Job description

Job responsibilities

ACE Medical Partnership

Job Description Healthcare Assistant (HCA)

Job Title

Healthcare Assistant

Location

ACE Medical Partnership primarily Birmingham Heartlands Surgery

Hours

20 or 24 hours per week

Responsible to

Practice Manager / Clinical Lead

Accountable to

GP Partners

Salary

Negotiable, depending on experience

The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) will work as an important member of the multidisciplinary primary care team, supporting GPs, nurses and other healthcare professionals in delivering safe, effective and high-quality care to our patients.

The post holder will undertake a range of clinical and administrative duties appropriate to their level of training, experience and demonstrated competency. They will work within agreed practice policies, protocols and procedures and will recognise the limits of their role, seeking advice or referring to an appropriate clinician whenever necessary.

Undertaking phlebotomy and running phlebotomy clinics.

Recording blood pressure, pulse, height, weight and BMI.

Performing and recording ECGs.

Undertaking NHS Health Checks and new patient health checks.

Supporting annual reviews and monitoring of patients with long-term conditions, including diabetes and COPD, within agreed protocols and competencies.

Undertaking spirometry and peak flow measurements where appropriately trained and competent.

Providing basic and more complex wound care and dressings within the post holder's assessed competency.

Supporting Learning Disability Health Checks and other practice health-check programmes.

Collecting and preparing specimens in accordance with practice procedures.

Performing other clinical observations and investigations appropriate to the HCA role following appropriate training and competency assessment.

Providing health promotion and lifestyle information to patients within the scope of the HCA role.

Supporting vaccination and immunisation clinics where appropriate to the role, training and competency, and in accordance with current practice procedures.

Ensuring clinical rooms are appropriately prepared, clean and adequately stocked.

Checking and maintaining clinical equipment and reporting faults or concerns promptly.

Supporting infection prevention and control procedures.

The practice does not provide an ear irrigation/syringing service, and this is not a requirement of the role.

Treat all patients with dignity, respect, compassion and professionalism.

Provide patient-centred care while respecting individual needs, preferences and cultural differences.

Explain procedures clearly and obtain appropriate consent before undertaking clinical procedures.

Recognise and report any deterioration, abnormal observations or concerns regarding a patient's condition to an appropriate clinician.

Maintain appropriate professional boundaries at all times.

Ensure patients are referred to an appropriate clinician where their needs fall outside the HCA's scope of practice or competency.

Maintain clear, accurate and contemporaneous patient records.

Record consultations, observations, test results and other relevant information accurately on EMIS Web.

Use appropriate clinical templates and coding where required.

Support practice searches, recalls and monitoring programmes where appropriate.

Contribute towards the achievement of QOF, enhanced services and other practice clinical targets within the scope of the role.

Comply with practice information governance, data protection and confidentiality requirements.

Work effectively as part of the multidisciplinary practice team.

Communicate professionally with GPs, nurses, HCAs, reception, administration and management staff.

Prioritise and manage their own workload appropriately within agreed protocols.

Attend relevant practice, clinical and training meetings when required.

Assist colleagues during periods of increased workload where appropriate.

Contribute positively to the development and improvement of practice services.

Appropriate hand hygiene and use of personal protective equipment.

Safe handling and disposal of clinical waste and sharps.

Cleaning and decontamination of clinical equipment.

Maintaining clean and safe clinical areas.

Reporting infection control concerns promptly.

The post holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients, their families, staff and the business of the practice.

All such information must be treated as strictly confidential and handled in accordance with practice policies, UK GDPR, the Data Protection Act 2018 and relevant NHS information governance requirements.

Patient information must not be disclosed to unauthorised individuals.

Follow the practice's Health and Safety policies and procedures.

Take reasonable care of their own health and safety and that of patients, colleagues and visitors.

Report accidents, incidents, near misses, hazards and defective equipment promptly.

Follow appropriate procedures for safeguarding, emergencies, fire safety and infection control.

Complete appropriate safeguarding training for their role.

Remain alert to potential safeguarding concerns.

Report concerns promptly in accordance with practice safeguarding procedures.

Seek advice from the appropriate safeguarding lead or clinician where necessary.

Complete all mandatory training required by ACE Medical Partnership.

Maintain and develop the knowledge and skills required for the role.

Participate in appropriate competency assessments and updates.

Take part in annual appraisal and performance reviews.

Identify learning and development needs with their manager or clinical supervisor.

Undertake additional training where required to support the development of practice services.

ACE Medical Partnership is committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. The post holder must treat patients, colleagues and visitors fairly and with dignity and respect and must not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic.

Follow all ACE Medical Partnership policies, procedures and protocols.

Maintain a professional attitude and appearance.

Demonstrate reliability, flexibility and good timekeeping.

Work independently where appropriate while recognising the limits of their competence.

Maintain confidentiality and professional standards at all times.

Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the Healthcare Assistant role following suitable training and competency assessment.

ACE Medical Partnership provides primary care services across three practice locations:

Druids Heath Surgery 27 Pound Road, Druids Heath, Birmingham, B14 5SB

Maypole Health Centre (Dr Aneja) 10 Sladepool Farm Road, Maypole, Birmingham, B14 5DJ

Birmingham Heartlands Surgery 7881 Gray Street, Bordesley Village, Birmingham, B9 4LS

The post holder will be based primarily at Birmingham Heartlands Surgery but may occasionally be required to work at another ACE Medical Partnership site according to service needs.

Person Specification

HCA Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others
• Flexible, reliable and responsive to change
• Demonstrates an ability to value the opinions of others
• Demonstrates high level of self-awareness, i.e. strengths and weaknesses, personal qualities and skills
• Willingness to undergo education / training for both practice and service needs
• Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives (appraisal)

Experience

Essential

• Experience working under indirect supervision

Desirable

• 2 years previous experience working in a general practice or other healthcare environment

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications and training
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ Level 3 or working towards this or an equivalent qualification

Desirable

• HCA course specific to general practice
• Up to date basic life support training
• Knowledge of using Emis Web & Docman

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualifications and training
• Literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ Level 3 or working towards this or an equivalent qualification

Desirable

• HCA course specific to general practice
• Up to date basic life support training
• ECDL (European Computer Driving License

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.

Employer details

Employer name

ACE Medical Partnership

Address

Birmingham Heartlands Surgery

78-81 Gray Street

Bordesley Village

Birmingham

West Midlands

B9 4LS

United Kingdom

Employer's website

http://www.acemedicalpartnership.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)