Paramedic Practitioner in Greenhithe

We are looking for a Paramedic Practitioner to join our team at Swanscombe Health Centre and branch practices, to work independently within their scope of practice in the community, using their enhanced clinical assessment and treatment skills to assess and manage patients presenting with acute presentations which include minor illness or injury, abdominal pains, chest pains and headaches. The post-holder will be an integral part of the general practice team.

Main duties of the job:

• Based at Swanscombe Health Centre, the role of the Paramedic Practitioner will be to work autonomously but with support of our large team of clinicians, while visiting our patients within their own homes to offer assessment, diagnosis, treatment and continuing support. Some late afternoon/evening visits may be required within the working day.
• You should have experience of working in a similar role, with relevant qualifications, HCPC registration, and have excellent organisational/communications skills.

About us:

We have a team of over 100 staff throughout 8 sites, including GPs, Paramedic Practitioners, Clinical Pharmacists, Physicians Associates, a Physiotherapist, Practice Nurses, Healthcare Assistants, Social Prescribers and the administrative support workers. Even with a large team, we work closely together and clinical staff are supported by a weekly clinical meeting.

We offer a competitive salary dependent on experience and qualifications, a NHS Pension and opportunities for ongoing professional development and training.

Job responsibilities:

• Work as part of a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) within the organisation.
• Assess and triage patients, including same day triage, and as appropriate provide definitive treatment (including prescribing medications following policy, patient group directives, NICE (national) and local clinical guidelines and local care pathways) or make necessary referrals to other members of the primary care team.
• Advise patients on general healthcare and promote self-management where appropriate, including signposting patients to the social prescribing service and, where appropriate, other community or voluntary services.
• Perform specialist health checks and reviews within their scope of practice and in line with local and national guidance.
• Perform and interpret ECGs.
• Perform investigatory procedures as required and undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs and other samples within their scope of practice and within line of local and national guidance.
• Support the delivery of anticipatory care plans and lead certain services (e.g., monitoring blood pressure and diabetes risk of elderly patients).
• Communicate at all levels across organisations ensuring that an effective, person-centred service is delivered.
• Communicate proactively and effectively with all colleagues across the MDT, attending and contributing to meetings as required.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous health records appropriate to the consultation, ensuring accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient healthcare and registration with the organisation.
• Communicate effectively with patients and, when appropriate, family members and their carers, where applicable, complex and sensitive information regarding their physical health needs, results, findings and treatment choices.
• Receive referrals and directed patients from triage services and other clinicians.
• Maintain accurate clinical records in conjunction with extant legislation.
• Develop yourself and the role through participation in clinical supervision, training and service redesign activities.
• Actively signpost patients to the correct healthcare professional.
• Review the latest guidance, ensuring the organisation conforms to NICE, CQC etc.
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding current legislation and adhere to practice policies and procedures on safeguarding adults and safeguarding children.
• Support in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirements on behalf of the organisation.
• Participate in the management of patient complaints when requested to do so, and participate in the identification of any necessary learning brought about through clinical incidents and near-miss events.
• Undertake all mandatory training and induction programmes.
• Contribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governance.
• Attend a formal appraisal with your manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed.
• Contribute to public health campaigns (e.g., flu clinics) through advice or direct care.
• Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all times.

There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks, this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels.

Person Specification:

Experience:

• Experience of working autonomously.
• Completed the two-year Consolidation of Learning period when a newly qualified paramedic.
• Experience of working in primary care.
• Experience of working in a GP practice.
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape, including the relationships between individual practices, PCNs and the commissioners.
• A good working knowledge of EMIS/Docman/Anima.

Qualifications:

• Educated to degree level in paramedicine or equivalent experience.
• Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) as a Paramedic.
• Qualified prescriber.

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.