Job Description

Title: Minor Illness Practitioner

Reports to: Clinical Services Manager / PCN line manager and the clinic lead / GP while on duty.

Responsible to: Surrey Heath Primary Care Network (The 'PCN') and Surrey Heath Community Providers Ltd (SHCPL, 'The Federation')

Base: Local GP Practices - will require working across the 7 GP Practices within the Federation / PCN geography, as per the rotating site for Saturday clinic delivery. May be potential for remote working.

Hours per week: This is a Fixed Term contract for Saturday work between 09:00 and 17:00, and weekday afternoon and evenings until 20:00, with the expectation to arrive in advance to meet the team and setup your clinic room and to handover or close down your clinic room at the end of your duty.

Salary: Hourly rate of pay - 25.60 to 28.00 per hour, depending on experience and Saturday enhancement (please note: no additional enhancement for weekday evenings).

Contract: 12 Months Fixed Term Contract

Holiday Entitlement: 27 days per year (based on full time hours) plus Bank Holiday entitlement

To liaise with:Practice team (internal); GPs and wider multi-professional general practice team operating the clinic. PCN / SHCPL team(s), line manager and clinical support teams. Surrey Heath Integrated Care Team (ICT), including ICT Managers across all the provider/service organisations, Frailty Navigator, administration teams, multi-disciplinary team colleagues, social care, health and other 3rd sector organisations. People that use the services, their relatives, carers.

ABOUT US:

We are Surrey Heath Community Providers Limited, which is a federation of 7 GP practices across 10 sites, covering a population of over 97,000 patients across Surrey Heath. We began in 2016 and now employ around 200 members of staff across our clinical and corporate support teams. Since 2019 we have hosted the Primary Care Network in Surrey Heath.

As a GP Federation and Primary Care Network, we are proud to represent our member practices and to champion primary care by working with local general practice and system partners, in the provision of community based healthcare services. We are dedicated to providing safe and compassionate care to our patients across our range of primary care services in Surrey Heath and believe in continuous commitment to quality service delivery and positive patient outcomes.

Patients are at the heart of everything we do,

and we pride ourselves in

ensuring our patients feel safe, supported, communicated with and respected

, at a time when they may be feeling vulnerable.

Our vision is to provide high quality, seamless health care that enables people to lead healthier lives, whilst feeling supported and cared for.

ROLE SUMMARY

To provide face to face minor illness management, working as part of a multi-disciplinary team providing urgent, on the day (Same Day Urgent Care) to the registered patients of the GP Practices in Surrey Heath.

To provide highly skilled evidence based nursing / AHP services to patients as an essential part of the health care provided by the GP Federation and the local member GP Practices.

To support the Federation / PCN to establish innovative solutions to provide flexible additional nursing / AHP support to GP Practices in Surrey Heath.

To support the development and delivery of policy and procedures, and providing clinical leadership to appropriate others as required.

The role requires you to function autonomously and within your sphere of competency whilst being assisted and supervised by our Advanced Clinical Practitioners (ACPs) and GPs.

DUTIES AND RSPONSIBILITIES

The duties and responsibilities to be undertaken may include any or all of the items in the following list. Duties may be varied from time to time under the direction of the Clinical Services Manager, GP or Federation / PCN Director, and will be dependent on current and evolving practice need.

Minor Illness Management:

To demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and expert care, including assessment and diagnostic skills, working within their scope of practice.

To participate in assessing, diagnosing and treating patients presenting with minor illness, including giving advice on and prescribing medicines (where this is within the scope of practice, competence and confidence).

To discharge patients or refer them as appropriate to other healthcare professionals / external agencies.

To provide appropriate care and services to patients in all age ranges and level of health care needs, according to their level of competency and code of conduct.

To work closely with the wider urgent care teams in delivering high quality patient centred clinical care.

To support the triage and streaming process, including contributing to the triage and streaming decision making when required.

To participate in assessing patients with more complex presentations waiting to see the streaming clinician (GP or Advanced Clinical Practitioner).

To work in partnership with patients and their carers to assess individual health needs, plan appropriate care and use every appropriate opportunity to promote health and reduce the incidence or exacerbation of disease.

To be capable and confident in digital consultation where this is required.

To work as an autonomous practitioner within appropriate clinical and professional guidelines.

Broader Clinical Responsibilities:

To provide routine practice clinical services as required and within your scope of competence, such as cervical screening, phlebotomy, suture removal, wound dressings, ECGs and 24 hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring.

Develop and facilitate a good working relationship with the Federation, PCN, practices and community services, as relevant the role.

Work with patients and carers in order to support compliance with and adherence to prescribed treatments and treatment plans and to work with them to overcome barriers, including being actively involved in relevant patient and carer support groups.

Provide information and advice on prescribed or over-the-counter medication, on medication regimens, side-effects and interactions.

Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.

Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyles, and apply principles of self-care, implementing motivational interviewing and 'making every contact count' approaches.

To administer drugs and vaccines as a qualified prescriber or via Patient Group Directions (PGD's) and Patient Specific Directions (PSD's) as appropriate.

To identify and assess risks to the health of patients, documenting their health status and counselling them appropriately with referral to a General Practitioner as appropriate.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.

Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.

Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring mechanisms to develop new ways of working.

To develop and audit nursing / AHP standards.

To actively participate in the local offer of clinical supervision.

Team working:

To participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the Federation and any relevant Practice team and attend meetings of the Federation / PCN, contributing to decision making and the development of the Federation and PCN.

To contribute to the formulation of and the ongoing review of Federation / PCN policies and procedures.

To act as a resource person to other members of the Federation and PCN team and to liaise as necessary with other statutory and non-statutory agencies such as Social Services to ensure appropriate care is provided.

Administration:

To ensure that all consultations, including telephone consultations, are fully and accurately recorded on the clinical computer system following agreed guidelines.

To take responsibility for an area of QoF/IIF/PCN DES which will include recalling patients, managing failing targets and problem solving to improve health outcomes for patients.

Teaching, Training and Audit:

To contribute to and participate in clinical audit.

To contribute to the provision of a suitable learning environment for pre and post registration nursing / AHP students, medical students and registrars.

To act as a mentor / supervisor for pre and post registration healthcare professionals.

To identify own training needs and develop a programme to meet them in collaboration with the Clinical Services Manager taking opportunities to update professional skills both in formal teaching sessions and by personal study.

To ensure all e-learning and mandatory training is up to date.

Professional Conduct:

To act at all times in accordance with the NMC / HCPC code of conduct and be professionally accountable for your actions.

To be familiar with and adhere to any relevant Federation, PCN and Practice protocols or guidelines.

Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.

No job description can be entirely comprehensive. However this job description is intended to provide a detailed guide to the work initially required. It may be changed from time to time to meet changing circumstances.

The potholder is expected to be flexible and co-operative in accordance with the needs of the Federation, PCN and Practices.

All employees should understand that it is their personal responsibility to comply with all organisational and statutory requirements (e.g., health and safety, equal treatment and diversity, confidentiality and clinical governance).

Leadership:

Act as a clinical leader in the delivery of practice nursing / AHP services ensuring that the needs of the patient are a priority. Including acting as team leader / supervisor for Administrative staff, HCAs, Nursing Associates or junior AHPs involved with delivering clinics / services under your supervision.

Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.

Contribute to performance reviews and appraisals for team members and individuals under your supervision.

Equal Opportunities

The Federation / PCN / practices are committed to an equal opportunities policy that affirms that all staff should be afforded equality of treatment and opportunity in employment irrespective of sexuality, marital status, race, religion/belief, ethnic origin, age or disability. All staff are required to observe this policy in their behaviour to fellow employees.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, including:

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues. Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this , the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Data Protection

All employees must adhere to the Practice Policy on the Protection and use of Personal Information, which provides guidance on the use and disclosure of information. The Practice also has a range of policies for the use of computer equipment and computer-generated information. These policies detail the employee's legal obligations and include references to current legislation. Copies of the policy on the protection and use of personal information, and other information technology, can be found in the Practice policies and procedures manual.

Risk Management

You will be responsible for adopting the risk management culture and ensuring that you identify and assess all risks to your systems, processes and environment and report such risks for inclusion within the Practice risk register. You will also attend mandatory and statutory training, report all incidents/accidents, including near misses, and report unsafe occurrences as laid down within The Practice Incidents and Accidents Policy.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training including:

Participation in an annual individual Appraisal and Development Review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development. Taking responsibility for own development, learning, and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others. This role is considered to be a developmental position and the jobholder will be encouraged to develop personal and business skills.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN and practices, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision. Proactively seek and identify opportunities for quality / service improvement and lead such activities. Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients' needs. Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will:

Communicate effectively and respectfully with colleagues, patients and carers. Anticipate and recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly. External communication will be with patients NHS bodies, and other GP practices and service providers.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety and security as defined in the Practice's Health & Safety Policy.

Special Working Conditions

The post-holder is required to travel independently between their base, care homes and practice sites (where applicable), and to attend meetings etc. hosted by other agencies. The post-holder may have contact with body fluids i.e. wound exudates; urine etc.

Carry out any otherduties as reasonably required by the Clinical Director.

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is expected that you will participate in a wide range of activities.

PERSON SPECIFICATION

Qualifications

Maths and English GCSE (Grade C and above) or equivalent

Registered healthcare professional with the NMC or HCPC - Essential

Relevant professional/health degree - Essential

Mentor/teaching qualification - Essential

Clinical supervision training and experience - Essential

Post-registration qualification and ongoing CPD in minor illness management - Essential

Community or Primary Care specialist qualification - Desirable

Care of the elderly specialist qualification - Desirable

Additional qualification in a specific long term condition. - Desirable

Knowledge

Accountability of own role and other roles in a nurse/AHP-led service - Essential

Able to demonstrate CPD in relevant area, e.g. Cervical Screening, Respiratory LTC management - Essential

Local and national health policy - Essential

Wider health economy - Essential

Clinical governance issues in primary care - Essential

Patient group directions and associated policy - Essential

Able to identify determinants on health in Surrey Heath / Frimley ICS - Desirable

Skills

Phlebotomy - Essential

Strong clinical practice skills, management of patients with long-term conditions - Essential

Health checks in Primary Care - Essential

Management of patients with complex needs - Essential

Strong clinical leadership - Essential

Highly effective communication skills, both written and verbal - Essential

Negotiation and conflict management - Essential

Teaching and mentorship in the clinical setting - Essential

Supervisor / facilitator for clinical supervision - Desirable

Competent with spirometry performance and interpretation. - Desirable

Clinical examination skills - Desirable

Nurse/AHP-led triage and management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries - Desirable

Change management / Service improvement - Desirable

Experience

Significant post registration experience - Essential

Current or very recent primary and community experience - Essential

Developing protocols and clinical guidelines - Essential

Nurse / AHP Leadership - Essential

Audit - Essential

Project management - Desirable

Working with community development initiatives - Desirable

Health-needs assessment - Desirable

Other

Self-directed practitioner - Essential

Highly motivated and enthusiastic - Essential

Flexibility - Essential

Team player - Essential

Excellent awareness of own strengths and weaknesses - Essential

Commitment to CPD - Essential

Access to suitable transport in relation to the post - Essential

Job Type: Fixed term contract
Contract length: 12 months

Pay: 25.60-28.00 per hour

Benefits:

Company pension Free parking Life insurance On-site parking Relocation assistance
Schedule:

Weekend availability
Work Location: In person