Job summary
The Physician Associate or Physician Assistant (PA) will be accountable for ensuring that high quality patient care is always delivered, where they can be a source of continuity for service users by monitoring physical as well as mental health requirements.
The PA will support the effective functioning of the multidisciplinary team and wider service developments through developing knowledge of assessing and managing mental disorders, undertaking quality improvement (QI) work such as clinical audit, gaining knowledge about psychotropic medication and taking a lead role in the physical health of service users.
The PA will have regular supervision (for both clinical and professional supervision) from a designated Consultant, with regular meetings to support on-going development within the role, as well as attending regular continued professional development (CPD) sessions.
Main duties of the job To provide clinical assessments of new referrals & reviews of existing service users under the care of the service the PA works for. To use medical & psychiatric history taking, physical examination, mental state examination, problem solving and clinical decision-making skills in carrying out this work. To formulate differential diagnoses and management plans with input as agreed by the supervising Consultant. The final or working diagnosis for a service user will need discussion at an appropriate time interval as agreed with the supervising Consultant.
Maintain service user records i.e. record test results, patient contacts.
Review and summarise patient notes for the purpose of contributing to discharge summaries and reports.
Assist the consultant by writing letters, chasing referrals/treatments and preparing medical notes.
Carry out agreed diagnostic and therapeutic procedures which will include (but not be limited to):
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Venepuncture
- Interpretation of blood results
- Mental state examination and psychiatric history taking
- Cognitive assessment
About us In keeping with General Medical Council guidance, the post holder will be responsible for their own practice but working under the supervision of a Consultant Psychiatrist. The supervising Consultant does not need to be physically present when the PA is carrying out their duties but must always be available for consultation if required. There will also be regular supervision meetings to support the PA's ongoing development in the role; the level of supervision will be agreed between the post holder and supervising Consultant but will not be less than monthly in frequency.
Job responsibilities To provide clinical assessments of new referrals & reviews of existing service users under the care of the service the PA works for. To use medical & psychiatric history taking, physical examination, mental state examination, problem solving and clinical decision-making skills in carrying out this work. To formulate differential diagnoses and management plans with input as agreed by the supervising Consultant. The final or working diagnosis for a service user will need discussion at an appropriate time interval as agreed with the supervising Consultant.
Maintain service user records i.e. record test results, patient contacts.
Review and summarise patient notes for the purpose of contributing to discharge summaries and reports.
Assist the consultant by writing letters, chasing referrals/treatments and preparing medical notes.
Carry out agreed diagnostic and therapeutic procedures which will include (but not be limited to):
- Electrocardiogram (ECG)
- Venepuncture
- Interpretation of blood results
- Mental state examination and psychiatric history taking
- Cognitive assessment
Provide health promotion and disease prevention advice for service users, including those relating to smoking, drugs and alcohol.
Liaise with external (primary care and relevant secondary health care providers) and internal teams/departments relating to a service user's care or treatment needs.
Liaise with pharmacy regarding issues relating to medication.
Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, building good working relationships.
Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, handovers and other relevant clinical meetings.
To receive and communicate very sensitive, complex condition related information with service users, carers & relatives. The post holder will need to use a high degree of empathy and reassurance. To address any barriers to understanding resulting from the person's illness. Examples of this include: explaining to a service user the outcome of an initial assessment, including both physical health & mental health reasons relevant to their presentation (including any interplay between the two, such as in Delirium), any further investigations needed and treatment that will be offered; being able to adapt their approach depending on the service user's presentation (e.g. if the patient is cognitively impaired or acutely distressed); appropriate involvement of the service user's relatives and carers in discussions about their care, including considerations of the service user's consent and capacity to make decisions about this.
To manage exposure to occasional highly distressing or highly emotional circumstances.
Exposure to hazards, including those of working on acute mental health wards.
Support newly qualified PAs and the allocation of student PAs placements
Contribute to the development and education of the PA role at Sussex Partnership, including educating other staff groups on the role of a PA.
Contribute to the training of doctors in training as part of the regular National rotations.
Respond in a timely way to requests to assess or review service users physical and/or mental health and provide advice to staff on further management/investigations/ interventions.
Undertake assessment and assistance to ward staff in the event of medical emergencies.
Provide psycho-educational support to service users and carers/families.
Support proactive screening and interventions with regard to the physical health of service users.
Take a lead in planning service user care programmes as well as organising and coordinating of case conferences and multidisciplinary teams or activities.
To be seen as the clinical practitioner specialising in their specialty (i.e. CAMHS, Liaison, etc) and accountable for their own professional actions within their team.
Service Development: The post holder will be expected to participate in research/audit/QI opportunities.
Be responsible for the dissemination of new or updated clinical practices.
Support the placements of nursing, medical and PA students on placement.
Participate in undergraduate teaching and develop teaching and training sessions for staff and professionals on specialist subject areas relevant to care group.
Support resident doctors on placement.
Support the development of skills in the wider team and the organisation.
To implement local & trust wide policies, procedures, guidance and protocols relevant to their practice in their own area of work.
To develop (along with Trust managers and other Trust PAs where required) policies, procedures, guidance and protocols for their specialist area and/or specific to the work of PAs.
To contribute where required to Trust policies and procedures beyond their own area of activity.
Contribute to the development of physical health competencies in mental health staff in a range of settings.
To develop service pathways for clients in care group and contribute to ongoing development of service.
The post holder will be expected to support the further development of governance and educational structures for PAs working in the Trust, in keeping with requirements by the relevant regulatory body.
Research and Development: To undertake research, service evaluation and clinical audits.
To use research in practice and developing research work from ones own practice
Governance including quality, standards, documentation & ethics. To ensure that up to date written and electronic records and activity data are maintained in accordance with Professional and Trust standards and to provide specialist reports relevant to practice setting.
To keep accurate and timely electronic records of each contact, using the Trust electronic clinical record system and other software programmes used by the Trust. Complete outcome measures as required.
To adhere to the General Medical Council's professional standards and ethics and comply with local and national standards of practice.
To respect the individuality, values, cultural and religious diversity of clients and contribute to the provision of a service sensitive to these needs.
To contribute to the Trust and professional clinical and social care governance arrangements and quality agenda, including the setting and monitoring of practice standards.
To be aware of and work to the policies and procedures within Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
To apply national guidelines/ legislation relating to health and social care in mental health service provision.
To participate in clinical and social care governance care group forums as required.
To ensure performance targets and standards are met.
To complete clinical outcome measures as required
To ensure that professional PA standards of practice are maintained within the clinical setting.
To ensure that professional standards of practice are maintained amongst junior staff.
To seek and attend monthly supervision and participate in annual appraisal.
Other: This 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
Person Specification Qualifications Essential - Undergraduate degree in a life science and/or a significant background in healthcare.
- PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies from a recognised UK training programme and evidence of successful completion of the UK National PA exam (or equivalent) or an MSc Degree (or equivalent) in Physician Associate Studies or Medical Sciences
- Registration with the General Medical Council
- Pass in Physician Associate Registration Assessment
- Evidence of ongoing CPD
Knowledge & Experience Essential - Able to work with the clinical team to manage a caseload of service users with complex mental health needs
- Comprehensive knowledge of interventions specific to service area
- Knowledge of national and local guidance for the role of a Physician Associate
- Awareness of Trust policies and service specification
Desirable - Experience of working within a mental health environment
- Lived experience of mental health issues
Skills Essential - Demonstrate excellent verbal and written communication skills with staff, service users, families, carers and professionals
- Able to establish links with other services and professionals
- Communicate and receive very sensitive, complex condition related information to service users, carers & relatives, using a high degree of empathy and reassurance and address any barriers to understanding.
- Able to effectively manage risk
- To have a good knowledge of service objectives
- Ability to assess and interpret complex needs for service users and taking appropriate action.
- To be able to provide highly specialised advice concerning the care or treatment of service users
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to manage and delegate tasks
- Participate in service development
- Able to participate in clinical discussions in the team
- Leading on the planning of care programmes, case conferences and multidisciplinary teams or activities
- Able to undertake audit activity
- Ability to work using own initiative to manage own workload.
- To help develop training sessions for staff, students, doctors in training, professionals and agencies
- Awareness of service operational policy
- Understand team dynamics
- Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team.
- Able to use Trust IT systems to enter service user information, case notes, risk.
- Able to produce documents and reports using Word, Excel, PowerPoint
- Communicate to service users and professionals using letters and templates
- Physically fit to undertake duties related to service area - there is a frequent requirement to exert light physical effort for several long periods during a shift
- Awareness of Prevention Management of Violence & Aggression (PMVA) interventions
- Knowledge of administration of injections and venepuncture
Abilities Essential - Frequent concentration required to undertake clinical assessments (history taking, physical examination, mental state examination) including assessment of complex patients such as those presenting with both physical and mental health issues
- Prolonged concentration where the PA carries out clinics
- Able to prioritise work and meet deadlines
- Planning and organising diary
- Able to manage distressing or emotional situations involving staff and service users as they arise
- To participate in relevant staff support sessions
- Awareness of policies relevant to workplace, i.e. lone working (frequent)
- Based in a locality and able to travel to other locations as part of clinical role (frequent)
- Competent skills in use of PC for daily administrative tasks (frequent)
- Exposure to hazards, including those of working on acute mental health wards (frequent)
- Exposure to body fluids, faeces, vomit, smells, foul linen (occasional)
Approach & Values Essential - Demonstrate support for the values and beliefs of the Division and those of the Trust
- Demonstrate an understanding of the practices of Human Rights in the delivery of this role
- Team working
- Ability to help shape and embed an inclusive culture
- Punctual and flexible across hours of work when required
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.
Certificate of Sponsorship Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).
From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).
UK Registration Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
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. Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab). From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab). Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).