JOB DESCRIPTION
Job title:
Specialist Triage
Location:
Remote
Reporting to:
GTD Clinical Lead – Triage service
Accountable to:
GTD Clinical Lead – Triage service
Hours:
Up to approximately 9 hours per week
Salary:
OTE £25,000 (based on £2.50 per referral)
Job reference:
Job summary
To function as part of a healthcare team, providing a comprehensive clinical triage and
assessment service to referring General Practitioners and patients, resulting in safe and
appropriate clinical decision making at all times.
To facilitate the provision of accurate healthcare information, health advice and guidance or
where applicable, referral to the most appropriate health care service.
Provide communication to referrers and onward referrals competently, on time and
complete the required data entry fields.
Scope:
The triage clinician will work within a wider team consisting of other triage clinicians, clinical
leads, PBC leads, and lead managers, to achieve a more efficient use of NHS resources. The
triage clinician will support Manchester General Practitioners to make the best decisions for
patients, and ensure that they are seen and treated in the right place, by the right person
and at the right time.
The triage clinician will be required to use a multi skilled approach to make clinical decisions;
by using the available technology, agreed protocols and pathways, effective communication
skills and reference to clinical literature.
Key duties and responsibilities
1.
Service Delivery
a.
The triage clinician will work under the supervision of GTD clinical lead with responsibility for
the triage service.
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b.
Referral triage and assessment will be undertaken electronically and will not involve patient
contact.
c.
The triage clinician will be required to;
d.
Validate referrals against the Manchester list of low priority treatments.
e.
Validate referrals contain sufficient information to enable decision making on appropriate
referral pathway.
f.
Ensure the level of urgency of referrals are appropriate and escalate said urgency levels where
appropriate.
g.
Ensure referring GPs have followed best practice clinical management guidelines as set out in
designated clinical pathways, and provide advice accordingly.
h.
Determine most appropriate pathway for referral considering alternative range of available
services.
i.
Ensure wherever possible that referrals placed on the triage work queue do not exceed 48
hours waiting. Where necessary, ensure any potential delays are communicated in advance
and as early as possible to enable alternative triage support to be provided.
j.
Refer to peers/colleagues as necessary for advice but maintain accountability and
responsibility for decisions made.
k.
The triage clinician will be required to record the clinical decision on the electronic referral
template before sending it back electronically to the Integrated Care Gateway.
l.
The triage clinician will be expected to maintain collaborative, inter-professional links with
colleagues and other health care professionals.
m.
Maintain up to date knowledge of services across the City of Manchester using a variety of
information sources, utilising the most appropriate path for the referral.
n.
Work collaboratively with service providers and referrers about patient care.
o.
Discuss with the referring clinician and where appropriate upgrade the referral to suspected
cancer (HSC 205).
p.
Maintain up to date knowledge of the NICE Guidelines for Specialty, Cancer Guidelines and
NICE Quality Standards.
q.
Liaise with and provide advice and guidance to referrers as and when appropriate.
2.
Governance
a.
Take part in the annual appraisal process with the GTD clinical lead for the service. Comply
with the GTD complaints procedure.
2
b.
Participate in Root Cause Analysis and Serious Untoward Incident investigations as and when
required.
c.
Maintain a log of significant events and any learning evaluation.
d.
Report any perceived under performance of a referring GP to the GTD clinical lead.
e.
Participate in evaluating the effectiveness of the role and the provision of ongoing reports.
f.
Participate in the investigation of incidents and complaints as required.
3.
Development and training
a.
Reflect on and contribute to feedback, using this information as a method to identify areas for
continuing professional development (CPD).
b.
Develop and maintain expertise, practice and competence in the role of triage clinician.
c.
Actively participate in the audit process to maintain an up to date knowledge and develop
individual performance.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION: Specialist Triage Clinician
QUALIFICATIONS / ACCREDITATION
Domain
Essential
Desirable
Evidence collected
A practitioner whose name is included
on the appropriate professional
Register, e.g. NMC, HPC.
Not subject to suspension
Currently on a PCT performers list and
not suspended from that list or from
the medical register
Be compliant with the Professional
Code of Conduct
5 yrs experience as a senior Clinician
with a demonstrable commitment to
quality practice
Additional qualification in triage
speciality area or minimum of 6 months
working within the clinical specialty
within past xx years
Accredited practitioner with a special
interest
Yes
Application
Yes
Yes
Application
Application
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes (Speciality
specific as per
NICE
Guidelines e.g.
Dermatology,
Cardiology)
Application, and evidence of
it being current, copy of
certification
EXPERIENCE
Domain
Essential
Desirable
Evidence collected
Commitment to and experience of
working as part of a multi-disciplinary
and skill mixed team environment
Experience of using data and
information resources to formulate
decisions and recommendations
Experience of working to protocols and
evidence based guidelines
Experience of supporting service
change
Yes
Application & interview
Yes
Application & interview
Yes
Yes
Application & interview
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ATTRIBUTES
Domain
Essential
Knowledge of up to date pathways,
protocols, research and guidelines
Commitment to and evidence of
personal and professional development
Commitment to education and training
Excellent verbal and written
communication skills
Strong interpersonal skills
Yes
Desirable
Evidence collected
Yes
Application, presentation &
interview
Presentation & interview
Yes
Yes
Presentation & interview
Application & interview
Yes
Application
4
Strong leadership skills
Yes
Application & interview
Excellent record keeping skills
Yes
Application & interview
Understanding of the current issues
and challenges (health and economic)
facing primary care locally
Yes
Application & interview
Imaginative approach to problem
solving and provision of services
Yes
Application & interview
Strong IT skills.
Yes
Be conversant and compliant with the
NHS Information Governance –
Guidance on Legal and Professional
Obligations.
Good time management skills
Yes
Confidence to manage conflict and
disagreement constructively
Yes
High level of ability to work under own
initiative, but ability to acknowledge
limitations and recognise when further
guidance is required.
Yes
Ability to work under pressure
Yes
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