This is an exciting opportunity to join Southwark Community Teams in their front-door service to deliver care to people requiring secondary mental health input and develop collaborative working relationships with primary care. Southwark has recently undergone community transformation and we are keen to develop and improve our community offer to embed partnership and neighbourhood working with system partners.

The Physician Associate will support patients from initial clinical assessment through to diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. They will work collaboratively with mental health and primary care teams to provide holistic, clinical care. They will attend multi-disciplinary team meetings and offer support in the management of patients

The Physician Associate will be line managed and professionally supervised by a Consultant Psychiatrist in North Primary Care Mental Health Team (PCMHT). The PCMHT is aligned with the primary care networks and the team works closely with GP’s, including regular liaison meetings with GP surgery’s, opportunities for teaching and QI projects.

Career Progression pathways and development opportunities :
We are committed to getting the very best out of our staff and supporting them in their career aspirations. We will offer ongoing training and professional development around working with different mental health modalities and support development of leadership skills.

Flexible working will be considered.

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 coordinate and manage comprehensive physical health assessments and ensure all mandatory physical health checks including investigations are completed. Work closely with Primary Care (GP) services to support individuals with mental health issues to improve their physical health.

To fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required documentation for legal and administrative purposes (e.g. routine medical notes).

Provide support to existing medical staffing

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.

Contribution to multidisciplinary clinical reviews and handover meetings.

Keep up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.

The post holder will work in a well-established multidisciplinary team with junior medical cover. There is dedicated office space as well admin support.

The post holder is expected to take advantage of opportunities for innovative service development, quality improvement and management/leadership development in the directorate as well as within the Trust. There are ample opportunities for educational, academic and managerial roles. There are also collaborations, as SLaM is part of King’s Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre and also the only mental health trust in the UK to have its own biomedical research centre, hosted jointly with the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience at KCL.

Clinical

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 coordinate and manage comprehensive physical health assessments and ensure all mandatory physical health checks including investigations are completed. Work closely with Primary Care (GP) services to support individuals with mental health issues to improve their physical health.

To fully document all aspects of patient care and complete all required documentation for legal and administrative purposes (e.g. routine medical notes).

Provide support to existing medical staffing

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.

Contribution to multidisciplinary clinical reviews and handover meetings.

Keep up to date with current guidelines and maintain best practice.

Communications and Working Relationships

Daily

Contributing to an effective communication process with appropriate and accurate information to patients, primary care, carers, family, friends and colleagues. Create and develop strong partnerships and relationships with key stakeholders, especially primary care staff including GPs, nurses and management.
Contribute to the daily referrals meeting for South Primary Care Mental Health Tea

Weekly

Team meetings/reflective practice/teaching session.

Supervision with Consultant Psychiatrist

Training and Development

Ensure continuing education, training and development is undertaken to meet clinical governance guidelines for Continuing Professional Development and a Personal Development Plan.

Keep up to date with relevant medical research and evidence-based medical practice by reading journals, attending continuing education courses, professional meetings and training events which may include internal, external, national or international conferences according to development needs.

Undertake 50 hours of continuing medical education (CPD) every year. A minimum of 25 hours must be in accredited direct learning programmes.

Take the UK PA National Re-certification Examination every six years, as required for Physician Associates.

Contribute to the development of training and educational opportunities for Physician Associates within the Trust.

Quality Improvement

To support primary care initiatives which improve the physical health outcomes of those with a mental health condition and the mental health outcomes of those with a physical health condition

To contribute to improving skills and knowledge of physical health and mental health care among staff across partner organisations and primary care providers with an aim to provide improved holistic care

To ensure interventions offered within PCMHT are adherent to local and national guidelines and service standards by clinical audit and engagement in Quality Improvement Projects

Management

The successful candidate will be responsible to the named Consultant Psychiatrist for South PCMHT in relation to clinical supervision and Clinical Service lead in relation to line management .

The successful candidate will be encouraged to take a strong leadership role in promoting and developing the role of PAs within the Trust and nationally, in line with a national drive to increase the number of PAs working in mental health settings.

The successful candidate will be encouraged to participate in relevant audit, quality assurance processes and other governance activities within the service.