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Paramedic-Mental Health Joint Response Car

Band 6

Main area
Paramedic-Mental Health Joint Response Car
Grade
Band 6
Contract
Secondment: 12 months (No change to unsocial allowance)
Hours
Full time - 37.5 hours per week
Job ref
308-CORP-2573
Site
LAS Mental Health Team - Multiple Sites
Town
London
Salary
£32,306 - £39,027 per annum plus HCAS (depending on location)
Salary period
Yearly
Closing
08/06/2023 08:00

London Ambulance Service covers an area of 620 sq. miles, serves one of the world’s most dynamic and diverse cities and is the busiest ambulance service in the UK. We handle over 1.9 million emergency calls from across the capital and attend more than 1.2 million incidents every single year as well as delivering a 24 hour NHS 111 Integrated Urgent Care Service in South East and North East London that we estimate will respond to around 1.4million urgent care calls by the end of the year.

 

We employ over 9,000 people who work or volunteer across London to respond to the health needs of over eight million people who live, work and travel in the capital. We work closely with our NHS partners and are commissioned by 32 clinical commissioning groups spread across 5 sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs) and NHS England for our specialist services. We work alongside London’s hospital, mental health and specialist trusts, as well as the five STPs across Greater London.

 

In addition we work in partnership with the other emergency services, London’s Air Ambulance and London’s Resilience Forums to make sure we are ready and prepared to respond to major incidents and ensure we keep Londoners safe.

As the only pan-London NHS provider we have a unique opportunity to play a leading role in integrating access to emergency and urgent care right across London.

 

By 2023 we will improve outcomes and experiences for all our patients by providing the right care to patients at the right time, and in the most cost effective way. This will mean up to 122,000 fewer patients being taken to emergency departments when their needs could be better met in a different way, and we will deliver significant efficiencies in avoided costs to the urgent and emergency care sector.

Job overview

Are you passionate about improving prehospital mental health care? We are looking for an experienced paramedic to join our award winning team as a paramedic on our Mental Health Joint Response Cars (MHJRC’s)  

We know that nearly half of patients with a mental health condition also have a physical health condition. By joining our team you will be working alongside a mental health clinician and respond to patients in a mental health condition. It is an excellent opportunity to enhance your pre-hospital mental health care knowledge and help to ensure our patients receive the right care in the right place first time.

We have vacancies at the current locations:

  • Fulham
  • Ilford
  • Greenwich 
  • Chase Farm

Main duties of the job

Work as a Band 6 paramedic on the MHJRC in a multi-disciplinary team .

Be accountable for the assessment, treatment, diagnosis, supplying and administering of medicines, managing, discharging and referring patients.

Working for our organisation

The London Ambulance Service Mental Health Team is a multi-disciplinary team comprising of Paramedics, Mental Health Nurses, Occupational Therapists and Social Workers. The team provide telephone assessment and crew support remotely in our Emergency Operations Centre and we have six Mental Health Joint Response Cars across London responding to mental health calls. The shift times are 11-23hrs.

Detailed job description and main responsibilities

Undertake the full range of paramedic duties in line with the Trust’s operational instructions.

  • Assess, treat, manage or refer, and where appropriate, convey patients according to the nature and severity of their condition to alternative care pathways. As appropriate, provide packages of care to patients at home.
  • Carry out paramedic duties commensurate with national clinical practice guidelines and Trust specific PGD’s and guidelines.
  • Responsible as an autonomous practitioner using local care pathways associated with local initiatives promoting see and treat, where clinically safe to do so, reducing inappropriate conveyance and subsequent ED admission.
  • Ability to organise and manage the scene of a complex incident during initial stages until a Manager/Commander arrives. This could involve organising or managing patients, bystanders or other responding services.
  • Undertake duties in relation to major incidents including exercises which may require call out when off duty in accordance with the Trust’s Major Incident Procedure.
  • Modify and adapt working practices to meet the clinical needs of the patient in an emergency and urgent care setting.
  • As appropriate, treat refer or discharge patients who access the health service but who do not need hospital admission where clinically safe to do so.
  • Participate in the development of an integrated approach to the delivery of emergency and urgent care involving all relevant stakeholders including health and social care organisations.
  • Utilise appropriate and relevant information to assist patients, patient advocates or carers to make informed health choices in line with national guidance and the health promotion and prevention agenda.
  • Make reasoned decisions regarding initiating, modifying or ceasing treatment or procedures and ensuring accurate documentation of decisions. Being accountable and responsible for clinical decisions made during the course of duty, and seek senior clinical advice where appropriate.
  • Ensure compliance with medicines management. Ensures drugs are stored securely and where appropriate stocked according to both national legal frameworks and local policy.
  • Make appropriate use of equipment which you are trained on, which may include various types of vehicles, diagnostic, invasive and therapeutic equipment.
  • Ensure the prompt, legible and accurate completion of all patient and incident records, providing a full and accurate record of decision making in accordance with the Caldicott principles, current legislation and regulatory framework.
  • Participate in Trust clinical audit and effectiveness processes as required including evaluation of clinical procedures, processes and instructions to ensure the highest standards of service are achieved in the interest of patient care. Where appropriate, make proposals for change to own working practices and policies within own working area.
  • Ensure the sharing of information is always done in compliance with information governance procedures.
  • In line with the Trust’s policies/procedures record information and maintain records of e.g. passengers, journeys, vehicle refuelling and duty hours.
  • Complete and submit all necessary reports and notifications as required by Trust Operational, Clinical, Health & Safety and other relevant instructions.

Communication

  • Communicate effectively demonstrating compassion, particularly when dealing with people who may have difficulty understanding, for example, but not limited to children, people with learning difficulties and people from different ethnic groups. Adapt communication style accordingly in order to overcome barriers.
  • Ensure that informed consent is obtained before undertaking assessment treatment or intervention.
  • Participate/attend court, or other legal proceedings, as appropriate.
  • Ensure environmental barriers are overcome as far as is reasonably practicable when working at the scene of an incident, maintaining conduct, communication and clinical care in challenging or emotive environments including public places and environments requiring police or other agency support.
  • Demonstrate the ability to communicate complicated information when dealing with complex patients and their subsequent care ensuring that this is appropriately passed to relevant parties.
  • Effectively communicate sensitive information when dealing with clinical incidents. An example of this is when handing over patients to another healthcare professional and/or when making a safeguarding referral.
  • Work with other emergency services commensurate with the principles of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Programme (JESIP).
  • Maintain timely communications with Control using appropriate information and communication equipment and procedures. Ensure that the Control is aware of operational status and availability at all times and provide initial assessment of specific incidents in line with the Trust’s procedure.
  • Drive relevant vehicle types operated by the service that you are trained on in accordance with the emergency vehicle driver training standards and the Highway Code and relevant legislation.
  • Carry out vehicle and equipment inspections in line with the Trust’s policies.
  • In line with the Trust’s policy maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness of vehicles, equipment and station, completing documentation as required specified by the local management team.
  • To be responsible for completing Trust provided statutory and mandatory training and undertake CPD to maintain fitness to practice and adherence to the regulatory body Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) standards.
  • Identify developmental opportunities within the work context and take part in activities which lead to personal and professional development including undertaking reflective practice.
  • Attend supervision and appraisal sessions with line manager and appropriate others, as required.
  • Maintain individual scope of practice and professional registration as defined by current HCPC Standards of Proficiency - Paramedics.
  • At all times exhibit and comply with the standards of personal and professional conduct and performance as required by HCPC Standards of Conduct, Performance and Ethics.
  • Dynamically assess scene and identify environmental and clinical risks to patients, self and colleagues taking appropriate action to minimise them where possible and ensure safety.
  • Identify safeguarding concerns and ensure these are reported and documented in an appropriate manner.
  • Have due regard and where practicable maintain the security of operational bases, ambulances and equipment.
  • Ensure the safe transfer of patients, to and from vehicles, in line with the Trust’s policy/procedures.
  • Take responsibility for own health and wellbeing, promoting the ongoing care of physical and mental wellbeing in order to meet the requirements of the role.
  • Carry out shifts as agreed and detailed by the Trust.
  • To abide by the NHS and Trust values and the NHS Constitution, all staff must maintain the highest standards of care and service treating everyone with dignity and respect whilst promoting a non-discriminatory, inclusive culture.
  • Identify and take action when other people’s behaviours undermine equality, diversity and inclusio

Applicants are advised to read all the information enclosed in the advert and the supporting information before completing and submitting an application. As you complete your application please ensure you clearly demonstrate how you meet the criteria in the person specification for this post by adequately completing the supporting information section of the application form.

Priority will be given to staff at risk candidates.

We reserve the right to close the application window early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

 

 

 

Person specification

Qualifications, Accreditations, Education

Essential criteria
  • Full manual driving licence, valid in the UK including vehicle categories C1 and B (not B auto.) with no more than 3 penalty points
  • Trust approved emergency driving qualification
  • HCPC registered Paramedic
  • Educated to degree/diploma level in Paramedicine or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
  • ALS, PHTLS, PHEC or other advanced clinical courses
  • Mentorship qualification

Experience

Essential criteria
  • Experience in dealing with a diverse range of people in a customer/patient environment
  • 2 years post registration experience in clinical practice, or less if progressed through the national fast track programme
  • Successful completion of the NQP period or equivalent previous experience which can be evidenced
  • Up-to-date continuing professional development portfolio
  • Demonstrate a high level of professionalism, responsibility and accountability
  • Experience of supervision, mentorship and development of a range of clinical staff in relevant practice settings
Desirable criteria
  • Healthcare experience within NHS, nursing or voluntary organisation

Knowledge and Skills

Essential criteria
  • Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing in complex, contentious and sensitive situations
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to develop and adapt to change
  • Problem solving ability
  • Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team
  • Planning and decision making skills
  • Ability to work under pressure with minimum supervision
  • Able to maintain confidentiality of information
  • IT Literacy Skills
  • Able to complete clinical and other records to a high standard

Personal Abilities

Essential criteria
  • Adhere to the Trust values and behaviours
  • Ability to develop effective professional working relationships with colleagues and the public
  • Able to use initiative/self-motivated
  • Maintains a flexible and proactive approach to work
  • Act with honesty and integrity
  • Quality/patient focused

Employer certification / accreditation badges

Apprenticeships logoNo smoking policyDisability confident committedCare quality commission - GoodStep into health

Applicant requirements

You must have appropriate UK professional registration.

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (Amendment) (England and Wales) Order 2020 and it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service.

Documents to download

Apply online now

Further details / informal visits contact

Name
Carly Lynch
Job title
Consultant Nurse for Mental Health
Email address
carly.lynch@nhs.net