association of ambulance chief executives -...

3 September 2014 v3.1

Applications invited to the position of Seconded Project Officer to the Independent Paramedic Prescribing Project

Background, Job Description, and Person Specification

BackgroundThe Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines project is a joint initiative by NHS England and the Department of Health to extend prescribing, supply and administration of medicines to Allied Health Professions, with the aim of facilitating service re-design; increasing patient choice; improving access to medicines; and making the best use of allied health professionals’ skills, whilst maintaining patient safety. Current proposals that the NHS England AHP Medicines team are focussing on are:

Independent prescribing by paramedics Independent prescribing by therapeutic and diagnostic radiographers Supplementary prescribing by dietitians Use of exemptions from Medicines Act Regulations by orthoptists

NHS England, in partnership with the College of Paramedics, the Society and College of Radiographers, the British and Irish Orthoptic Society, and the British Dietetic Association, have developed a case of need for each of the proposals outlined above based on improving quality of care for patients in relation to safety, clinical outcomes and experience, whilst also improving efficiency of service delivery and value for money.

Approval of the cases of need from the NHS England medical and nursing Senior Management teams was received in May, with the Department of Health’s Non-medical Prescribing board approving the cases of need in July. Ministerial approval has now been received, allowing the commencement of preparatory work to take all four proposals forward to public consultation.

The College of Paramedics is working with the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) and Health Education England (HEE) as funding partners to provide a Seconded Project Officer who will work with NHS England’s Allied Health Professions (AHP) Medicines Project Lead. The salary range will be equivalent to £30,800-£40,600 per annum (dependent on the experience of the successful candidate) and the project is anticipated to be of around 12 months duration.

During the secondment period, the position-holder will be accountable to the Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics and the AHP Medicines Project Lead at NHS England will direct and monitor the work-plan for the Project Officer.

Applications for the position of seconded Project Officer for Independent Paramedic Prescribing are now sought from paramedics registered with the Health and Care Professions Council. The job description and person specification are set out on pages 2 through to 6 of this document and from hereon this seconded position is referred to as the 'Project Officer.'

Potential applicants can arrange to speak with the Chief Executive of the College of Paramedics for further information by calling 01278 420014

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Important information and dates for applicants

Applicants should submit a copy of their CV and a written statement that addresses how they meet the essential criteria for the position

Applications should be sent via email to [email protected] and should be clearly addressed for the attention of the Chief Executive, the College of Paramedics and should be received by no later than 17.00 hours on Friday 19 September 2014.

Interviews will be held in London on Tuesday 30 September 2014

Seconded Paramedic Independent Prescribing Project Officer

Job Description

1. Purpose of the positionThis position of Paramedic Independent Prescribing Project Officer (the Project Officer) will have as its main purpose a contribution to the work associated with the proposal for the development of independent prescribing by paramedics (the Project) led by NHS England (NHSE) Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Medicines Project Team.

The consultations and supporting documents, which are key components of the Project, will be developed with the aim of seeking ministerial approval to publish the consultations later in the year. Following public consultation, there will be significant further work to be undertaken, including submission of consultation findings for consideration by the Commission on Human Medicines, who will make recommendations to ministers regarding any potential changes to medicines legislation in line with the above proposals.

The Project Officer resource is jointly funded by the College of Paramedics (the College), the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (the AACE) and Health Education England (HEE)

The post holder will be required to ensure that paramedic clinical and professional issues are taken into account appropriately as required.

2. Key relationshipsMaintain effective relationships with key members of the College and NHSE in particular:

• The Chief Executive of the College who will be the line manager for the Project Officer;• The AHP Medicines Project Lead at NHS England who will direct the work-plan for the Project Officer

and monitor progress against the work-plan; • Other project officers from the AHP professional bodies for related AHP prescribing projects; • HEE Paramedic Education and Training Steering Group; • The member of the College designated by the College Executive as the lead for paramedic

independent prescribing;• The maintenance of constructive relationships with a broad range of internal and external

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3. Key responsibilitiesTo fulfil the key responsibilities of supporting the Paramedic Independent Prescribing Project the post holder will be expected to:

• work in partnership with the relevant AHP professional bodies and other bodies to support the AHP Medicines Project Lead in managing public consultations including drafting and publishing of consultation documents and a range of associated guidance and information;

• provide the paramedic clinical and professional advice and leadership that is required for the Project;• support the development of the Project Board with representation as required by the Parties to this

agreement in order to contribute towards the appropriate governance of the Project. • contribute to the development and delivery of the AHP medicines overall project plan in

collaboration with the AHP Medicines Project Lead;• contribute to the development and maintenance of a risk register for the Project and other

appropriate project management documentation to standards and timescales agreed with the AHP Medicines Project Lead;

• develop a communication plan and engagement strategy for the Project ensuring that all actions are fully integrated into the overall project delivery plan which is the responsibility of the AHP Medicines Project Lead;

• contribute to and support the drafting of Ministerial Submissions at key project milestones and the setup and management of working groups/task and finish groups as required to support progress of the Project in association with the overall AHP Medicines Project Lead;

• contribute in partnership with the other AHP Project Officers to the analysis of consultation responses and amend documentation accordingly;

• contribute to the development of submissions and presentations that will be made to the Commission for Human Medicines (CHM);

• liaise with internal and external stakeholders to ensure legislative and regulatory changes are progressed in a timely way;

• ensure appropriate consultation with the Parties to this agreement that have been involved with the funding of this Project Officer post and with other organisations identified by these Parties such as the NASMED.

• Prepare reports for news bulletins and progress reports for the College following consultation between the Chief Executive and the AHP Medicines Project Lead. These will include the coordination and preparation of articles for the College's newsletter and contributions as part of the updating process for College members regarding progress towards paramedic independent prescribing.

4. Monitoring and ReportingPerformance against the specific roles and responsibilities outlined in section 2 will be monitored by NHSE through the post holder reporting to the AHP Medicines Project Lead in NHS England.

Overall management of the general responsibilities and accountability for the post holder towards the requirements of the Project will be the responsibility of the College and be in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Employer. The management of both annual leave and sickness absences will be through the College which will liaise with the Employer and take due regard to consult with and inform the AHP Medicines Project Lead in a timely fashion.

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All performance management issues or disciplinary actions related to the project will be managed by the College in consultation with the Employer. Any necessary communication on development and performance issues from NHS England will be with the Chief Executive of the College.

5. Duration of SecondmentIt is anticipated that the Project will take 12 months to complete. This period may be shorter or longer depending on a number of factors which cannot be precisely projected at the commencement of the Project.

In the event the Project is completed in less than the anticipated 12 months, the post-holder and the Employer will be advised in advance of the early termination of the secondment.

In the event the Project has to be extended in duration, the post-holder and the Employer will be consulted at least one month in advance of the extension.

The project officer role will require a degree of flexible working arrangements, and with support from the project officers employer, consideration will be given to enable ongoing continuing professional development and maintenance of paramedic registration

6. Location of secondmentThe Project Officer will be required to travel on occasion to meet with the AHP Medicines Project Lead or to attend meetings or events associated with and essential to the effectiveness of the Project.

There will be no specific accommodation designated to this role. Rather, there will be scope for agile working arrangements. The Projects Officer's substantive employer will support the position holder to optimise productivity through working remotely where appropriate.

Person Specification

Area Essential Desirable AssessmentValues and behaviours

Commitment to and focused on quality, promotes high standards in all they do

√ A/I

Able to make a connection between their work and the benefit to patients and the public

√ A/I

Consistently thinks about how their work can help and support clinicians and frontline staff deliver better outcomes for patients

√ A/I

Values diversity and difference, operates with integrity and openness

√ A/I

Works well with others, is positive and helpful, listens, involves, respects and learns from the contribution of others

√ A/I

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Consistently looks to improve what they do, looks for successful tried and tested ways of working, and also seeks out innovation

√ A/I

Actively develops themselves and supports others to do the same √ A/I

Qualifications

Paramedic currently registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (UK)

√ A/I

Educated to degree level in relevant subject or equivalent level qualification or significant experience of working at a similar level in specialist area

√ A/I

Post-graduate degree in Management Studies or equivalent √ A/I

Knowledge and Experience

Significant experience of successfully operating in a politically sensitive environment

√ A/I

Evidence of continued professional development √ A/I

Demonstrated experience of co-ordinating projects in complex and challenging environments

√ A/I

Experience of managing risks and reporting √ A/I

Experience of drafting briefing papers and correspondence √ A/I

Experience of monitoring budgets and business planning processes

√ A/I

Understanding of the public sector √ A/I

Demonstrated experience in a Healthcare environment √ A/I

Comprehensive knowledge of project principles, techniques and tools, such as Prince 2 Foundation and Microsoft Project

√ A/I

Skills and Capabilities

Demonstrated ability to use software applications such as Microsoft Word and PowerPoint

√

Communication Skills

Ability to prepare and produce concise yet insightful communications for dissemination to senior stakeholders and a broad range of stakeholders as required

√ A/I

Ability to create and give presentations to a varied group of internal and external stakeholders

√ A/I

Analytical Skills

Ability to analyse very complex issues where material is conflicting and drawn from multiple sources.

√ A/I

Demonstrated capability to act upon incomplete information, using experience to make inferences and decision making

√ A/I

Numerate and able to understand complex financial issues √ A/I

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combined with deep analytical skills

Experience of setting up and implementing internal processes and procedures

√ A/I

Knowledge of Financial Systems e.g. monitoring budget management, processing invoices and procurement

√ A/I

Planning Skills

Demonstrated capability to plan over short, medium and long-term timeframes and adjust plans and resource requirements accordingly

√ A/I

Autonomy/Freedom to Act

Demonstrated capabilities to manage own workload and make informed decisions in the absence of required information, working to tight and often changing timescales

√ A/I

Equality and Diversity

The promotion of equality of opportunity and good working relations (providing practical leadership)

√ A/I

Other

Demonstrated capability to work flexibly and undertake additional tasks as may be required by the Project Lead

√ A/I

*Assessment will take place with reference to the following information

A=Application form I=Interview T=Test C=Certificate

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