Teaching Focused Lecturer - Physician Associate Programme

The PA (Physician Associate, formerly known as Physician Assistant) PGDip course has been running at the University of Birmingham since 2008. The course re-opened in January 2014 after a short break in admissions, but with up to 70 new places a year remains the largest and most successful PA course in the UK. The programme is a valued contributor to the community of PA educators and endeavours to advance the implementation and acceptance of the PA profession in the UK. The course is run under the auspices of the Birmingham Health Partnership between UoB (University of Birmingham) and University Hospitals Birmingham but involves a wide range of Trusts and GP practices across the West Midlands and beyond. The course is an intensive two-year 50/50 theory and clinical course, and is based on an enquiry-based learning model.

We are seeking the appointment of a new Physician Associate Lecturer to join this successful and pre-eminent course within the faculty University's team of PA educators. The new appointee will join the established team faculty (composed of a mixture of PAs and medically qualified staff). The role will include taking the lead on specific components of the course and management of clinical placements. The post is advertised full time, but may be suitable for job share on a part time basis especially if the candidate wishes to continue working in healthcare practice alongside their academic post.

This role will focus on rapid preparation of students for the responsibilities of the clinical world, acting as a clinical and professional PA role model, and working with the particular pedagogic methods used in this course (integration of theory and practice, extensive use of PBL (problem based learning)/CBL, and both people and 'kit' based simulation being the key differences from many other PA and medical courses).

PA students are bioscience or health science graduates and need steering to avoid getting 'lost' in the potential almost infinite variety of clinical medicine, whilst also learning to think for themselves in the 'medical model', judge evidence, and behave professionally.

Summary of Role

Contributing to the whole range of teaching and administration. Specifically, a leadership role in one of the following areas: Hospital placements, clinical simulation, surgery or acute medicine. Also to teach clinical examination skills and/or act as a problem based learning facilitator.

Teaching is likely to include a substantial contribution to: (a) the management, development (including programme/module review) and delivery of teaching and assessment at all levels; and (b) enhancement of the student experience or employability. The role will typically also involve developing and advising others, including:

(a) providing expert advice to staff and students, and

(b) developing and advising others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.

Teaching focussed role-holders should advance the practice of teaching in their modules within the school, take a role in leading curriculum development, and play an important role in student academic support. They should also deliver excellent teaching that inspires students, and is informed by discipline-based research.

Management and administration is likely to involve contributions at Departmental and School level, and/or making an important contribution to some managerial/leadership (e.g. working groups) within the University.

Main Duties/Responsibilities

Teaching focused Lecturer role-holders will:

• Contribute to leading curriculum development and/or renewal; and
• Develop and manage approaches to teaching and learning that are innovative to the subject area or institution; and
• Advise others on aspects of learning, teaching and assessment; and
• Deliver (where appropriate to the discipline) specific professional programmes; and
• Advance the practice of teaching in their modules and within the school, and play an important role in student academic support; and
• Inform their teaching practice by discipline based research; and
• Frequently update their own subject expertise, and undertake personal professional development in teaching, including self-reflection on own teaching, using student and peer review feedback, to enhance own teaching and learning processes; and
• Typically carry a higher teaching load than those staff who carry out both teaching and research; and
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer and enterprise (including business engagement, public engagement) and similar activity that is of manifest benefit to the College and the University.

In addition, they may play an important role in the recruitment and admission of students; and co-supervise, with a research focused or research and teaching focused member of staff, doctoral students to completion.

Learning and Teaching

To use a variety of methods teaching and advising individuals and groups of undergraduates, postgraduates or CPD students. Where appropriate to the discipline this may include;

• Teach and examine courses at a range of levels
• Plan and review own teaching approaches and acting as a mentor to encourage others to do the same
• Develop programme proposals and make substantial contributions to the design of teaching programmes more widely in the Department or School, as appropriate
• Where appropriate, undertake and develop the full range of responsibilities in relation to supervision, marking and examining (including summative assessment, assessed work contributing to the final award - as a mark or as credit- such as unseen examinations, essays dissertations or presentations)
• Use appropriate approaches to learning and teaching in their field
• Disseminate appropriate practices through suitable media
• Develop and advise others on learning and teaching tasks and methods.
• Devise & supervise projects, student dissertations and practical work
• Develop and make substantial contributions to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement or similar on own specialism that enhances the student experience or employability and is of manifest benefit to the College and the University

Management/Administration

To contribute to Departmental/School administration or have a high level of responsibility for others. This may include:

• Contribute to the administration/management of teaching across the Department/School
• Lead and manage a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive)
• Advise on personal development of colleagues and students
• Make a major contribution to some administrative activities within the University (e.g. appeals panels, working groups).
• Manage enterprise, business development, and public engagement activities that are of manifest benefit to the College and University.
• Develop and make substantial contributions e to knowledge transfer, enterprise, business engagement, public engagement, widening participation, schools outreach.

Person Specification

Overview

- Physician Associate with at least 4 years' experience

- Normally, a higher Degree relevant to the discipline area (usually PhD) or equivalent qualifications.

- Extensive research/teaching/clinical experience and scholarship within subject specialism.

- Proven ability to devise, advise on and manage learning.

- Skills in managing, motivating & mentoring others successfully at all levels.

- Excellent communication skills.

- Ability to work effectively in a team.

Teaching

- Ability to design, deliver, assess and revise teaching programmes.

- Extensive experience and demonstrated success in developing appropriate approaches to learning and teaching and advising colleagues

- PGCE in higher education desirable

- Proven experience of medical teaching at clinical and/or University level

Management /Administration

- Ability to contribute to School/Departmental management processes

- Ability to assess and organise resources effectively

- Understanding of and ability to contribute to broader management/administration processes.

Planning and organising

- Plan for and set teaching programme objectives over a number of years

- Plan and manage own teaching courses at a range of levels (including design, delivery, assessment) as agreed with the Head of School.

- Organise meetings/conferences/symposia as appropriate

- Contribute to the administration/management of teaching and/or research across the Department/School

- Lead/ manage a team to devise and implement a new and/or revised process (e.g. new programme or a recruitment drive)

Decision Making

- Develop learning and teaching approaches, including approach to mentoring

- Develop programme proposals and decide what contributions to make to the design of teaching programmes

- Develop knowledge in specialist area

- Contribute to School/Departmental management processes

Internal/External Relationships

- Contribute to recruitment of students

- Potentially act as external examiner.

- Develop links with external contacts such as businesses, other educational bodies, public sector organisations, organisations with public engagement opportunities.

- Provide expert advice internally and externally in specialist area

- Maintain contact (including membership of) appropriate professional bodies

Position Details

Department: College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Location: University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
Full Time starting salary is normally in the range £40,792 to £48,677. With potential progression once in post to £54,765 a year.
Grade 8 Two positions as a Job Share (60% and 40%) - Permanent
Closing Date 04.07.2019