Job Title: GP Clinical Lead Older Persons
Reporting to: Medical Director, Irish College of GPs
Base: 15 Deputy Hogan Place, Dublin 2 D02 DK23/ Hybrid Working
Contract type: Fixed Term - 12 months with renewal possible depending on funding
Working hours: 2 days per week
Application closing date: Monday 18th August
About the College
The Irish College of GPs is the professional body for general practice in Ireland. Please visit our website for more information: Irish College of GPs
The Irish College of GP’s is an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to ensuring that all job applicants and employees receive equal treatment regardless of gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, religion, age, disability, race, membership of the Traveller community, or any other protected characteristic under Irish equality legislation. We are committed to making reasonable accommodations to enable applicants to participate in the job application and interview process. Please email hr@icgp.ie to confidently discuss any accommodations required.
About the Clinical Care Programme for Older Persons
The National Clinical Programme for Older Persons has an overall aim to improve and standardise the quality of care for older people in Ireland. Most older people are well, living independently in the community. With improved life expectancy, however, an increasing number of people are living with multiple conditions and polypharmacy which may impact their functional capacity. Ultimately, we wish to see older people lead independent lives with dignity at home in the community.
Therefore, the appropriate services must be available to each person when and where required. The National Clinical Programme for Older People is completing work across all settings where Older People require care including hospital and community.
Job Purpose
The objective of the GP Clinical Lead Older Persons role is to provide GP leadership, clinical guidance, subject matter expertise and evidence-based materials to improve and further the prevention and management of care for this cohort of patients.
The person in this role will work closely with colleagues in the GP Clinical Lead and MD Directorate team, Irish College of GPs and with the HSE NCAGL Older Persons, Clinical Lead ADMA and National Clinical Programme for Older Persons (NCP OP) S/he will also establish strong collaborative relationships with stakeholder colleagues including in the HSE. In addition to national strategic aims, the GP Clinical Lead Older Persons will provide best practice education to GP members and practice teams through a diversity of formats aligned to the Irish College of GPs Statement of Strategy 2023 – 2026.
In the first six months of this role, the focus will be on the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015 (ADMA). Following this the focus will be on supporting the design and implementation of Age-Friendly Health Systems across all healthcare settings and especially in primary and residential care.
Key Result Areas
In collaboration with key stakeholders
Provide leadership and strategic input to standardise and improve patient care particularly in areas of strategic national importance, to Irish College of GPs strategy, to national HSE policy and to members’ needs.
Establish and maintain highly functioning collaborative relationships with key stakeholders across the health sector.
Support the delivery of priorities identified through policy and strategic initiatives.
Support the ongoing work of relevant national and regional networks and interdisciplinary groups to promote evidence-informed practice.
Oversee the development and delivery of education material relevant to general practice on the ADMA.
Collaborate on the provision of education and training to GPs to complete functional assessments of capacity including advance implementation of the Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) Act 2015 that satisfies the Circuit Court requirements for functional assessments of capacity and the Decision Support Service requirement for applications for co-decision-making agreements and enduring powers of attorney
Collaborate on the provision of education and training to GPs to facilitate and encourage timely advance care planning, including where the older person wishes to create an Advance Healthcare Directive
Support the development of integrated care pathways for older persons through the range of services for Older People incorporating primary care and aligning with Sláintecare principles
Be an active member of relevant HSE and Irish College of GPs advisory groups
Provide clinical guidance, subject matter expertise and input to support planned developments in the national programme for older people
Produce reports as required for the programme
Identify key strategic, project, research and education areas for immediate and medium term projects and address same through appropriate governance.
Guide and support local implementation of best practice and provide a sustained focus on quality improvement, resource utilisation and quality assurance.
Engage with the Irish College of GPs Research Hub for General Practice on strategic projects relevant to older person care, with particular focus initially on the ADMA.
Person specification
The ideal candidate will have the following knowledge, skills, expertise and competencies:
Qualifications experience
Be a medically qualified health professional, holding the MICGP qualification, and be a current member of the College in good standing.
Be registered with the Irish Medical Council of Ireland on the Specialist Division for General Practice.
Be enrolled on and in compliance with the Irish College of GPs Professional Competence Scheme.
Have 3 years full time or 5 years part time postgraduate medical experience in general practice in Ireland.
Concurrently hold a part time clinical appointment equivalent to a minimum of four sessions of clinical general practice per week.
Behavioural competencies
Have demonstrated leadership skills and promoted change in practice either locally or in the wider health network.
Ability to build and maintain strong relationships and advocate for the patient.
Competent negotiator with excellent communication skills e.g. to make the case for resourced, safe older person care in practice.
Ability to design and deliver GP education through a range of formats and media.
Proven ability to evaluate and audit projects.
Demonstrable understanding of common issues and challenges in older person care with a particular focus on the ADMA.