Physician Associate in Leicester

This is an exciting opportunity to provide care for spinal patients. The postholder will be part of a team working across different areas in the department, wards, clinic, theatres, etc. They will be working closely with the consultant of the week, resident doctors and fellow PAs responsible for patients on the ward, including both elective and emergency patients.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will be required to provide assistance to the Consultant Surgeons and resident doctors in the provision of high-quality care within the department.
• They will be expected to participate in all aspects of the patient pathway as appropriate and to perform delegated duties with a high degree of clinical skill and knowledge, working within operating theatres, wards and outpatient clinics.
• The post holder will be trained to assess and examine patients, present them, initiate and interpret investigations, and recommend treatment.
• They will be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialties as required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.

The post holder will be supervised by a designated consultant of the week and will also have an individual educational supervisor to oversee their career development. It is expected that the Physician Associates will become involved in the activities of the department, including review of inpatients, assessment of acute admissions, audits, practical procedures and outpatient clinics. Physician Associates represent the department at local and external meetings as appropriate.

Person Specification:

• Training & Qualifications: Registration with the General Medical Council (GMC). Graduation from a Physician Associate training programme with a Master of Science or Post Graduate Diploma. Maintenance of registration with the GMC throughout employment and meet all associated requirements.
• Communication and relationship skills: Facilitate productive team working by communicating effectively within the multidisciplinary team. Verbal and written communication skills. Participate in specialist meetings to discuss treatment.
• Skills: Assess and examine spinal patients, initiate and interpret investigations, formulate differential diagnoses, and recommend treatment in both inpatient and outpatient settings on behalf of the supervising consultant. Develop and maintain extensive specialist knowledge and experience in spinal surgery, acting as a resource for the clinical team and allied health professionals. After appropriate training, perform delegated diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, such as nerve root blocks, in line with parameters set by the supervising consultant. Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures including but not limited to venepuncture, arterial blood gas sampling, cannulation, suturing, peripheral nerve blocks, biopsy. First or second assist in theatre.
• Experience: Experience of working in an acute and demanding clinical setting. Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team. Ability to organise and prioritise workload effectively. Involved in clinical audit and research. Demonstrate interest in Spinal Surgery. Experience of designing audit/projects and research.
• Analytical and Judgment skills: Exercise a high degree of independent personal autonomy and judgement when assessing and planning care for patients, whilst working within appropriate national and local treatment guidelines.
• Planning and organisation skills: To ensure confidentiality at all times, only releasing confidential information obtained during the course of employment to those acting in an official capacity in accordance with the provisions of the Data Protection Act and its amendments. Support colleagues including resident doctors, ACPs, and medical/PA students.
• Equality, Diversity and Inclusion: Able to demonstrate a commitment to and understanding of the importance of treating all individuals with dignity and respect appropriate to their individual needs. All staff are expected to engage in compassionate and inclusive leadership in the provision of high quality care and interactions with others.
• Commitment to Trust Values and Behaviours: Must be able to demonstrate behaviours consistent with the Trust's Values and Behaviours.
• 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.