Job description
Job responsibilities
The PCN GP is tasked with providing high-quality, patient-centred care while adhering to clinical guidelines and professional standards. Key responsibilities include:
Clinical Responsibilities
• Providing a safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care in the surgery, patients homes, or other care environments.
• Clinically examine and assess patient needs from both physiological and psychological perspectives.
• Develop and implement clinical care plans, referring patients to appropriate services in a timely manner according to practice and/or PCN guidelines.
• Recognise the need for and perform investigatory procedures, including laboratory tests and radiological assessments, and interpret the results.
• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent, or emergency situations, including the initiation of effective emergency care.
• Ensure appropriate follow-up care for patients’ post-intervention.
• Support patients in adopting health promotion strategies and self-care principles.
• Deliver anticipatory care plans to proactive health management.
• Independently prescribe medications within the scope of practice / PCN, adhering to local and national prescribing guidelines.
• Compile and issue computer-generated acute and repeat prescriptions.
• Review and adjust medications according to NICE guidelines and local care pathways.
• Maintain an awareness of developments in clinical practice and implement changes as and when necessary.
Administrative Responsibilities
• Process referrals, repeat prescription requests, and other administrative tasks in a timely manner.
• Record clear consultation notes using the clinical system (SystmOne) to agreed standards.
• Work collaboratively with colleagues, sharing practice workload equitably and contributing to the overall efficiency of the team.
• Contribute to the successful implementation of quality initiatives within the PCN and engage in clinical audits.
Professional and Policy Compliance
• Comply with all national, statutory, legislative, and local policies.
• Proactively contribute to the development and improvement of local policies and protocols.
• Be aware of duties and responsibilities regarding safeguarding children and adults, adhering to policies and procedures.
• Always maintain patient confidentiality and ensure that sensitive information is handled according to PCN policies.
• Follow relevant practice policies and guidelines, including those related to prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety, and Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) standards.
Patient Management
• Create opportunities to address patient care needs efficiently, managing patient expectations realistically.
• Encourage the use of technology and alternative care options when appropriate to improve service delivery.
• Report any concerns related to safety or quality of patient care to the Clinical Director, Practice Manager, or PCN Manager immediately.
• Engage in regular communication with patients to reassure them and address any concerns regarding their care.
Training and personal development
• Staff training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisals and will be in accordance with PCN requirements.
• Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the PCN. It is the individual’s responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments and appropriate member/fellowship requirements if any.
• Enhance own performance through Continuous Professional Development, attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful, and imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service.
• If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given.
• Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan.
Equality and Diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the PCN as part of this employment, such training to include:
• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Quality
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the PCN, and will:
• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patient’s needs.
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
• Communicate effectively and professionally with other team members.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with external stakeholders.
• Communicate effectively and professionally with patients and carers.
• Recognize people’s needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.