Detailed job description and main responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Main Duties and Responsibilities for Patient Care 

·      Direct responsibility for assessment, examination, investigation and diagnosis of patients within their area of work under direct or indirect supervision of a EM Consultant Mentor / supervisor.

·      Appropriately treat patients, resulting in the safe management and appropriate referral or discharge of patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed presentations.

·      Receive referrals via a variety of sources, including direct patient referral. Work within agreed protocols and working practices.

·  Under direct supervision undertake a variety of clinical skills and provide treatment/ advice as per speciality and scope of practice, until appropriate level of competency achieved using agreed protocols of clinical practice and professional guidelines. 

·      Following completion of appropriate underpinning theoretical content and completion of competency assessment (within scope of practice) request and / or undertake diagnostic procedures and clinical investigations related to plans of care. 

·      Undertake and complete Non-Medical Prescribing qualification. When required training completed advice on medicine management issues associated with the patient specialty group. Work within Trust policy for Medicines Management.

·      Utilise advanced knowledge and skills relating to the speciality to provide specialist advice to other members of the multidisciplinary team on the basis of patient assessment.

·      Provide a seamless, high quality service from referral through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and review, referring to other specialists as required. Provide guidance to staff, patients and their families and carers on pathway navigation. 

·   Use highly developed communication skills to effectively communicate with colleagues, patients and their relatives/carers, making reports and liaising as required with medical staff and other members of the multidisciplinary team both verbally and in writing.

·   Use professional judgement to act as an advocate for patients to ensure a patient focused approach to the delivery of care. Support and enable patients and carers to make informed decisions relating to their treatment and management. Escalate any concerns via the nursing / professional structures as required.

·   Under supervision work towards safe and timely discharge and/ or transfer of care of patients from or between hospitals and services and healthcare professionals, ensuring barriers to discharge / transfer are identified and acted upon appropriately.

·      Report and raise concerns related to Safeguarding, accessing advice and support as required. Be conversant with Trust policies for safeguarding including the assessment of mental Capacity, and consideration of Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (DOLS) and the application of the principles of Prevent (counter terrorism awareness).

·      Ensure patient safety by escalating any risks with staffing or service provision to directorate management team.

·   Maintain improvements in patient safety by supporting implementation of patient safety initiatives, prompt and appropriate response to complaints resolution and escalation where appropriate.

Speciality specific duties and responsibilities

The main duties and responsibilities relate to the independent assessment and management of patients who present to unscheduled care. A scope of practice will be agreed and reviewed annually as the knowledge, skills and competence of the Advanced Practitioner develops.

·         To appropriately assess, examine, investigate, diagnose and treat patients with undifferentiated and undiagnosed problems in ED or other areas with unscheduled care

·         To appropriately refer or safely discharge patients

·         Communicate effectively with a wide range of people in a manner consistent with their level of understanding, culture and background

·         Work in a collaborative manner with all other members of the multidisciplinary team, fostering an environment that is supportive of professional respect and equality.

·         Contribute to the identification of training and development needs within the business group delivering multi-professional education and training as required.

·         Strive to improve clinical quality and maintain professional standards within the Medicine Business Group

·         Work with senior colleagues (Nursing & Medical) to develop evidenced-based clinical pathways, protocols and guidelines with a view to continuously improving quality and managing clinical risk more effectively.

·         To obtain regular clinical supervision and feedback from EM Consultant mentor, maintain a portfolio of evidence that reflects the maintenance and on-going development of clinical skills

·         Regularly audit own clinical practice identifying areas for training and development.

Identify own development needs, take responsibility for own personal development and maintain a PDP, presented at annual appraisal