Fixed term GP Maternity Cover

The long-established Rycote Partnership of Thame is seeking a GP for a fixed term maternity cover post at Watlington surgery. We will consider applicants who are keen to work 5 sessions or more and who can start as soon as possible.

The Rycote Partnership is committed to delivering the best possible care and to ensuring patients' physical, psychological and social needs are met. Our care is defined by the values that all staff share and is summed up in the term "Excellent Care by Working Together".

Nestled at the foot of the Chiltern Hills, there is beautiful countryside on the doorstep and excellent road links via the M40. Watlington is a historic market town renowned for its thriving independent high street and is a great place to live and work. This two site practice serves approximately 8,000 patients. The post is based at one site, covering a patient list to promote continuity.

The Rycote Partnership has a long history of teaching and training. We offer mentorship to salaried colleagues and additional support for newly qualified GPs. Watlington and Chalgrove are training approved sites, and we encourage GP trainers and aspiring trainers to apply if they might be interested in a subsequent permanent position.

Applications should be submitted with a CV and covering letter.

Job Summary

To work as an autonomous general practitioner integrated with the primary health care team, possessing and demonstrating the full range of knowledge, skills and professional behaviours expected of a GP, exercising professional autonomy and clinical judgement in delivering high quality evidence based care, and participating fully in the work of the GP team.

Clinical Care

• Provide appropriate care in the assessment and management of patients with a full range of healthcare problems, including acute illnesses and chronic disease management.
• Work autonomously but in partnership with the clinical, reception, administration and management teams.
• Assess patients with undifferentiated healthcare problems, prioritise clinical need, determine differential diagnosis and initiate appropriate holistic, evidence based care following practice, national and ICB guidelines.
• Become the usual doctor cover for a defined group of patients on a pro ratial basis with sessional commitment.
• Provide face to face, telephone consultations and home visits when required.
• Record all consultations on a contemporaneous basis and adopt a structured approach to record keeping using appropriate clinical care templates.
• Maintain the clinical record in an optimum form, including an up to date list of active clinical problems and medication.
• View and respond to laboratory and imaging results for own patients on the day of receipt.
• Respond to prescription requests / complete medicines management tasks on the day of receipt in accordance with local / national guidance.
• Respond in a timely fashion to miscellaneous clinical and administrative functions communicated via email, Emis tasks or other means.
• Read and action correspondence for own patients and those of absent colleagues via Docman in a timely manner.
• Write or dictate patient referrals promptly and take steps to ensure referrals are not overlooked.
• Include patients in appropriate care protocols where this does not happen automatically (e.g., palliative care, admission avoidance).
• Participate in local and national enhanced services and any other quality initiatives agreed by the practice.
• Share in the duty doctor rota on a pro ratial basis according to sessional commitment.
• Ensure clinical practice is safe, effective and remains within the boundaries of competence.
• Utilise resources cost effectively and contribute to identifying alternative, more cost effective resources.
• Participation in the care home round is an additional opportunity.
• Supervise allied health professionals, including pharmacists, paramedics and nursing team members.

Meetings and Administration

• Participate in all practice wide meetings including business meetings, clinical effectiveness meetings, primary health care team meetings, clinical governance meetings and protected time for learning educational events.
• Attend and contribute to other clinical, audit or educational meetings as required.
• Contribute to the further development and ongoing evaluation of clinical and operational policies within the practice.
• Provide clinical expertise and advice to other members of the practice team as required.

Enhanced Access

All GPs are expected to take a pro ratial share of Enhanced Access cover with sufficient notice. This is remunerated at 1.75 normal pay. The Thame PCN offers appointments from 07:30 Monday to Friday until 20:00 Monday to Friday and on Saturday mornings, shared between all surgeries in the Thame PCN (Watlington & Chalgrove-Chiltern and Brook; Thame-Rycote; Wheatley-Morland House).

Professional Conduct

• Maintain GMC registration.
• Practice at all times in accordance with the GMC's Good Medical Practice.
• Complete an annual NHS appraisal as part of the current 5 year revalidation cycle.
• Maintain membership of a professional indemnity organisation commensurate with clinical workload and scope of practice.
• Comply with all Practice and ICB protocols, procedures, guidelines and policies.
• Act as a professional, visually competent role model at all times.

Changes to Jobs

All staff are expected to undertake reasonable additional duties and responsibilities in order to meet the evolving service needs of the practice. Variations to job descriptions can occur in consultation with staff and do not in themselves justify a consideration of the grading of a post.

Benefits

• Protected administrative time and a commitment to move towards longer consultation times.
• Training practice, with opportunities for GP trainers.
• Daily protected coffee time and regular social events.
• Competitive remuneration - £11,500 per session minimum, with consideration given to experience and generous enhancements for pro ratial share of enhanced access.
• Pro ratial commitment to duty sessions made manageable by a shared approach.
• Regular mentorship sessions, including additional support for newly qualified GPs to build confidence and help embed them in the practice.
• Protected time for learning and regular business, clinical governance, clinical effectiveness and primary health care team meetings.
• Opportunity to be involved in specific care areas, including weekly cover of on site residential/nursing home.
• Future career development opportunities, potentially leading to a permanent position, including GP training, care home medicine, PCN involvement, development of specialist interests, partnership.

The Rycote Partnership of 5 clinical partners and a managing partner delivers high quality care to the people of Watlington and Chalgrove. We have a supportive, non hierarchical approach, with partners sharing clinical work and a patient centred focus. The multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, a paramedic, pharmacist and a social care support team. The practice is assisted by excellent reception and administrative staff.