Primary Care Paramedic

Primary Care Paramedic

Job summary

The role will involve working as an autonomous accountable paramedic providing assessment, treatment, and diagnosis at first point of contact. The post holder will work within the GP and Advanced Practice team dealing with a wide range of health needs in a primary care setting.
Comply with the practices General Medical Services (GMS) contract, Direct Enhanced Service (DES) / Local Enhanced Service (LES) contracts and adhere to the principles of good medical practice.
The post holder will perform any other clinical and clinical administrative duties where trained and determined safe to do so by the organisation. This may include assisting with home visits, vaccinations, medical reports, and safeguarding concerns.

Main duties of the job

• Undertake urgent/same-day clinics
• Undertake home visits alongside the clinical team
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis
• Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective and plan clinical care accordingly
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan
• Initiate and interpret tests and investigations as appropriate.
• Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within the scope of practice
• Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments
• Respond to medical problems presented by patients, including history taking, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment and referral where appropriate
• Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice
• Adhere to the practice prescribing formulary, local and national guidelines.
• Make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the organisation
• Record clear and contemporaneous I.T. based consultation notes to agreed standards

Job description

Job responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities
The following are the core responsibilities of the Paramedic within Primary Care. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.

• Undertake urgent/same-day clinics.
• Undertake home visits alongside the clinical team.
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care for patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis
• Clinically examine and assess patient needs from a physiological and psychological perspective and plan clinical care accordingly
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate interventions/treatments for patients with complex needs
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug- and non-drug-based treatment methods into a management plan
• Initiate and interpret tests and investigations as appropriate.
• Prescribe and review medication for therapeutic effectiveness, appropriate to patient needs and in accordance with evidence-based practice and national and practice protocols, and within the scope of practice
• Work with patients in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments
• Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication on medication regimens, side effects and interactions
• Act upon most alerts (e.g. QOF) and reminders during a routine consultation
• Respond to medical problems presented by patients, including history taking, examination, investigation, diagnosis, treatment and referral where appropriate.
• Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice.
• Provide medical support as required to patients referred by nursing staff
• Adhere to the practice prescribing formulary, local and national guidelines.
• Make professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether self-referred or referred from other health care workers within the organisation
• Record clear and contemporaneous I.T.-based consultation notes to agreed standards
• Collect data for audit purposes
• Compile and issue computer-generated acute and repeat prescriptions

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive and may be amended to meet the future needs of the Practice, following an agreement between the Practice Manager and Partners.
Other Responsibilities

• Supporting the practice staff and responding to requests for advice and assistance from the practice reception, secretarial and nursing staff.
• Attend multidisciplinary, clinical and practice meetings.
• Provide additional enhanced services to the practices that meet the needs of the practice's patient population and maximise the income streams of the practice
• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant practice policies/guidelines, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, and annual QOF Assessment of the Practice.

Professional Responsibilities

• Registration with Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• Undertake statutory and mandatory training as required by the organisation.
• Proactively promote the role of the Paramedic within the practice, with patients and externally to key stakeholders and agencies.
• Respect patient confidentiality always and do not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role.
• Membership of the College of Paramedics Voluntary Register is not mandatory but desirable.
• The post holder is required to hold a full, clean UK driving license.

Training and Development

• Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to keep up-to-date with evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and a Personal Development Plan (PDP) utilising a reflective approach to Practice.
• Undertake a variety of research and analysis tasks associated with the improvement of clinical care, medical diagnosis and treatment where appropriate using the following means. a. Audit of clinical practice b. Significant event review/root cause analyses c. Review of relevant literature d. Research unusual symptoms and treatment options through consultation with general practitioners, and the wider MDT.
• Promote and support a learning culture within the Practice and assist in clinical instruction, mentoring and supervision of medical students and other learners
• Contribute to monthly practice-protected learning time meetings.
• Work closely with other clinical staff and administrative managers in setting up and or improving practice

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree/Diploma/BSc (Hons) in Paramedic Science or equivalent.
• Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) registration and no current issues under investigation.
• Able to operate at an advanced level of clinical practice.
• Completed their two-year Consolidation of Learning period as a newly qualified paramedic.
• Has a further three years of experience as a band 6 (or equivalent) paramedic.
• Full UK driving license.
• Level 3 Safeguarding (Children).

Desirable

• MSc in relevant Advanced Practice HEE-approved training programme
• Independent Non-medical prescribing qualification

Experience

Desirable

• Experience working within Primary Care
• Experience in conducting audits including the examination of clinical notes, interpreting data and feeding back results.
• Experience working with EMIS

Knowledge

Essential

• Can demonstrate a broad base of competencies and skills
• Excellent knowledge of IT systems including Microsoft
• Knowledge of NICE guidelines
• Understanding of the Serious Incident Framework
• Knowledge of current prescribing issues
• Knowledge of own professional accountability and autonomous practice
• Understanding of the Infection Control (Health & Social Care Act 2008 (regulated activates) 2010
• Auditing and Research
• Knowledge of the implementation of Care Quality Commission standards

Personal Competencies

Essential

• Excellent interpersonal and organisational skills, able to influence and persuade others articulating a balanced view and able to constructively question information
• Evidence of inspiring and motivating teams with the ability to communicate passionately, effectively and persuasively across a diverse audience.
• Ability to negotiate effectively
• Ability to coordinate and prioritise workloads able to multi-task as well as be self-disciplined and highly motivated
• Clear communicator with excellent writing, report writing and presentation skills; capable of constructing and delivering clear ideas and concepts concisely and accurately for diverse audiences

Desirable

• A high degree of personal credibility, emotional intelligence, patience, and flexibility
• Ability to cope with unpredictable situations

Analysis

Essential

• Ability to analyse and interpret complex/ often incomplete information, pre-empt and evaluate issues, and recommend an appropriate course of action to address the issues
• Ability to evidence a sound understanding of the NHS principles and values

Desirable

• Experience working within a primary care setting
• Evidence of working across organisational boundaries within health and social care
• Independent thinker with good judgement, problem-solving and analytical skills.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration