, and in serious cases could result in dismissal. Breaches after the post-holders employment has ended could result in the company taking legal action against them.

Health & Safety

To have responsibility for health, safety and welfare of self and others at work. This includes being conversant with Health & Safety policies and procedures and ensuring incidents, accidents and near misses are reported; taking part in the risk management process and carrying out tasks/using equipment only when competent to do so. Be responsible for ensuring the general environment is clear of all hazards. All staff have a responsibility to apprise themselves of how the prevention of the spread of infection relates to their role. They have a responsibility to ensure they are aware of company policies and procedures in relation to infection prevention and control and ensure that they comply with them in fulfilling their role.

Equality & Diversity

Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues. Act in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Taurus procedures / policies and current legislations. Act as a chaperone as needed. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Person Specification

Personal Qualities or Attributes

Essential

Reliable, conscientious and flexible approach to work Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities To be able to work independently on own initiative Ability to maintain confidentiality

Qualifications

Essential

Health & Care Profession Council (HCPC) registration Undergraduate attainment at minimum of Framework for Higher Education Qualification (FHEQ) Dip. HE in relevant subject Able to operate at an advanced level of practice within Level 7 capabilities as defined by the NHE/I PCN DES and HEE

Desirable

Safeguarding training children and adults Level 2 or willing to complete College of Paramedics Diploma in Primary & Urgent Care Non-medical prescribing qualification

Knowledge/Experience

Essential

Minimum five years' experience post qualified Experience in managing the care of patients with undifferentiated undiagnosed conditions or a designated caseload Practical experience of completing examinations and assessments, care planning, implementing interventions and evaluation of outcomes Proven ability to recognise and manage risk Accurate record keeping skills Ability to understand scope of own practice and competence and to maintain learning to ensure safe, competent, and confident practice Experience of partnership/collaborative working and of building relationships across a variety of organisations Awareness of GDPR and confidentiality, mandatory training will be required at Induction

Desirable

Working towards or willing to work towards FCP or ACP status Experience of working in the primary and/or urgent care sectors Experience of telephone (remote) clinical triage Leadership or mentorship experience Experience of using IT systems such as EMIS

Other Requirements

Essential

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle

Skills

Essential

Good interpersonal communication skills, both written and verbal Ability to manage and prioritise own workload Ability to work effectively as part of a team Ability to communicate confidently with staff of all seniority levels Good level of accuracy and attention to detail

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