Primary Care Network Paramedic

Job summary
The post holder will be employed by Greenwich Health, the GP Federation in Greenwich. Greenwich has 7 primary care networks (PCNS) with list sizes of between 30-80,000 patients. The Post holder will work for Valentine Primary Care Network.

Paramedic Practitioners (PPs) - are paramedics who have undergone additional education and training to equip them with greater patient assessment and management skills.They are able to diagnose a wide range of conditions and are skilled to treat many minor injuries and illnesses .PPs are also able to signpost care referring patients to specialists in the community such as GPs, community nurses or social care professionals. The PPwill demonstrate critical thinking and is a caring, compassionate and committed, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will demonstrate safe, competent clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills, for patients within the general practice. They will communicate and work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

Main duties of the job

• Assessing patients and treating minor illness in the practices daily walk in clinic
• Using specialist equipment including nebulisers and ECG machines and reading ECGs
• Undertake routine assessments of patients with acute health problems and/or long term conditions in their home working in collaboration with the duty GP where necessary
• Providing advice and treatment in collaboration with the duty GP where necessary to manage acute symptoms or long term conditions within their own home in order to avoid unnecessary visits to hospital
• Where a prescribing qualification is held, prescribing medications in line with personal clinical competence and local guidelines
• Take a holistic approach to patient care, bringing together medical, social and psychological needs
• Encouraging patients to take responsibility for managing their own care and treatment where it is safe and appropriate to do so and providing health education
• Referring patients to alternative health and/or social services
• undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the Partners or the Practice Manager

About us
Greenwich Health is the GP Federation for the Greenwich Borough and have a not-for-profit ethos. This means we reinvest all of our surplus into developing our staff, our organisation and to support our GP Practices in being sustainable for the future. We are committed to providing quality of care to our patients whilst building resilience for General Practice and providing services and programmes of work to deliver care at scale to the Greenwich Population.

Why work for Greenwich Health?

• We are local organisation owned by our local GP Practices we care what happens in Greenwich and want to make a difference to our patients and our partners.
• We offer competitive remuneration as well as other benefits including:
• Occupational sickness pay entitlement
• Counselling services
• Electric Vehicle Salary Sacrifice Scheme
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Private Healthcare Membership - Benenden Healthcare
• We have a track record for developing individuals in their careers
• Through our partnerships in our local healthcare environment, we can develop shared posts for example, with the hospital trust and our GP practices.
• You will have ongoing support and mentorship.
• We have developed a working culture which harnesses openness and togetherness which has resulted in high staff retention rates.

Job responsibilities
Principal Roles And Responsibilities:

• Assessing patients and treating minor illness in the practices daily walk in clinic
• Using specialist equipment including nebulisers and ECG machines and reading ECGs
• Undertake routine assessments of patients with acute health problems and/or long term conditions in their home working in collaboration with the duty GP where necessary
• Providing advice and treatment in collaboration with the duty GP where necessary to manage acute symptoms or long term conditions within their own home in order to avoid unnecessary visits to hospital
• Where a prescribing qualification is held, prescribing medications in line with personal clinical competence and local guidelines
• Take a holistic approach to patient care, bringing together medical, social and psychological needs
• Encouraging patients to take responsibility for managing their own care and treatment where it is safe and appropriate to do so and providing health education
• Referring patients to alternative health and/or social services
• undertake any other additional duties appropriate to the post as requested by the Partners or the Practice Manager

Generic responsibilities for all clinical staff in the Practice

• To communicate at all levels within the team ensuring an effective service is delivered.
• To maintain accurate, contemporaneous healthcare records appropriate to the consultation.
• Ensure evidenced-based care is delivered at the highest standards ensuring delivery of high quality patient care
• Works in accordance with local policies and procedures.
• Enhance own performance through Continuous Professional Development, imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service.
• To achieve and demonstrate agreed standards of personal and professional development in order to meet the needs of the service.
• To participate in the audit process, evaluation and implementing plans and practice change in order to meet patient need.
• Contribute positively to the effectiveness and efficiency of the team and work colleagues including asking colleagues for advice or support when working at the limit of personal knowledge and/or competence.

Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality:
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication:
The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:
The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

We are happy to offer this as a full time, 40 hour per week position. However, flexibility can be considered for the successful candidate if needed.

Person Specification
Skills
Essential

• A caring personality
• Good communication skills
• The ability to make swift decisions under pressure and remain calm
• Resilience
• Stamina

Qualifications
Essential

• Qualified Paramedic registered with the HCPC
• Full driving licence

Desirable

• Independent prescriber certification

Experience
Essential

• Minimum of 2 years post registration experience
• Solo experiencing the urgent care setting or in rapid response vehicle

Desirable

• Experience in telephone consultation and triaging

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.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

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