Physician Associates

CNWL; Ealing; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

CNWL is seeking a qualified Physician Associate for the Community Child Health service in Ealing. This role focuses on improving health outcomes for children and involves collaboration with a multidisciplinary team. The ideal candidate will support clinical assessments and engage in high-quality patient care, all within a supportive environment that fosters professional development.

Benefits

Generous relocation package

Flexible working options

Support for career development

Qualifications

• Undergraduate degree in health or life science.
• Experience in Paediatrics or NHS Community services is valuable.
• Knowledge of medical terminology and patient care.

Responsibilities

• Conduct physical assessments for children under supervision.
• Assist medical team with patient care and documentation.
• Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and care coordination.

Skills

Patient assessment

Clinical skills

Communication

Team collaboration

Education

Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in Physician Associate

Registered as a Physician Associate with the GMC

Job description

Search here to find a new job, a new career, an opportunity
to up skill or to simply change your career direction.

Become part of our team.
We care for you as much as you care for others.

There’s a place for you at CNWL.

We’re passionate about delivering first-class patient-centred, safe and effective care, whether it is in a hospital setting, in a community clinic or in the patient’s own home. Patients are at the heart of everything we do.

Providing top quality care depends on our ability to employ the best people.
We’re always looking to recruit outstanding people who will go the extra mile to support our patients, colleagues, teams and the Trust. With every new employee we’re hoping to find our future leaders and we’ll support our staff by providing opportunities to develop your career.

With a diverse culture and equally diverse range of opportunities across mental health, community services, addictions, eating disorders, learning disabilities and more – whatever stage of your career you're at, there's always a place for you at CNWL.

We are looking to appoint a qualified Physician Associate to work within our Community Child Health service in Ealing. The role has been established to provide assistance to the Community Paediatric multidisciplinary team in the provision of a high quality, patient-centred service. This is an ideal opportunity to join a dynamic team passionate about improving the health and wellbeing of babies, children, young people and their families in North West London, with the aim to provide the best possible care and ensure our patients achieve the best possible outcomes and wellbeing for life.

The Physician Associate role is new to the Community Paediatric speciality and we have piloted this with success in Ealing in the last 12-18 months, and are now looking to make the post permanent. The postholder will assist the medical team in the Child Development Service to provide care for patients and families as part of the multidisciplinary team. This involves supporting in Child Development clinics with initial history taking, physical examinations and clinical assessments under the supervision of a Consultant Community Paediatrician for all clinical duties and for career development. The post holder will always have access to a clinical supervisor (consultant on site) and will be supported by other members of the multidisciplinary team within the Community Paediatric service.

Main duties of the job

The post holder will be expected to work flexibly and co-operatively with other members of the clinical team and will be required to cover for colleagues during periods of absence. They will complement other roles and strengthen the multi-disciplinary team. They will have continuing responsibility for patients in association with others in the clinical team. They will ensure accurate records are maintained.

They will be supported to undertake mandatory training and other training specific to their role in conjunction with the Medical Education Department and will undergo an annual PDR or appraisal.

The Physician Associate will be provided with a weekly timetable outlining fixed clinical commitments.They will have time for undertaking roles related to their skill set in the clinical setting as detailed below. They will respond to clinical demands and play a role in prioritising clinical and other needs.

Physician Associates will be required to register with the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) until regulation with the GMC is in place and will be expected to keep up to date with necessary professional development

Working for our organisation

There are many good reasons to choose to come and work with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL) which is one of the largest trusts in the UK, caring for people with a wide range of physical and mental health needs.

You will always be part of a dynamic and experienced community paediatric team of paediatricians with an excellent skill mix who provide a full range of community paediatric services. The team currently comprises of 5 Consultants, 1 Physician Associate and a clinical Nurse Specialist. We also have access to Epilepsy Nurse Specialist based at Northwick Park Hospital.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Clinical duties
• To assist the medical team by conducting physical health assessments for children and young people referred to the Community Paediatric service, under supervision of a Consultant Community Paediatrician.
• To assist the medical team to provide direct clinical care to patients following established clinical guidelines, including participating in multidisciplinary team meetings, handovers and other relevant clinical meetings.
• To assist the medical team with preparing medical notes and summarising patient notes for the purposes of contributing to assessment reports and referrals.
• To assist the medical team with chasing referrals and liaising with the multidisciplinary team and other health professionals as indicated.
• To assist the medical team by providing relevant information and resources to patients and families as per departmental guidance and protocols, which may include health promotion and signposting to local health and social care resources.
• To work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team, including Doctors, Nurses, Therapists and other Allied Health Professionals, Administrators and Management, to ensure good working relationships.
• To liaise with partners including CAMHS, Special schools and special nurseries, School SENCOs, Medical and other staff at hospitals, GPs and practice staff, Social workers in children with disabilities team, to ensure good integrated care working relationships.

Person specification

Education/ Qualification/ Training

• Undergraduate degree in a health or life science prior to undertaking the Physician Associate programme
• Postgraduate Diploma or Masters in Physician Associate studies from an accredited UK training programme
• Registered as a Physician Associate with the General Medical Council
• Evidence of having successfully passed the UK National Physician Associates exam
• Postgraduate degree in a relevant healthrelated subject
• Additional training or experience in paediatrics or CAMHS

Experience

• Evidence of understanding of the needs of the healthcare sector and the patients’/service users
• Experience of working as a Physician Associate in Paediatrics
• Experience of working as a Physician Associate in General Practice and/or Secondary Care
• Experience of working in the NHS in Community Paediatrics
• Demonstrable knowledge of evidence informed practice relevant to Community Paediatrics
• Experience of leading service development
• Knowledge of national and local guidance for the role of a Physician Associate

Knowledge and Skills

• Knowledge of medical terminology and procedures
• Demonstrable patient assessment and clinical skills (e.g. history taking, physical examination, developmental assessments, clinical procedures)
• Ability to take responsibility for clinical care of patients under the supervision of consultants and other senior colleagues
• Able to build rapport and communicate effectively with patients/carers and professionals
• Able to work as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Awareness of limitations of competence and requirement for consultant supervision appropriate to the clinical tasks being carried out
• Knowledge of maintaining patient confidentiality and implementing data protection legislation requirements including information governance
• Ability to manage a dedicated caseload of patients
• Ability to liaise with colleagues from the wider MDT and other departments and external agencies relating to patient care or treatment needs
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Competent in the use of NHS electronic health records and IT/computer systems for clinical work and administration
• Evidence of up to date CPD (50h per year) and commitment to continuous learning and development of skills to work as a safe practitioner and improve standards of care
• Understanding and experience of safeguarding children and adults
• Demonstrable skills in ECG, venipuncture, cannulation and interpretation of blood investigations
• Experience of conducting clinical audit or quality improvement projects
• Demonstrable understanding of research, including awareness of ethical issues, record of publications and presentations
• Ability to implement and interpret policies and procedures
• Ability and skills to drive change and quality improvement
• Experience of assisting in the development of the role of Physician Associates in the UK and/or the educational development of Physician Associate students through student shadowing/teaching

Personal skills

• Ability to work constructively in a multidisciplinary team, be flexible and responsive to the needs of colleagues
• Ability to manage time effectively
• Ability to exercise sound judgement when faced with conflicting pressures
• Ability to demonstrate values consistent with the Trust values and be accountable for professional duties and behaviours
• Excellent interpersonal skills and caring attitude towards patients, empathy, understanding, listening skills, patience and ability to work collaboratively with others and cultural competency
• Ability to motivate and develop the multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrates clinical leadership

CNWL (Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust) has almost 8,000 staff providing integrated healthcare to a third of London's population, Milton Keynes and areas beyond. We involve service users, carers, the public, staff and partner organisations in the way that we are run.

Our catchment area spans diverse communities, with over 100 first languages spoken. It contains areas of great affluence as well as areas of much deprivation. We are committed to providing services that meet the needs of the people who use them, and we actively encourage involvement from local people who can help make a difference. We’re proud of our diversity and we continue to undertake new initiatives to advance equality for LGBT+, BME and people with disabilities to promote good relations and understanding between our staff.

We are recognised locally, nationally and internationally for providing high quality, innovative healthcare. We aim to employ only the best people, and our experts are frequently called upon to contribute to national health strategy and policy, and many models of our care have been adapted for use in other countries.

We offer a generous relocation package (subject to eligibility assessment) and flexible working options, including bank assignments for most roles. For more information on these and other benefits of working for us, see our Benefits, Reward and Wellbeing page

Become part of our team. We care for you as much as you care for others.

CNWL NHS Foundation Trust are committed to safeguarding all children and vulnerable adults and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We follow safe recruitment practices to protect children and vulnerable adults.

Due to the high response levels we receive for some vacancies, we may expire any of them prior to the advertised closing date and advise you to submit your application as soon as possible.

Our Agenda for Change employment contracts are subject to a contractual 13 week probationary period.

If you are offered a job, information will be transferred into the national NHS Electronic Staff Records system.

Employer certification / accreditation badges

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.