Urgent Care Practitioner (UCP) in Faversham

We are looking for Nurse Practitioners, Paramedic Practitioners or other suitably qualified allied health professionals to work with our expanding friendly and supportive team at Faversham Medical Practice and Urgent Treatment Centre. An independent prescribing qualification would be beneficial but is not essential. This position requires working some Bank Holidays, regular weekends, evenings and other cover when needed as our Urgent Treatment Centre is open 7 days a week 8am to 8pm.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be responsible for providing consultations for patients presenting with minor injuries, unscheduled and scheduled primary care conditions and minor illnesses. They will act as an autonomous clinician and take responsibility for the assessment, treatment and discharge of patients.

About us

We are a GP Practice and Urgent Treatment Centre working from Faversham Health Centre. We are a friendly and supportive team. Faversham is a beautiful, historic market town. It is close to the vibrant city of Canterbury; just 60 miles from London and yet within easy reach of attractive coastline areas and beaches.

Job responsibilities and Accountabilities:

• Assist the Clinical Lead and Medical Director in implementing systems and processes that will ensure excellent standards of care.
• Undertake face to face assessment and treatment of patients who attend the Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) and Faversham Medical Practice, including home visits.
• Provide assessment, treatment and diagnosis at point of first contact, by attending to patients in a variety of clinical or non-clinical settings according to patients needs including care planning.
• Refer patients to an alternative care setting or treat and discharge as appropriate.
• Ensure that professional standards are maintained in the provision of care within the guidance by the Department of Health and the NMC, HCPC or other relevant authority.
• Ensure that the robust system in place for maintaining clinical governance within Faversham Medical Practice (FMP) is adhered to.
• Implement the monitoring plan designed by the Clinical Lead, Medical Director (MD) to evaluate standards of evidence based care and practice. Report results to the Clinical Lead and assist in developing action plans where necessary to improve standards and feed-back the results to the Clinical Lead and MD.
• Network with external care providers to ensure continuity of care.
• Link with the Clinical Governance Team to ensure clinical policies and procedures are current.

Management:

• Provide leadership and support to Receptionist/HCAs.
• Assist the Clinical Lead to establish the mandatory training requirements of the HCA roles and identify training resources.
• Ensure an efficient and effective service delivery by actively supporting the Clinical Lead and other members of the team.
• Ensure accurate learning and development records are maintained.

Professional and Clinical:

• Provide professional leadership for all Receptionists/HCAs providing a source of advice, consultation and support, to lead and motivate.
• Be conversant with the NMC or HCPC Code of Professional Conduct and any associated national guidelines and abide by their guidance.
• Support the implementation of any audit findings.

Communication and Key Working Relationships:

The post holder must be able to demonstrate excellent communication and interpersonal skills at all times, and build and maintain good working relationships with all stakeholders.

Administration and professional responsibilities:

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team.
• Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes.
• Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date, with accurate details recorded and amended.
• Ensure appropriate items of service claims are made accurately, reporting any problems to the practice administrator.
• Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice.
• Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit.
• Restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms.

Training, professional and personal development:

• The post holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include: Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
• Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the induction of all members of the practice staff where appropriate.
• Develop and maintain an in house training programme reporting to the practice manager.
• If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given.
• Develop and maintain a Personal Development Plan.

Liaison:

• Work closely with the clinical/Reception team to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting problems to the relevant person, ensuring everyone is aware of the different roles within the clinical team.
• Establish and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and agencies, including secondary care.

Meetings:

It will be necessary to attend and contribute to various practice meetings as requested. Attendance at such meetings will be mandatory.

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety:

The post holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of their own and others health and safety and infection control, as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures.

Safeguarding:

It is the responsibility of all staff at Faversham Medical Practice to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults. Ensure their safeguarding adults and safeguarding children training is up to date at the level appropriate to their role.

This job description provides an outline of the main responsibilities associated with the role but is not exhaustive. The range of activities and areas of responsibility will evolve over time. The content of this job description will therefore be subject to regular review and amendment in line with any resulting change in the need to fulfil and meet the organisations needs.