Job Description Assistant Practice Manager

BRYNDERWEN AND MINSTER SURGERIES

JOB DESCRIPTION PRACTICE NURSE

NON-MEDICAL PRESCRIBER – INDEPENDENT PRESCRIBER

ACCOUNTABILITY

The Practice Nurse will be accountable to the Partners and Senior Practice Nurse for Clinical matters.
To the Practice Manager / Assistant Practice Manager for General Practice Management issues and administration.
To the I.T. Manager for all aspects of I.T.
Post holder will be expected to integrate into a well established Clinical and Administration Team, or to work alone, and should demonstrate an innovative, enthusiastic and flexible approach.

PLACE OF WORK

The post holder will be required to work at Brynderwen Surgery, Minster Surgery and Cyncoed Campus Surgery.

PROFESSIONAL REGISTRATION / QUALIFICATION

The post holder will ensure that professional registration is maintained and current at all times, and work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct.

The post holder will evidence appropriate non-medical prescribing qualification, this being entered on the NMC register.

JOB SUMMARY

The post holder is an experienced nurse, who acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of their care. They will demonstrate safe, clinical decision-making and care for patients within the general practice. They will work collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing nurse leadership as required. In order to work at this level an appropriate qualification of independent prescribing status must be held and requirements met.

SCOPE AND PURPOSE OF THE ROLE

To deliver a high standard of patient care as an independent non-medical prescriber in general practice, using advanced autonomous clinical skills, and a broad in-depth theoretical knowledge base.
To manage a clinical caseload, dealing with presenting patients needs in a primary care setting
To ensure the highest standards of care are provided for the patients
To develop nursing services offered by the practice

JOB DIMENSIONS

To manage own clinical workload in general practice responding effectively to patient need and ensuring patient choice and ease of access to services.
The use of pathways and guidelines to support best practice and evidence based care.
To support other nurses and members of the wider nursing team (i.e. HCA / phlebotomist) in developing and maintaining clinical skills

PRIMARY DUTIES AND AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY

CLINICAL ROLE

Make professionally autonomous decisions for which he/she is accountable
Provide a first point of contact within the practice for patients, making use of skills in history taking, physical examination, problem solving and clinical decision-making
Instigate necessary invasive and non-invasive diagnostic tests or investigations.
Prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework.

Participation with usual clinics. e.g. Childhood Immunisation, Family Planning, Flu, Cytology, Minor surgery, Minor injuries, Telephone triage, Minor illnesses, and all other practice nursing duties, and routine procedures.
Patient monitoring, Health promotion and advice e.g. Diabetes, Asthma, CHD, CDM.
Assisting in training new staff.
Provide safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care.
Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, education, screening and communication skills.
Refer patients directly to other services / agencies and internally as appropriate.
Contribute to the practice achieving its quality targets to sustain high standards of patient care and service delivery.
Help develop and set up new patient services and participate in initiatives to improve existing patient services.
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

Ongoing personal development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme required of them, and implemented as part of this employment, to include:

Participation in individual performance review, including maintain a record of own personal and professional development
Taking responsibility for own learning, performance and development, supporting training of others and self

Participate in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure that up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and competence in all aspects of the role is maintained. Courses and contents to be agreed with the Managing Partner.
Promote evidence-based practice through the use of research-based guidelines.
Monitor the effectiveness of own clinical practice through the quality assurance strategies such as the use of audit and peer review.
Comply with the practice non-medical prescribing policy and participate in the audit of non-medical prescribing as defined within the policy.
Work within the latest NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on activities and making any necessary suggestions to support continuous improvement of both self and team
Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patient needs
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Teaching and mentoring

Promote a learning environment for patients, health care assistants and other health professionals.
Contribute to the planning and implementation of teaching as required for existing staff, and others, i.e. Medical students, GP registrars, nurse students and health care assistants.

Administration

Record accurate consultation data in patients records in accordance with the latest NMC guidance and other pertinent standards.
Where applicable, ensuring that financial claims are made within the given timescale.

Arranging clinics as required.

Participate in Practice Nurse / Management meetings, reporting progress as required
Liaising with Management staff for administrative support where indicated.
Liaising with other nurses on infection control, hygiene standards and the organisation of treatment rooms.
Ensure all practice policies, procedures and guidelines are fully implemented.
Updating and implementing new and current administrative policies, procedures and guidelines in conjunction with the Senior Nurse and/or Senior Management Team.
Identify, manage and inform of nursing care risks on a continuing basis.
Assisting managers with the ongoing development of nurse related matters under current government targets, to support best practice and other pertinent standards.
Help the practice operate in a cost-effective manner.
Participate in audit and inspection as appropriate.
Work closely with other practice team members in the setting up and/or improving of practice systems for monitoring/measuring performance against Clinical Governance and Quality Indicator targets.
Establish and maintain effective communication pathways with co-workers, patients, visitors, any external, allied agencies and their staff.

Information technology

Record accurate information onto the computerised patient record under the Practice Management Plans.

Maintain and up-to-date knowledge of the GMS Contract and understanding of the importance of adhering to the Management plans to the continuously develop and improve, with evidence, the care delivered at the practice.

Assisting IT Managers with clinical matters and working alongside them where required.

Health and Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others’ health, safety and security and defined in the Practice Health and Safety Policy to include:

Using all security systems within the workplace in accordance with Practice guidelines
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in such a way that manages any risk
Make effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way; free from hazards
Reporting potential risks identified to the Practice Manager
Monitoring safe disposal of Clinical Waste.
Updating and implementing new and current policies, procedures and guidelines.
Sound knowledge of COSHH Regulations.
Carrying out Risk assessments and COSHH assessments as necessary and required.

The post-holder must comply at all times with the Practice’s Health and Safety Policies, in particular by following agreed safe working procedures and reporting incidents using the practice’s reporting systems.

The post holder will comply with the Data Protection Act (1998) and the Access to Health Records Act (1990) and Freedom of Information Act (2000).

Equality and Diversity

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

Acting in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
Respecting the privacy, dignity, beliefs, and needs of each individual
Treating all individuals without discrimination or prejudice no matter of their sexual orientation, gender, race, disability, age, religion or socio-economic status
Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respectful

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate with other team members
Communicate with patients and carers
Recognise people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Created 19/6/14

Created by: Ah

Reviewed

References: RCN Example Job Description Nurse Practitioner: General Practice (Oct06)