Job summary
- Main area
- Urgent Care
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 7
- Contract
- 12 months (Fixed term 1 year contract)
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week
- Job ref
- 364-EPUT792
- Employer
- Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Basildon Mental Health Unit/Basildon Acute Hospital
- Town
- Basildon
- Salary
- £49,387 - £56,515 per annum
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 02/11/2026 23:59
Employer heading
Physician Associate Urgent Care
NHS AfC: Band 7
Please be aware that, due to current allocation constraints, Certificates of Sponsorship (CoS) are being prioritised for registered roles at this time.
Our Trust cares for more than 100,000 patients at any one time across our community health, mental health and learning disability services across Essex and parts of Bedfordshire and Suffolk.
We want you to be part of our journey of transformation, where our patients and their families are at the heart of everything we do and to achieve our vision to be the leading health and wellbeing service in the provision of mental health and community care.
You’ll be part of a Trust where you will be supported to be your authentic self and be the best you can be, where we will help you to grow, develop and thrive.
The Trust is recognised by the University of Essex and is a top provider of apprenticeships for people looking to be an assistant practitioner, senior health care support worker (CAP). Our trailblazing CAP apprenticeship won a national HSJ Award.
We are also recognised as a Veteran Aware Trust and holder of gold accreditation from the Ministry of Defence Employment Recognition Scheme. Our services are highlighted as an exemplar of good practice, producing the best care for more than 3.500 armed forces veterans in the past seven years.
We have been shortlisted and won national awards. We are an inclusive organisation and Level 3 Disability Confident Leader Trust.
We are constantly innovating and looking for new ways to deliver care, such as using technology to enhance patient care and working with partners to launch new services such as the Basildon Mental Health Urgent Care Department, virtual hospitals and falls response cars.
Join us and you’ll do the best work of your life – and make a difference to other people’s lives. What we do together, matters.
Job overview
The Mental Health Urgent Care Department (MHUCD), is an innovative service that has been commissioned to provide urgent mental health care in the Mid and South Essex ICS. The service will cater to adults over the age of 18, who are experiencing a mental health crisis and will be based in a new, purpose built department based at the Basildon Mental Health Unit on the Basildon Hospital site. When the service is fully functional it will cover the councils of Basildon, Brentwood, Thurrock, Chelmsford, Braintree and Maldon.
The department will offer a therapeutic mental health setting to assess urgent mental health presentations which might otherwise have been seen in the A+E department. The service will offer a comprehensive assessment and onward care planning through a diverse and highly skilled mental health workforce incorporating support workers, peer coaches, social worker, nurses and doctors. The service will work closely with existing urgent mental health care pathways and other appropriate services in the local health and social care system, including voluntary care sector organisations, to provide holistic and person centred care.
The service will also be working closely with the Basildon A+E department in being able to offer a limited range of physical health interventions in the department itself and if appropriate for onward referral to relevant specialties in the general hospital.
Main duties of the job
The post holder will be accountable for ensuring that high quality patient care is delivered at all times. The Physician Associate will be supervised by a designated consultant with regular meetings to support on-going development within the role.
The Physician Associate will attend regular CPD sessions to support on-going development. They will be set clear objectives and will be assessed against them by the end of the first year.
General Requirements
· Physician Associates will be based on the MHUCD at the Basildon site psychiatric inpatient wards at EPUT but may also be asked to undertake work in conjunction with Crisis or other Community teams.
· Physician Associates 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. The Physician Associate role will complement other roles in the team 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. Physician Associates will be supported to undertake mandatory training and other training specific to their role.
· They will undergo an annual PDR or appraisal in relation to the agreed objectives in advance.
Working for our organisation
Valuing you. Recognising your dedication. At EPUT, we look after you.
- Receive supervision and support to help you fulfil your potential.
- Join an inclusive EPUT community and connect with others through engagement events and equality or champion networks.
- If you need help, we provide mental health and wellbeing services, occupational health advice and counselling.
- We run recognition awards to recognise staff's hard work and dedication.
Benefits
- 27 days holiday, plus bank holidays, rising to 33 days after 10 years’ service.
- Excellent pension of up to 14.5% of your pensionable pay.
- Staff discounts include Blue Light Card, NHS discount offers, and staff benefits.
- £8K relocation package if you move to Essex to join us - Terms & Condition's Apply
- Season ticket loans are interest-free to cover the cost of travelling to and from work via tram, rail, or bus.
Work that wraps around your needs
- Work bank: You can use the opportunity to supplement your income and develop your skills by working bank shifts.
- Flexible working: available from day one for most roles.
- Job share: Applications for job shares are welcomed.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
· Practice under the supervision of a Consultant Psychiatrist or under the supervision of a senior clinician as delegated by the consultant, to contribute towards clinical/risk assessments, development of treatment plans and documentation.
· Participate in multidisciplinary team meetings, handovers and other relevant clinical meetings.
· Treat patient and their family members using a high degree of empathy and advanced communication skills.
· Respond in a timely way to requests to assess or review patient’s physical and / or mental health.
· Record clinical notes about patient contacts and provide advice to staff on further management / investigations / interventions within their competence.
· Review and summarise patient notes for the purposes of contributing to discharge summaries and reports.
· Undertake assessment and assistance to staff in the event of medical emergencies in the department.
· Work collaboratively with the relevant team i.e. Psychiatrists, Junior Doctors, Senior Nurses, Nursing Staff, Support Workers, Occupational Therapists, and Psychologists to ensure good working relationships.
· Liaise with primary care and relevant secondary health care providers relating to a patient’s care or treatment.
· Liaise with community teams about a patient’s on-going care and treatment needs Support health promotion activities including those relating to smoking, drugs and alcohol.
· Provide psycho-educational support to patients and carers / families.
· Support proactive screening and interventions with regard to the physical health of patients.
· Liaise with pharmacy regarding issues relating to medication.
· Contribute to the development of physical health competencies in mental health staff in a range of settings.
· Carry out procedures which will include (but not be limited to):
o ECG
o Venepuncture
o IV cannulation
o Interpretation of blood or other investigation results
Service Development:
· The post holder will be willing to participate in research/audit/QI opportunities as they arise.
· Support junior doctors on placement.
· Support the placements of nursing, medical and physician associate students on placement.
· Be responsible for the dissemination of new or updated clinical practices.
· Support the development of skills in the wider team and the organisation.
· Assist with the development of, and implementation of, local and trust wide policies, procedures, guidance and protocols.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- PGDip Physician Associate studies or MSc Physician Associate Studies.
- Current GMC registration
- Membership of UKAPA
Desirable criteria
- Passed and completed 1 year post graduate preceptorship
Knowledge, clinical experience and skills
Essential criteria
- Minimum of 2 years’ experience working as a PA in secondary care
- Minimum of 1 year experience of working within a Mental Health setting. Competent in psychiatric history taking, risk assessment, MSE and presenting findings to consultant supervisor for optimal treatment plan discussion.
- An awareness of current developments and initiatives in Mental healthcare & familiarity with a range of theoretical and clinical approaches.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
- Development of policy and practice change.
- Clinical work in an autonomous role.
- A good understanding of the challenges associated with Physician Associates and Physician Associate training.
- A good understanding of the National PA agenda, policies, frameworks etc. Including understanding of CPD framework requirements.
- Understanding and knowledge of the Data Protection Act, Freedom of Information Act, Information Governance, GDPR, Equality Act and confidentiality issues.
- Awareness of equality and valuing diversity principles.
Desirable criteria
- Experience of working with Mental health patients from different cultural background.
- Experience of working in an A+E setting
- Experience of working in Geriatric services
- A good understanding of the public sector and NHS policy, in relation to primary, secondary and community care.
Applicant requirements
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.
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Dr Maneesh Rajendraprasad
- Job title
- Clinical Directior
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 01245 515324
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