Assistant Practitioner
Job overview
Job Purpose:
Responsible for delivering effective, specialised, high quality healthcare, ensuring the area of work runs smoothly and efficiently:
- Works under the supervision of a Registered Practitioner.
- Works within the boundaries of existing competence, adhering to local and national protocols / standard operating procedures / policies.
- Delivers high standards of compassionate, dignified care, managing their time, tasks and resources effectively.
- Undertakes training, assessment and facilitation of peers and other staff as required.
- To support Registered Practitioners in their duties and contribute to the holistic care of patients as part of a Multi – Disciplinary Team.
- To ensure that the environment is clean, safe, tidy and welcoming for patients and visitors.
To undertake rotational work within the department as / if required.
***Preference will be given to internal Trust staff, as well as ‘Priority’ and 'At Risk' status including NHS At Risk staff throughout Devon who are able to display recent relevant experience as dictated by the Person Specification.***
Main duties of the job
Key Dimensions:
To act as a role model for other staff members.- Contributes to the management of the safe working environment by minimising clinical risk.
- Compiles comprehensive records of care delivery as per best practice principles.
- Records patient information accurately using Trust software systems or others.
Utilises highly complex, specialist equipment, to provide treatment, where required.
Working for our organisation
We are a people business – where every member of staff matters and can make a difference. Patients are at the heart of everything we do. Joining University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust means becoming part of a team of dedicated staff, who are committed to leading the way through innovation, clinical excellence and great customer care.The Trust has great opportunities for career development in a highly progressive working environment. We offer all of this in a vibrant, modern city with a historic reputation for adventure. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY.
If you have any issues with applying online and need additional support including reasonable adjustments with the application process please contact the recruitment team on 01752 432100. We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants around less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles.
Please contact the recruiting manager to discuss this prior to your application submission. We commit to giving this full consideration in each case. We encourage people from diverse backgrounds to apply for our roles, as diversity strengthens our teams.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Clinical- Delivering a high standard of safe, compassionate healthcare, recognising and incorporating the specific needs of patients.
- Undertaking assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care, under indirect supervision of a Registered Practitioner.
- Utilising a problem solving approach to patient care.
- Promoting and delivering health education within the clinical area for patients and significant others.
- Engaging and interacting with patients and significant others to include them in decision making and care planning.
- Implementing and sharing good infection prevention and control practices.
- Adhering to Trust infection control, decontamination and cleanliness policies.
- Adhering to COSHH regulations.
- Promoting the safety and wellbeing of patients, significant others and visitors.
- Assist in the care of patients undergoing minor surgical interventions recognising problems and initiating action when required.
- Demonstrating and undertaking evidence-based practice playing an active part in the introduction of this evidence to improve patient centred care
- Implementing and sharing good infection control practice.
- Undertaking manual handling assessments and ensuring identified actions are met and implemented.
- Day to day direct responsibility for a cohort of patients in set clinics and walk-in patients under the supervision of the Nurse in Charge of the unit
- To undertake the decontamination and cleaning of department equipment and to participate in department cleaning.
- Asymptomatic specimen collection
- Asymptomatic History taking including clinical coding of episodes
- Cryotherapy for diagnosed genital warts
- Administer Hepatitis B vaccination to those patient who have had it previously prescribed
- Phlebotomy skills.
- Point of Care Testing including Urinalysis / Pregnancy / HIV testing
- Observations (temperature, height, weight, Body Mass Index, pulse and blood pressures as necessary)
- Assistance in the examination of female/male patient for STI screening and specialist clinics
- Managing processing of all specimens including HIV patient samples.
- Preparation, reading and interpretation of Grams stained and wet preparation microscopy slides
- Support recall of patients and provision of results in association with the Health Advisers.
- Support Partner Notification results in association with the Health Advisers.
For further details please see the attached JD & PS
Person specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential criteria- • Demonstrable experience in relevant clinical area
- • Proven evidence of recent Continuing Professional development
- • Light Microscopy
Qualifications
Essential criteria- • Diploma qualification in a healthcare related subject (Level 3 or Level 4)
- • Willing to undertake Foundation Degree / QCF Level 5 Diploma for Assistant Practitioners
- • STIF Level one competency or willingness undertake and complete within 6 months
- • Foundation Degree / QCF L5 Diploma for Assistant Practitioners
Aptitude & Abilities
Essential criteria- • Reliable and accountable for own actions
- • Effective communication skills, with ability to demonstrate fluency, clarity and effectiveness at all levels
- • Effective influencing skills
PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL COMMUNICATION WILL BE ELECTRONIC, PLEASE CHECK YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT REGULARLY INCLUDING YOUR JUNK FOLDER.
If you need support with the online application process or require reasonable adjustments with the application and/or interview process please contact the Recruiting Manager for this post.
We recognise that work life balance is important for our colleagues and so we invite requests from applicants about less than full time/flexible working for our advertised roles. We recommend contacting the manager of the role prior to applying and we commit to giving requests full consideration.
We welcome and encourage applicants who identify with all protected characteristics to apply for our roles. We believe that diversity strengthens our teams and improves our patients' experience. At UHP we aim to create an inclusive workplace and hospital where everyone feels they belong and included.
It is sometimes necessary to close vacancies before the closing date. If you have not heard from us within 4 weeks of the closing date, please assume that you have not been shortlisted.
Providing false information is an offence & could result in the application being rejected or summary dismissal/police action if an applicant is successful.
Please note that if you are successful in your application & accept the position you agree that the Staff Health and Wellbeing Department can access your health records from your current/previous employer in order to check the status of your inoculations & screening tests.This is an automated process & the information will only be used for these purposes prior to your taking up the position with us.
For Doctors Roles:
Unsolicited CVs and Candidate Profiles/Details
University Hospitals Plymouth has a commitment to sourcing candidates directly and as such we do not accept speculative CVs from agencies.
We do, however, work with a defined list of preferred HTE Framework suppliers who may be invited to support us in sourcing candidates for particular roles.
In line with our preferred supplier list, we only pay agency fees where we have a signed agreement in place and an agency has been instructed by a member of the Trust’s Medical Workforce team.
We do not pay agency fees where speculative and unsolicited CVs are submitted to the Trust or Trust employees by any other means than the official route above. Where this is not observed the Trust reserves the right to contact these candidates directly and initiate discussions without payment of any agency fee.
Any candidate details (whether written or spoken) or CVs that are referred directly will not constitute an introduction. The Trust will under no circumstances be responsible for any recruitment fees in relation to these contacts.
Submission of any unsolicited CVs, candidate’s details and/or proposals to the Trust will not be considered further and will be deemed evidence of full and unlimited acceptance of this Agency Protocol.
In order to establish and maintain good working relationships with the Trust’s agency suppliers, we ask that this Protocol is adhered to and thank you for your co-operation.