Qualified Critical Care Paramedic

We are pleased to offer this exciting opportunity for Qualified Critical Care Paramedics to join our Critical Care team at SECAmb.

Operating 24/7 on a single response vehicle as part of a regional Critical Care team, the CCP practices with an extended scope and formulary providing an enhanced clinical service supporting the care to the most acutely ill and injured patients. The CCP provides clinical leadership in an operational environment and supports the supervision of clinical staff. The CCP also works on the Critical Care Desk within the Emergency Operations Centre supporting the dispatch of enhanced care resources and provision of remote clinical advice.

Applicants must be paramedics registered with the HCPC. Applicants will be required to hold a minimum of a PgCert in a relevant clinical subject, with a willingness to work towards an MSc if not already held. Applicants will require evidence of specialty training and education, and operational experience as a Critical Care Paramedic within the UK pre-hospital environment (NHS or on behalf of the NHS in service of 999 patients).

This is a competitive process and applicants must demonstrate that they meet all of the essential criteria in the person specification (listed below).

The primary role of a Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) is to provide an enhanced clinical service supporting the care to the most acutely ill and injured patients, alongside other professional roles and agencies, in order to promote improved outcomes and patient experience.

To practice with an extended scope of clinical practice and formulary, assess and manage high acuity undifferentiated patients in the pre-hospital environment.

To lead and support clinical decision making both in an operational environment and where necessary remotely.

To provide clinical leadership in an operational environment and support supervision and mentoring of clinical staff.

To support clinical education and training activity as a subject matter expert.

To work on the Critical Care Desk within the Emergency Operations Centre supporting the dispatch of enhanced care resources and provision of remote clinical advice.

There are vacancies Kent at Thanet (Ramsgate) and Ashford, as well as potential for less than full time vacancies in East Sussex. CCD shifts are undertaken at our EOCs at either Crawley or Gillingham.

Less than full time or flexible working applications will be considered and can be discussed on an individual basis.

Clinical

• Undertake the full range of operational Critical Care Paramedic duties as a solo responder or part of a team.

To work as a team member, under appropriate supervision, to deliver critical care treatment in a variety of situations.

To collect, analyse and utilise patient information from the patient’s history, physical examination, laboratory, and radiographic and other diagnostic data and identify relevant problems.

Undertake other additional clinical skills under supervision and direction, which have been formally agreed by the Trusts Medical Directorate.

• Perform clinical duties in accordance with national clinical practice guidelines, Critical Care Clinical Practice Guidelines and Trust guidelines.
• To administer medications under Trust and National guidance, within the appropriate legislative framework including patient group directions (PGDs).
• As appropriate, assess, treat, refer or discharge patients who access the health service but who do not need hospital admission where clinically safe to do so.
• Responsible as an autonomous practitioner using local care pathways as required.
• Ensure that consent is obtained before undertaking assessment treatment or intervention.
• To carry and store medications in accordance with National Guidelines, Trust Policy and patient group directions (PGDs).
• 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.
• Ensure the sharing of information is always done in compliance with information governance procedures.

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.

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 or making a safeguarding referral.

Drive all relevant vehicle types operated by the Service in accordance with the emergency vehicle driver training standards and the Highway Code and relevant legislation

Conduct vehicle and equipment checks in line with Trust policies and procedures ensuring that it is safe and fully serviceable, reporting all defects, deficiencies and accident damage in accordance with the Trust’s service procedures.

Maintain appropriate standards of cleanliness of vehicles and equipment and those parts of the station specified by the local management team.

Ensure the safe transfer of patients, to and from vehicles, following health and safety and other appropriate procedures, taking account of the safety of patients, self, colleagues and others, using appropriate equipment and manual handling techniques.

• Undertake shifts on the Critical Care Desk undertaking the full range of duties:
• Undertake training and maintain currency in the use of Trust command and control systems (Computer Aided Dispatch system, telephony, radio system). Requires the use of visual display equipment for prolonged periods.
• Review incoming 999 calls, undertaking call interrogation where necessary using telephone or video, to identify the need for a critical care resource.
• Utilise communication equipment to speak with CCPs, other ambulance clinicians and patients.
• As a senior clinician provide remote clinical advice to all grades of clinical staff supporting shared decision making.
• Provide support to the Trust dispatch function by interrogating calls and identifying appropriate resourcing.
• Provide support to the Trust dispatch function and support patient safety by reviewing high acuity calls, risk assessing and prioritising for resource allocation.
• Maintain appropriate records where decisions are made, or advice is given.

Management/Leadership

Provide clinical leadership in an operational environment.

• 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.
• Supervise and mentor designated staff and students, taking appropriate action when performance falls below expected standard.
• Use appropriate knowledge and skills when working with or mentoring students and new staff to ensure they are competent in undertaking clinical procedures and utilising appropriate equipment.
• Identify safeguarding concerns and ensure these are reported and documented in an appropriate manner and are escalated and followed up as appropriate.
• Facilitate debriefing following challenging cases.
• To liaise with and effectively communicate with the local clinical partners and networks.
• To participate in the critical reviews of audits, complaints, compliments and clinical/non clinical incidents with a view to improving patient care, supporting learning from incidents.

Education

.

To undertake all necessary elements of training and education required for the role.

To undertake all necessary assessment elements required for the role.

To be responsible for ensuring compliance with 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.

Attend supervision and appraisal sessions with line manager and appropriate others, as required.

Support teaching activity as a subject matter expert within local Operating Units and in formal teaching environments.

Support development of the CCP role.

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.

To participate in research activity as required to promote and develop the critical care agenda.

• To assist in the development and review of clinical guidelines and PGDs within the trust.