Job summary
Symphony are recruiting for highly skilled and motivated Emergency Care Practitioners (Prescribing Paramedics or Nurses) to join our dynamic, patient-centred teams at Symphony North (Burnham on Sea, Berrow and Highbridge Medical Centres) and Burnham on Sea War Memorial Hospital (MIU) in Somerset.

In this exciting role, you'll be responsible for delivering high quality care from first presentation through to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and follow up.

You'll manage patients with minor illness, minor injuries, and a range of acute presentations, using your advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills to make safe, effective decisions.

You'll be a confident critical thinker, able to independently assess and manage minor trauma and injury, while working collaboratively with our multidisciplinary teams to deliver safe, patient focused care in line with local policy and clinical best practice.

If you're passionate about providing expert autonomous care, thrive in a fast paced environment, and enjoy working as part of a supportive and forward thinking team - we would love to hear from you!

We have various permanent hours available working Monday to Friday plus weekends on rotation.

Full time, part time and job share options will be considered.

Main duties of the job
You will be an experienced ECP (prescribing Nurse or Paramedic) who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient from initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care. This includes patients presenting with minor illness and minor injuries within both general practice and a Minor Injury Unit setting.

They will demonstrate safe clinical decision making and expert care, including advanced assessment and diagnostic skills, for patients within general practice and the Minor Injury Unit. The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking in the clinical decision making process and will be competent in the assessment and management of acute presentations, minor trauma and injury.

They will work collaboratively with the general practice and Minor Injury Unit teams to meet the needs of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.

About us
Established in 2016, Symphony Healthcare Services (Symphony) provides NHS primary care provision across 21 sites within Somerset, linked to 14 general practice contracts. The organisation cares for approximately 132,000 patients and employs around 600 staff.

Symphony is a subsidiary of Somerset NHS Foundation Trust and manages its services through the support of a central team (including HR, finance, corporate and operational governance).

Providing NHS services is at the heart of what we do. Specifically, our vision is to be at the forefront of sustainable, high quality general practice, collaborating with our communities to improve experiences and health outcomes. We work closely with our practice teams to grow, enhance, and transform our services for the benefit of patients and staff.

Symphony welcomes applications from people of all backgrounds and underrepresented groups. When undertaking recruitment and selection for our services, Symphony is committed to equality opportunity for all.

Symphony offers an NHS or NEST Pension, a fantastic range of employee benefits and salary sacrifice schemes (see attached poster), along with flexible working from day of employment and an agile approach to hybrid working (where applicable).

We look forward to hearing from you and receiving your application.

Job responsibilities
Please read the attached job description in full before applying.

Person Specification
Experience
Essential

• Minimum 5 years post-registration experience
• At least 2 years recent primary / community nursing experience
• Non-medical prescribing
• Autonomous management of minor illness, minor ailments and injuries
• Clinician-led triage
• Compiling protocols and clinical guidelines
• Audit
• Research
• QI
• Evidence of appropriate continuing professional development activity
• Ability to assess and manage patient risk effectively and safely

Desirable

• Health-needs assessment

Knowledge and Skills
Essential

• Advanced clinical practice skills
• Management of patients with long-term conditions
• Management of patients with complex needs
• Clinical examination skills
• Local and national health policy
• Clinical governance issues in primary care
• Patient group directives and associated policy
• Communication skills, both written and verbal
• Communication of difficult messages to patients and families
• Negotiation and conflict management skills
• Change management
• Resource management
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Knowledge of primary care operating environment
• Excellent analytical skills, including analysis of data
• Time management skills and the ability to prioritise workload
• Demonstrable commitment to and focus on quality and safety
• Strong IT skills
• Ability to collaborate constructively with internal and external partners to create the conditions for successful partnership working
• Understanding of the South Somerset Symphony Programme and New Models of Care
• Understanding of the NHS GP Contract
• Use of EMIS searches and protocols
• Able to multi-task and cope with an unpredictable work pattern.

Desirable

• Knowledge of public health issues
• Able to identify determinants on health in the area

Qualifications
Essential

• Registered nurse, paramedic or ACP
• MSc or equivalent Non-medical prescribing qualification
• Relevant health degree
• Clinical supervision training and experience
• GCSE or equivalent in English and Mathematics
• A Level qualifications or equivalent
• Evidence of continual professional development.

Desirable

• Mentor/teaching qualification

Disclosure and Barring Service Check
This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Applicants must have current UK professional registration.