Community Paramedic Practitioner

Job Description - Community Paramedic Practitioner

Responsible to: Clinical Director

Reports to: Clinically to the Partners/Administratively to the Practice Manager

Hours: 37.5 hours - Full-time

Salary: £40,000 - £50,000 (depending on experience)

About KWH

K&W Healthcare Ltd is a GP network that provides a range of services to a population of over 180,000 in 28 GP practices within Kingsbury, Willesden and Wembley.

Job Summary

You will provide a specialist paramedic resource as part of a multi-disciplinary team in a patient facing role. Just as important are your listening and team skills, along with your caring and compassionate nature.

Working across a group of practices, you will work as an autonomous, accountable paramedic providing holistic care whilst assessing, diagnosing and providing treatment to patients; or referring / directing to other services.

To promote self-care and educate service users to allow them to be empowered to make informed choices about treatment. You will provide appropriate leadership within a self-managed team and be committed to learning and improving the service we offer to patients.

You will work with patients to reach shared decisions about how to support people minimise the impact of their condition(s) on their life, especially for older people and those with multiple co-morbidities.

You will ensure that, where applicable, responses integrate with community and hospital services. You will be passionate about clinical learning and professional development through a structured programme of education and support.

Peer-support will be provided from within the multi-disciplinary team, supported by the GP supervisors.

An enhanced DBS check will be carried out for all successful candidates.

You will be expected to travel between named practices and meetings across the patch.

You must have a full driving license with suitable insurance and access to a suitable vehicle.

Key Responsibilities and Clinical Duties

• Support people to live and die well, minimising the impact of their condition on their life.
• Ensure that patients make informed choices about their care and that shared decisions are made.
• Assess, diagnose, plan, implement and evaluate treatment/interventions and care of patients presenting with an undifferentiated diagnosis.
• Diagnose and manage both acute and chronic conditions, integrating both drug and non-drug based treatment methods into a management plan.
• See patients within their own home and care home setting and in clinics, providing care to patients on domiciliary visits.
• Develop care plans for patients when required and be involved with the continuity of care of our patients.
• Maintain clinical knowledge and practice to known capabilities and competencies.
• Ensure registration and qualifications with the Health and Care Professionals Council is maintained.
• Prescribe/issue medications with suitable training and supervision.
• Undertake the collection of pathological specimens with appropriate training and supervision.
• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and concise electronic records within the practice clinical system.
• Involve in ongoing education and improvement work; and support and provide training to staff members.
• Work collaboratively alongside administration staff to ensure that service user needs are met.
• Provide professional input to named practice teams and network multidisciplinary teams.
• Liaise across providers to ensure accurate and effective medication management.
• Provide direct care to patients with long term conditions, minor ailments and other clinical areas.
• Support the care of complex patients in their own homes.
• Discuss patients with complex needs at local MDT meetings.
• Provide professional telephone and email advice and support to patients and their carers.
• Ensure adequate and appropriate indemnity is in place.

Administration

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team.
• Ensure all necessary paperwork and registration documentation is completed and kept up to date.
• Comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act and other relevant information.
• Be aware of responsibilities under the Health Act 2008 Code of Practice for the Prevention and control of Healthcare Associated Infections.
• Provide Home Visits for the PCN practices.
• Provide Care Home support as required.
• Provide emergency support as required.

Training / Educational Development

• Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken.
• Keep up to date with relevant medical research and evidence-based practice.
• Attend regular multi-disciplinary meetings and educational meetings.
• Regularly reflect on own practice to identify learning needs.
• Demonstrate learning which contributes to performance within the role.

Key Relationships

• Patients and their families / carers
• GP, nurses and other practice staff
• Other healthcare professionals
• Primary Care Network Leads
• Community and Hospital teams

Key Outcomes

• Provide care closer to home
• Reduce Non-Elective admissions
• Integration of community services
• Improve productivity within primary care
• Increase capacity within primary care
• Reduce pressures of GP workload

Audit and Risk Stratification

• Participate in the effective care planning and management of high risk patients.
• Participate in audit activities to optimise prescribing resources.
• Feedback results of clinical audit activities.
• Work with practices to proactively identify and recall patients due for review.
• Analyse, interpret and present prescribing information.

Other Conditions:

Communication

• Recognise the importance of effective communication with colleagues, patients, and the public.
• Be polite and courteous at all times.
• Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication.

Confidentiality

Maintain the confidentiality of information about patients.

Equal Opportunities

Ensure no job applicant or employee receives less than favourable treatment based on various grounds.

Health and Safety

• Be aware of responsibilities under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
• Assist in promoting and maintaining health, safety, and security.

Data Protection

Comply with the Data Protection Act and the Access to Health Records Act.

Personal and Professional Development

• Participate in training programmes and maintain a record of personal development.

Quality

• Strive to maintain quality within the company.

Flexibility

Develop flexible working practices to meet the challenges within the NHS.

Person Specification

Qualifications:

• Registered paramedic (Essential)
• Paramedic qualification.
• Appropriate certification in Information Governance.

Essential Experience:

• Two years as a paramedic.
• High level of accountability and autonomy.
• Demonstration of innovation in practice.
• Understanding and experience of research and audit.
• Experience of developing effective working relationships.

Knowledge:

• Broad knowledge within General Practice and Primary Care.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (Essential).

Essential Skills and Abilities:

• Promotion of Best Practice through clinical governance mechanisms.
• Able to prioritise own workload.
• Full Driving License.
• Able to use Information Technology systems.
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Able to teach skills to patients and health professionals.
• Organisational skills.
• Leadership skills.
• Able to self-manage and work independently.
• Presentation skills.

Essential Personal Qualities:

• Flexible and adaptable to team and service needs.
• Reliable and confident.