Physician Associate Ambassador

Job overview

We are looking to recruit an experienced Physician Associate to join the medical team in the Forensic Outreach Service team. This role will be based at Springfield Hospital and cover local areas. The post-holder will work alongside a Consultant, specialty doctor, junior doctor as well as a team of nurses, a psychologist and an occupational therapist.

Applications are invited from an experienced Physician Associate who are keen to work in a mental health setting as well as supporting the physician associate workforce through ambassador work across London. Informal enquires are welcomed and encouraged.

Main duties of the job

The Physician Associate will be required to assess and examine patients, initiate and interpret investigations and recommend treatment within a defined scope of practice. They will be supported in developing their psychiatric assessment skills and completing necessary documentation relating to their patients.

They will work collaboratively with the ward MDT to encourage and ensure good working relationships, as well as having effective communication in liaising with other professionals and specialties as required.

The successful candidate will need to be dynamic, hardworking, exhibit excellent standards of communication and be expected to deliver high quality of evidence-based care and treatment. The Physician Associate will be supported in their professional development and will have regular clinical supervision with the Consultant Psychiatrist.

The ambassador role has the overarching aim to support workforce development of the Physician Associate profession within primary and secondary care and across the South West London Integrated Care System (SWL ICS). The post-holder will develop and support a portfolio of service improvement projects related to recruitment, workforce planning, professional support of PAs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

• To participate in all diagnostic and treatment services in the employing organisation as delegated and agreed by the supervisor.
• Provide direct clinical care to patients using established clinical guidelines, involving consulting with and referring patients to medical specialists and other health professionals as indicated.
• To interview patients, take medical histories, perform physical examinations, analyse, diagnose and explain medical problems.
• To recommend and explain appropriate diagnostic tests and treatment and to perform specialised diagnostic physical exams and treatment procedures.
• To fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required documentation for legal and administrative purposes (e.g. routine medical notes).
• Provide accurate clinical advice and instructions to nursing and other health professionals as required.
• To confer regularly with the medical supervisor and other health care staff, refer specific patients, plan and co-ordinate activities, exchange information, investigate and resolve problems.
• In exceptional circumstance to provide additional services on an emergency basis under the direction and responsible supervision of a doctor, as are within the post-holder’s clinical competence and which would not otherwise jeopardise the delivery of services to patients.
• In emergency situations, administer basic life support, advanced life support and medications pending availability of a doctor.
• To keep up to date on relevant medical research, technology and related issues by attending continuing education courses and professional meetings, reading journals, etc.
• To assist in clinical instruction and supervision of medical and nursing students.
• To assist the Lead PA in developing a workforce strategy to further embed the Physician Associate profession across identified clinical areas in the employing organisation - this will include role development and mentoring of existing and incoming Physician Associates.
• To undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education every year, or 250 hours over 5 years.
• To keep up to date with appraisal requirements as per the GMC, once regulation commences in December 2024.