Emergency Care Practitioner / Prescribing Paramedic - North Somerset

Symphony are recruiting for highly skilled and motivated Emergency Care Practitioners or Prescribing Paramedics to join our dynamic, patient-centred teams at Symphony North (Burnham on Sea, Berrow and Highbridge Medical Centres) and Burnham on Sea War Memorial Hospital (MIU) in Somerset. In this exciting role, you'll be responsible for delivering high quality care from first presentation through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow up.

You'll manage patients with minor illness, minor injuries, and a range of acute presentations, using your advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills to make safe, effective decisions. You'll be a confident critical thinker, able to independently assess and manage minor trauma and injury, while working collaboratively with our multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, patient focused care in line with local policy and clinical best practice.

We have 66 permanent hours available working Monday to Friday + weekends on rotation. Full time, part time and job share options will be considered.

Main duties of the job:

• The post holder will be an experienced ECP / Prescribing Paramedic who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care.
• This includes patients presenting with minor illness and minor injuries within both general practice and a Minor Injury Unit setting.
• They will demonstrate safe clinical decision making and expert care, including advanced assessment and diagnostic skills, for patients within general practice and the Minor Injury Unit.
• The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision‑making process and will be competent in the assessment and management of acute presentations, minor trauma and injury.
• They will work collaboratively with the general practice and Minor Injury Unit teams to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

About us:

Established in 2016, Symphony Healthcare Services (Symphony) provides NHS primary care provision across 21 sites within Somerset, linked to 14 general practice contracts. The organisation cares for approximately 132,000 patients and employs around 600 staff. Symphony is a subsidiary of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and manages its services through the support of a central team (including HR, finance, corporate and operational governance). Providing NHS services is at the heart of what we do. Specifically, our vision is to be at the forefront of sustainable, high quality general practice, collaborating with our communities to improve experiences and health outcomes. We work closely with our practice teams to grow, enhance, and transform our services for the benefit of patients and staff.

Symphony welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and under‑represented groups. When undertaking recruitment and selection for our services, Symphony is committed to equality opportunity for all.

Symphony offers an NHS or NEST Pension, a fantastic range of employee benefits and salary sacrifice schemes, along with flexible working from day of employment and an agile approach to hybrid working (where applicable).

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years post‑registration experience
• At least 2 years recent primary / community nursing experience
• Non‑medical prescribing
• Autonomous management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Clinician‑led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical guidelines
• Audit
• Research
• Evidence of appropriate continuing professional development activity
• Ability to assess and manage patient risk effectively and safely
• Health‑needs assessment

Knowledge and Skills:

• Advanced clinical practice skills
• Management of patients with long‑term conditions
• Management of patients with complex needs
• Clinical examination skills
• Local and national health policy
• Clinical governance issues in primary care
• Patient group directives and associated policy
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Change management
• Resource management
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of primary care operating environment
• Excellent analytical skills, including analysis of data
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritise workload
• Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality and safety
• Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working
• Understanding of the South Somerset Symphony Programme and New Models of Care
• Understanding of the NHS GP Contract
• Use of EMIS searches and protocols
• Able to multi‑task and cope with an unpredictable work pattern.
• Knowledge of public health issues
• Able to identify determinants on health in the area

Qualifications:

• Registered nurse, paramedic or ACP
• MSc or equivalent
• Non‑medical prescribing qualification
• Relevant health degree
• Clinical supervision training and experience
• GCSE or equivalent in English and Mathematics
• A Level qualifications or equivalent
• Evidence of continual professional development.

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.

£55,450 to £64,046 a year - starting salary will be offered based on previous experience.

Contract: Permanent

Working pattern: Full‑time, Part‑time, Job share, Flexible working