Physician Associate

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Come and join us at Medway NHS FT Whether you’re a porter or a nurse, a pharmacist or a housekeeper, a doctor or an IT expert, you can have a vital role to play in providing care for almost half a million people from the Medway towns and Kent more widely. We’re the largest hospital in Kent and we do a huge amount here; looking after the 100,000 people who come to our emergency department, delivering 5,000 babies and carrying out 22,000 operations each year. We use two million items of bedding each year and serve half a million cups of tea. We have a team of over 4,000 highly skilled and dedicated people, united by a passion for providing brilliant care for the thousands of patients that pass through our door each day. As the largest employer in Medway, we are all committed to doing our best for the local community and working with a whole range of partners to improve public health across the area. We have had some challenging times at Medway but we’ve delivered significant improvements in recent months and the future looks bright. Our aim is to be the best and we hope you will consider joining us and helping us to achieve that.

Lesley Dwyer Chief Executive Officer

JOB DESCRIPTION Role: Physician Associate

Banding: 7

Directorate: All Directorates

Responsible to: Lead Consultant

Accountable to: Physician Associate Champion

Hours: 37.5

Job Purpose As a key member of the clinical team, the Physician Associate will work as an

integral member of the Directorate team. The appointed physician associate will

provide expert assistance to the consultants and registrars in the provision of a high

quality care and support for patients attending Medway NHS Foundation trust

The post holder is expected to participate in all aspects of the care pathway as

appropriate and will be expected to perform delegated duties with a high degree of

clinical skill and knowledge, working within their relevant area

The Physician Associate role works alongside consultants, junior doctors and nurse

specialists. The post holder will be required to assess and examine patients, present

them, initiate and interpret investigations, and recommend treatment within a defined

scope. They will be expected to liaise with other professionals and specialities as

required and complete necessary documentation relating to their patients.

The physician associate will be expected to participate in supporting junior doctors on evening and night shifts to deliver urgent care for patients attending the hospital. The post holder will be supervised by a designated consultant and will also have individual mentors to overview their career development. It is expected that the Physician Associate will become involved in the activities of the department, including review of inpatients, assessment of acute admissions, practical procedures and outpatient clinics. It would be envisaged that the role would be developed flexibly over time in accordance with the needs of the service.

They will be expected to write discharge summaries for elective and emergency

ward patients The post-holder will have a significant role on the ward, liaising with

junior doctors and ward sisters and staff, and in facilitating patient admissions,

pathways and discharges.

The Physician Associate will also be expected to participate in mentoring newly

appointed physicians associates and those undergoing training placements

It is expected that the Physician Associate will have had experience in working in

patient’s services previously and also some experience in training or education. The

Physician Associate will undergo a period of training, supervision and accreditation

to activities relevant to the department.

It is expected that each sub speciality will provide additional areas of work in line with the

need of the service .

Rotation on agreement with the post holder through various area and programmes will be

activity supported.

Medway NHS Foundation Trust

Medway NHS Foundation Trust is a large acute trust and district general hospital in Kent.

We have a proud history, originating in 1905 when a Royal Naval Hospital was opened on

the site. Just over a century later, Medway NHS Foundation Trust was the first hospital in

Kent to achieve Foundation Trust status. We continue to expand and modernise the array of

services on offer to the people of the Medway towns, Swale and the wider West Kent region.

Medway is an Associated University Hospital with strong links to the Guy’s, King’s and St

Thomas’ Medical Schools and KSS School of Physician Associates.

Key Responsibilities:

To perform initial patient assessment and examination, initiate diagnostic process and interpret investigations and recommend initial treatment.

To exercise a high degree of personal autonomy when assessing and planning care for patients with a range of presenting complaints.

To develop extensive specialist knowledge and experience, acting as a resource to the clinical team and allied health professionals.

Practice under the supervision of a Consultant Physician and other qualified staff as agreed.

Take patient histories and perform physical examinations of a patient recording all information in the patients’ medical records.

Order and interpret diagnostic laboratory tests, radiological studies or various other therapies.

Distinguish between normal and abnormal findings to recognise early stages of serious medical, emotional or mental problems in the patient

Establish differential diagnosis, make appropriate treatment plans and initiate emergency treatment.

Coordinate consultants ward rounds, and take responsibility for following up resulting actions

Ensure safe and effective handover of patients to the appropriate ward

Work with the multi-disciplinary team in an appropriate management plan for the patient e.g. Social Services, Community Nursing Teams, and Clinical Nurse Specialists.

Instruct and counsel patients regarding mental and physical health, including: a) Diet and advice

b) Disease and disease prevention

c) Treatment

d) Normal development

Refer and converse with appropriate specialists in regard to patient management.

To perform diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, such as: Initiation of IV therapy by peripheral, central and venous cut-down. Injections Venepuncture Initiation of Basic/Advanced Life Support in all patients and in all settings. Administration of medications Other interventions or procedures as directed by the supervising physician

Maintain knowledge and proficiency in medical practices through continuing education, staff meetings and workshops.

Work towards prescribing as appropriate to ensure timely discharge of patients.

Work towards taking responsibility for actively discharging patients.

Work with the teams to develop/improve and implement new models of working to ensuring efficiency within the area of work.

Work within the team to support the achievement and maintenance of internal and external targets Be responsible for a recognised caseload of patients in the day-to-day management of care.

Support the clinical team in the timeliness of discharge information to General Practitioners.

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment

Communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication

Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders

Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues

Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (e.g. PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

Delivering a Quality Service

Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures

Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation

Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities

Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required

In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate

Evaluate patients’ response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation

Use a structured framework (e.g. root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events

Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery

Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients’ health procedures and local guidance.

Perform other tasks, not prohibited by law in which the physician associate has been trained and is proficient to perform.

Teaching and training

Act as a ‘champion’ for the Physician Associate role.

Assist in the development and preparation of the Physician Associate teaching materials in areas of clinical examination skills, communication skills and clinical medicine.

Assist in the development and delivery of teaching, assessment and evaluation of physician Associate curriculum

To attend staff development courses as part of own personal and professional development

To assist in the development and maintenance of clinical placements in the acute setting as needed.

Teaching other groups of staff as appropriate e.g. nursing/medical students

There may also be a requirement to undertake other similar duties as part of this

post in order to provide a quality service. These will be consistent with the level of

responsibilities outlined above.

Key Working Relationships

Internal External Physician Associates Champion Consultants Physicians Matron Ward Sisters and Nursing Staff Junior Doctors Fellow Physician Associates Ward and Departmental Clerical

Staff

Professional and statutory regulators

KSS School of Physician Associates

Programme Director, Christchurch Canterbury University

Main Conditions of Service Registered Health Professional

All staff who are members of a professional body must comply with standards of professional

practice / conduct. It is the post holder's responsibility to ensure they are both familiar with

and adhere to these requirements.

Physician Associates must have current and valid certification or re-certification by the UK

Physician Associate National Examination.

They are required to be a Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which

includes registration on the PA Managed Voluntary Register

If US Trained:

A current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician

Assistants (NCCPA).

Member of the Faculty of Physician Associates at the RCP, which includes registration on

the PA Managed Voluntary Register.

Our Vision and Values All staff must commit to our Vision and Values and exhibit behaviours in line with our new Values.

Bold We are inspiring and ambitious Every Person Counts We are respectful and supportive Sharing and Open We are open and speak up Together We are inclusive and responsible

Mandatory Training All staff must complete on-going mandatory and role-specific training pertinent to their post, and this should be confirmed with their line manager. Quality Assurance The Medway NHS Foundation Trust has adopted comprehensive quality assurance, and all members of staff employed by the trust are expected to play their part. The aim is to provide a good quality service, which the customer accepts is appropriate and which is provided in the best possible way. Health & Safety Staff are required to observe local Health & Safety arrangements and take reasonable care of themselves and persons who may be affected by their work. Equal Opportunities Staff are required to comply with the Medway NHS Foundation Trust's approach to equal opportunities and treat everyone the same, regardless of their gender, race, disability, marital status, religion or belief, sexual orientation, gender reassignment or age. Risk Management All post holders have a responsibility to report risks such as clinical and non-clinical accidents or incidents promptly. They are expected to be familiar with the Trust’s use of risk

assessments to predict and control risk, as well as the incident reporting system for learning from mistakes and near misses in order to improve services. Post holders must also attend training identified by their manager, or stated by the Trust to be mandatory. Infection Prevention and Control All post holders have a personal obligation to act to reduce healthcare associated infections (HCAIs). They must attend mandatory training in Infection Control and be compliant with all measures required by the Trust to reduce HCAIs. All post holders must comply with Trust infection screening and immunisation policies as well as be familiar with the Trust’s Infection Control Policies, including those that apply to their duties, such as Hand Hygiene Policy and Trust procedures for use of personal protective Equipment, safe procedures for using aseptic techniques and safe disposal of sharps.

Information Governance Staff are required to keep all patient and staff information confidential unless disclosure is expressly authorised by your employer. Misuse of or a failure to properly safeguard any data considered to be confidential may be regarded as misconduct/gross misconduct and a disciplinary offence. Patient Experience Staff should ensure that they help to create a positive patient experience at all stages of a patient’s interaction with the hospital and help to improve the patient experience within the hospital environment. Safeguarding Children and Vulnerable Adults The Trust is committed to the protection of children, young people, their families and vulnerable adults accessing its services. Promoting the message that “safeguarding is everyone’s business” is vital to ensure our patients are protected and safe from abuse. To this end you must comply with Trust’s and the Kent and Medway Safeguarding Board’s policies on safeguarding children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff no matter where they work or which age group of patients they work with must be aware of their responsibility to act when they feel a child, young person or vulnerable adult has been or is at risk of abuse. Disclosure and Barring Service

The position you have applied for may have been identified as being an 'eligible position' under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 [the Exceptions Order] and, in certain circumstances, the Police Act 1997. As such, it may meet the eligibility criteria for a standard or an enhanced disclosure to be requested through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Uniform All staff must adhere to the Trust Nurses / Midwives Uniform Policy

Job Description

The job description is not intended to be exhaustive and it is likely that duties may be

altered from time to time in the light of changing circumstances and after consultation

with the post holder. This job description is to be read in conjunction with all current

Medway Foundation trust policies, procedures & guidelines.

Smoke Free Medway

On Monday 17 October 2016 Medway Maritime Hospital became a smoke free site. This

means that from this date, smoking will be completely prohibited in all Trust buildings,

grounds and car parks for patients, visitors, staff and contractors. This will ensure that the

hospital is a better place to work and a better place for our patients to be treated.

If you are currently a smoker and would like to receive free stop smoking advice, please

contact the Medway Stop Smoking Service on 07535 710329 or 0800 234 6805.”

PERSON SPECIFICATION

The person specification sets out the essential qualifications, experience, skills, knowledge, personal attributes and other requirements which the post holder requires to perform the job to a satisfactory level. Without these qualities applicant cannot be appointed to the post.

Qualifications (Essential)

BS Degree prior to undertaking PA program PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a UK training programme Current and valid certification or recertification by the Physician Associate National Examination Member of the UKAPA Registration with the UK Managed Voluntary Registry for physician Associates as soon as it is in place OR: If US Trained: Current and valid certification with the National Commission on Certification for Physician Associates (NCCPA) ILS, ACLS & PALS certification required

Application

Interview Reference

Knowledge

Awareness of current developments and initiatives in emergency medicine services.

Application

Interview

Reference

Values Exhibits behaviours in line with Trust Values: Bold We are inspiring and ambitious Every Person Counts We are respectful and supportive Sharing and Open We are open and speak up Together We are inclusive and responsible

Experience (Essential)

Previous experience as a Physician Associate Experience of working within the relevant acute specialism Experience of conducting clinical audit Ability to organise and Prioritise workload effectively Ability to exercise sound judgements when faced with conflicting pressures Ability to work cohesively within the multi-disciplinary team

Application

Interview

Reference

Skills Knowledge of medical procedures and terminology Verbal and written communication skills Ability to maintain confidentiality Ability to respond to questions in a tactful and professional manner Ability to adhere to regulations as well as work flexibly to meet the needs of the Trust Energy and enthusiasm and the ability to work under pressure An inquiring and critical approach to work Caring attitude toward patients Ability to communicate effectively with colleagues, patients, relatives, nurses, other staff and agencies Commitment to CME and professional development.

Application

Interview

Reference

Other Attributes

Ability to implement policies and guidelines. Ability to work well with colleagues and within a team. Ability to identify potential areas of risk; takes action to minimize the risk. Demonstration of own self development.

Application

Interview

Reference