JOB TITLE: Urgent Care Practitioner
LOCATION: St Austell Healthcare sites
HOURS: Full & Part time vacancies
The post holder will work as part of the clinical team at the Carlyon Road Health Hub, as well as working within our visiting team.
Primary care experience desired, as is prescribing (or willing to undertake prescribing course)The post holder is a registered clinician with post graduate qualifications relevant to the position who acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within the general practice. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:- Ensure complete and accurate documentation of each and every patient contact.
- Work as an independent practitioner and as part of the multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams in order to ensure patients needs are met.
- Ensure that professional standards are maintained and within the guidance by the Department of Health, the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council)/the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Paramedics (COP)
- Any other duties appropriate to the post.
- Must have access to own transport.
Main duties of the jobCLINICAL CARE- Act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating clinical competence and a sound knowledge base.
- Undertake consultations with patients including visiting in their own home or a care home environment.
- Assess patients with a range of acute, non-acute and chronic medical conditions
- Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition.
- Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition as appropriate.
- Work with other health care professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions, including non-drug-based treatment methods using a management plan, and in line with national and local policies and practice needs.
- Diagnose and/or liaise with GPs to agree diagnosis, any further investigations which may be needed and appropriate treatment.
- Liaise with GPs to admit patients to secondary care if they are in acute medical need.
- Refer patients as appropriate to other members of the multidisciplinary team, secondary care and to other relevant care providers.
- To provide education and training to other staff as appropriate and to encourage team work and the sharing of best practice. Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care, delivered in a timely manner.
About usSt Austell Healthcare has a strong multidisciplinary team comprising GPs, ANPs, Nurses, Paramedics and Pharmacists and an ethos for innovation and collaboration with health and social care partners.
We are an award winning, happy team and take pride in our work and the care we offer our 38,000 patients.
We are constantly seeking new ways of working to enhance service provision and the patient experience, introducing new technologies and methods of working to meet the expectations of our patient group. We are ambitious and wish to provide the best service we can for the people of St Austell and Mevagissey.
Job responsibilitiesJOB DESCRIPTIONJOB TITLE Urgent Care Practitioner
LOCATION St Austell Healthcare Sites (Carlyon Road Health Hub, Wheal Northey, Park, Mevagissey and Foxhole)
REPORTS TO Urgent Care Ops lead / Urgent Care Partner lead
HOURS Full and Part time vacancies.
JOB SUMMARY The post holder will work as part of the clinical team at the Carlyon Road Health Hub, as well as working within our visiting team.
The post holder is a registered clinician with post graduate qualifications relevant to the position, who acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care for patients within the general practice. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary general practice team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESClinical Care- Act as an expert practitioner, demonstrating clinical competence and a sound knowledge base.
- Undertake consultations with patients including visiting in their own home or a care home environment.
- Assess patients with a range of acute, non-acute and chronic medical conditions
- Assess, plan, implement and evaluate individual treatment plans for patients with a known long-term condition.
- Proactively identify, diagnose and manage treatment plans for patients at risk of developing a long-term condition as appropriate.
- Work with other health care professionals to diagnose, monitor, manage and treat long-term conditions, including non-drug-based treatment methods using a management plan, and in line with national and local policies and practice needs.
- Diagnose and/or liaise with GPs to agree diagnosis, any further investigations which may be needed and appropriate treatment.
- Liaise with GPs to admit patients to secondary care if they are in acute medical need.
- Refer patients as appropriate to other members of the multidisciplinary team, secondary care and to other relevant care providers.
- To provide education and training to other staff as appropriate and to encourage team work and the sharing of best practice. Ensure that patients receive high quality clinical care, delivered in a timely manner.
- Ensure complete and accurate documentation of each and every patient contact.
- Work as an independent practitioner and as part of the multidisciplinary and multi-agency teams in order to ensure patients needs are met.
- Ensure that professional standards are maintained and within the guidance by the Department of Health, the NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council)/the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) and the College of Paramedics (COP)
- Any other duties appropriate to the post.
- Must have access to own transport.
- Providing assessment, screening treatment services and health education advice:
- Dietary advice
- Blood pressure checks
- Urinalysis
- Health screening
- Injections
- Minor injuries
- Provide general and specific health screenings to the practice patients (within agreed protocols) with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary
- Diagnosing and treating patients
- Triage and treat patients wishing to see a health care professional making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team.
- Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within boundaries of competence and to acknowledge limitations.
- Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary.
- Professional
- Adhere to own professional body requirements and at all times work within the scope of professional practice.
- Ensure that professional practice adheres to organisational policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Maintain a professional manner and act as a role model and mentor for junior staff including trainees and student nurses.
- Maintain confidentiality with regard to information pertaining to patients and staff.
- Ensure that the service interfaces with all other departments in a professional and productive manner, providing an effective service to partner organisations and other service providers.
- Communication
- Communicate effectively with patients and families regarding complex information about their care
- Provide advice and information to patients, carers and their families where appropriate
- Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with medical, nursing and allied health professionals to ensure delivery of a co-ordinated service.
- Ensure accurate documentation record keeping in line with local policies and own professional body guidelines.
- Promote and demonstrate effective communication networks within the organisation, with partner organisations and other service providers
- Clinical Governance
- Contribute to the development and maintenance of sound clinical governance and risk management.
- Support the development/implementation on any new ways of working/policies that need to be introduced across the SAH.
- Support SAHC in operating a quality assurance but no blame culture that adheres to best practice around incident reporting and whistle blowing.
- Engagement with Patients, Internal and External Stakeholders
- Initiate, develop and maintain excellent third party relationships e.g. with ICBs, NHSE Area Teams, sub-contractor providers, patient groups, local community health teams and other stakeholders to grow, maintain and support service and performance delivery.
- To ensure patient surveys are undertaken, analysed and action plans are developed and acted upon
- Confidentiality
- In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
- In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.
- All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
- Equality and Diversity
- The postholder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues to include:
- Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies and current legislation.
- Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
- Personal/Professional Development
- The postholder 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.
- Health and Safety
- The postholder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice health & safety policy, the practice health & safety manual and the practice infection control policy and published procedures.
- Appraisal/ Objective setting
- The post holder will participate in an annual review of their performance during the previous year and agree objectives to be met in the next year. These will be reviewed at agreed points during the year. The annual appraisal will be undertaken by the Urgent Care Matron (line manager) and a designated GP Partner may be present.
- Communication
- The postholder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
- Quality
- The postholder 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.
Person SpecificationOtherEssential- Willingness to undergo additional training, education and mentoring to develop and maintain clinical skills
- Flexibility to work either evenings, nights, weekends and bank holidays or daytime shifts
- Ability to undertake training during office and own hours
- Ability to work under pressure whilst delivering high quality care
ExperienceEssential- Ability to work autonomously
- Knowledge of unscheduled care practice
- Excellent clinical skills
- Ability to organise and prioritise workload
- IT skills
- Knowledge and experience of undertaking audits
- Knowledge of clinical governance
- Excellent communication skills
- Ability to evidence in writing, verbally and through listening skills, personal understanding and use of the English language
- Ability to use initiative and to work autonomously
- Prescribing - or willing to undertake prescribing course
DesirableQualificationsEssential- Qualified Registered Nurse
- Current registration on the NMC register
- Qualified Paramedic
- Current registration on the HCPC register
- Prescribing qualification (in process of achieving)
- Post registration experience in Primary Care
- Experience of working to protocols or guidelines
Desirable- ACP/ANP qualification
- Minor Illness Clinical skills qualification
- Chronic long term conditions qualification
- First Contact Practitioner qualification
- A&E unscheduled care or related field.
- Experience in visiting patients in own home
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.Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website. 
