Physician Associate Urgent Care

The Methodist Church in Britain; Wallsend; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 52,000; Full time

Job summary

Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust is offering a 12-month Physician Associate post in the Mental Health Urgent Care Department. The role involves assessing urgent mental and physical health presentations under consultant supervision, with care planning and possible physical health procedures within a multidisciplinary team.

Candidates must have a PA qualification, GMC registration and at least two years' PA experience in secondary care, including mental health.

Qualifications

• PA qualification required.
• Membership of UKAPA.
• Current GMC registration.
• Minimum 2 years working as a PA in secondary care.
• Minimum 1 year in a mental health setting.
• Autonomous clinical work.
• Experience developing policy and practice change.

Responsibilities

• Assess urgent mental and physical health presentations and create treatment plans.
• Respond promptly to requests to assess or review patients.
• Assist staff in medical emergencies.
• Carry out ECGs, venepuncture and IV cannulation, and interpret results.
• Participate in multidisciplinary meetings and handovers.
• Liaise with primary/secondary/community teams and pharmacy.
• Keep clinical notes and prepare discharge summaries.
• Support physical health screening and skill development in mental health staff.
• Provide psycho-educational support to patients and carers.
• Cover for colleagues and work flexibly.
• Support junior doctors and students on placement.
• Participate in research, audit and quality improvement and help develop policies.

Skills

Psychiatric history taking

Risk assessment

Mental state examination

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Documentation

Education

PGDip or MSc Physician Associate studies

UKAPA membership

Job description

This is a 12-month Physician Associate post in the Mental Health Urgent Care Department, a service for adults in mental health crisis run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust. The work centres on assessing urgent presentations that might otherwise reach A&E, with onward care planning and a limited range of physical health procedures, under consultant supervision. The service sits within a wider multidisciplinary team, linking with crisis teams and voluntary sector partners. Candidates need a PA qualification, GMC registration and two years' secondary care PA experience.

What the job involves

• Assess urgent mental and physical health presentations, including clinical and risk assessments and treatment plans
• Respond promptly to requests to assess or review patients
• Assist staff in medical emergencies in the department
• Carry out ECGs, venepuncture and IV cannulation, and interpret investigation results
• Take part in multidisciplinary meetings, handovers and clinical meetings
• Liaise with primary care, secondary care, community teams and pharmacy about patient care
• Keep clinical notes and summarise records for discharge summaries and reports
• Support physical health screening and interventions, and develop physical health skills in mental health staff
• Provide psycho-educational support to patients and carers, and health promotion including smoking, drugs and alcohol
• Cover for colleagues during absence and work flexibly within the team
• Support junior doctors and students on placement and disseminate updated clinical practice
• Take part in research, audit and quality improvement, and help develop local and trust policies

Qualifications

• PGDip or MSc Physician Associate studies
• Membership of UKAPA

Registration & licences

• Current GMC registration

Experience

• Minimum 2 years working as a PA in secondary care
• Minimum 1 year working in a mental health setting
• Clinical work in an autonomous role
• Development of policy and practice change

Skills & knowledge

• Psychiatric history taking, risk assessment, mental state examination and presenting findings to a consultant
• Awareness of current mental health developments and theoretical and clinical approaches
• Understanding of the challenges of PA roles and PA training
• Understanding of the National PA agenda, policies, frameworks and CPD requirements
• Knowledge of Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, information governance, GDPR, Equality Act and confidentiality

Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles

Nice to have

• Passed and completed 1 year post graduate preceptorship
• Experience of working with mental health patients from different cultural backgrounds
• Experience of working in an A&E setting
• Experience of working in geriatric services
• Understanding of public sector and NHS policy across primary, secondary and community care

What’s offered

• 27 days holiday plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years' service
• Pension of up to 14.5% of pensionable pay
• £8K relocation package to move to Essex (terms and conditions apply)
• Interest-free season ticket loans for travel
• Flexible working available from day one for most roles
• Job share applications welcomed
• Bank shifts to supplement income and develop skills
• Mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling