Job Description

Are you looking for a new challenge? Do you want to make a genuine impact to patient care? Would you thrive, working within a dynamic and supportive multi-disciplinary team? Are you excited by an opportunity to work within a pioneering clinical setting?

We are pulling together a team of motivated and enthusiastic healthcare professionals, to deliver an innovative service in South Somerset offering a novel approach to same day urgent care. The Community Acute Response (CAR) service will provide rapid assessment and intervention for acutely unwell or decompensated patients, supported by enhanced diagnostic and interventional therapeutic capabilities. Digitally connected through a shared electronic medical record, this primary care-led service will reduce pressure on GP practices and emergency services, whilst providing clinical continuity and care closer to home.

If you are passionate about providing high quality patient care, are a formidable team player with well-developed communication skills and are excited by innovation, we want to hear from you. Previous experience working within a Primary Care or Urgent Care setting is an advantage, although we will provide training and ongoing professional development.

To commence November STC
Main duties of the job

The post holder will be working within a unique and supportive multi-disciplinary team environment, with shared training and learning, providing high standards of individualised patient care. Working within their professional boundaries, they will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, formation of differential diagnoses, suggestions for treatment and evaluation of their care under the supervision of the CAR Service Clinical Leads. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making with a strong evidence basis, for patients within the same day urgent care (SDUC) setting, in accordance with published clinical pathways, policies and protocols.
About us

The Community Acute Response (CAR) Service is a new and innovative primary care service, providing rapid clinical assessment for acutely unwell patients, supported by enhanced diagnostic testing and opportunities for a period of observation. This service aims to reduce pressure on General Practice, whilst simultaneously reducing footfall through emergency departments and ambulance transfers for those not needing resuscitation or specialist hospital input.

Patients are offered assessment within a purpose-designed facility within their local community, providing care closer to home. Patients who are housebound or too unwell to travel will be offered home-based assessment. Continuity of care is supported by access to shared medical records and use of an integrated primary and community care workforce

Job description
Job responsibilities

Provide first point of contact for patients presenting with undifferentiated, undiagnosed problems, utilising history taking, physical examination, problem-solving and clinical decision-making skills to establish a working diagnosis and management plan, working in partnership with patients

Undertake consultations (in person, video and telephone) for emergency or routine problems including management of long-term conditions

Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations and interpret findings/reports within scope of competence. Discuss the result and implications of laboratory investigations with patients

Utilise local and national clinical guidelines and promote evidence-based practice

Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support with an emphasis on prevention and self-care

Refer patients directly to other services or agencies using appropriate referral pathways

Ensure safe handover of care within and outside the CAR service as appropriate

Work directly with members of the MDT and support integrated patient-centred care through appropriate working with the wider primary, secondary and social care networks

Identify community health needs and participate in the development of patient and family-centred strategies to address them

Contribute to the delivery of practice Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) and PCN Directed Enhanced Service (DES) targets, to consistently achieve high standards of safe, evidence-based, cost-effective patient care and service delivery

Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential

• Registered Physicians Associate
• Relevant degree-level qualification
• Up to date BLS certificate

Desirable

• Higher level degree (e.g., MSc)
• Postgraduate qualification in primary or urgent care

Experience
Essential

• Experience in the consultation and examination of acutely unwell children and adults

Desirable

• Recent experience of working within a Primary Care or SDUC (e.g., ED, MIU, ACU) setting.
• Experience of using EMIS Web electronic medical records software

Knowledge and skills
Essential

• Broad knowledge of evidence-based clinical care across adult and paediatric specialities, including common presentations within a same day urgent care setting

Desirable

• Advanced training in ambulatory or urgent & emergency care

Employer details
Employer name

Symphony Healthcare Services Limited
Address

South Petherton Hospital

Bernard Way

South Petherton

Somerset

TA13 5EF

Any attachments will be accessible after you click to apply.

E0215-23-0112

British Medical Journal