Job description

Job responsibilities

Enhanced Access Healthcare Assistant (HCA)

Job Title: Enhanced Access Healthcare Assistant (HCA) Reports To: Services Manager / Director Location: Tower Hamlets Network 2 PCN (Enhanced Access Sites) Hours: As per Enhanced Access service requirement, including evenings and weekends Salary: Depending on experience

Job Purpose

The Enhanced Access Healthcare Assistant (HCA) will support the delivery of high-quality, patient-centred care during evening and weekend Enhanced Access clinics across the Primary Care Network (PCN). The post holder will work with other healthcare professionals to provide clinical and administrative support, ensuring safe, effective, and efficient patient care.

The role will involve undertaking delegated clinical duties, supporting chronic disease monitoring, health promotion activities, and assisting clinicians in delivering enhanced access services to patients registered across the network.

Key Responsibilities

Clinical Duties

• Undertake routine clinical observations including:
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Pulse and oxygen saturation measurements
• Height, weight and BMI recording
• Temperature measurements
• Urinalysis
• Perform venepuncture in accordance with training and competency assessments.
• Carry out NHS Health Check activities where appropriately trained.
• Conduct ECG recordings.
• Assist patients with health screening programmes.
• Carry out smoking cessation, lifestyle, and health promotion activities.

Administrative Duties

• Record clinical information accurately within the clinical system.
• Ensure documentation is completed accurately and contemporaneously.
• Assist with stock monitoring and ordering of clinical supplies.
• Report equipment faults or shortages promptly.
• Support audit and quality improvement activities as required.

Patient Care Responsibilities

• Greet patients in a professional and courteous manner.
• Support patients to access appropriate services within primary care.
• Promote patient dignity, privacy, and confidentiality at all times.
• Provide reassurance and support to patients during procedures.
• Escalate concerns regarding patient welfare promptly to an appropriate clinician.

Governance and Safety

• Work within the HCA scope of practice and competency framework.
• Adhere to PCN, practice and NHS policies and procedures.
• Comply with Infection Prevention and Control standards.
• Maintain accurate and confidential patient records in accordance with GDPR and NHS requirements.
• Report incidents, accidents, near misses, and safeguarding concerns appropriately.
• Support the delivery of safe services during evenings and weekends.

Communication and Working Relationships

The post holder will work closely with:

• GPs
• Practice Nurses
• Nurse Practitioners
• Pharmacists
• Care Coordinators
• Reception and Administration Teams
• PCN Management Team
• Patients and carers

Person Specification

Essential Criteria

Qualifications

• Care Certificate or equivalent healthcare qualification.
• Evidence of healthcare assistant training.
• Venepuncture competency (or willingness to undertake training).

Experience

• Experience working within Primary Care, Community, NHS, or healthcare settings.
• Experience taking routine clinical observations.
• Experience working directly with patients.
• Experience maintaining accurate records.

Knowledge

• Understanding of confidentiality and information governance.
• Understanding of infection prevention and control procedures.
• Awareness of safeguarding responsibilities.
• Understanding of professional boundaries and scope of practice.

Skills

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Good IT skills.
• Ability to prioritise workload effectively.
• Ability to remain calm under pressure.

Personal Attributes

• Reliable and punctual.
• Flexible approach to working evenings and weekends.
• Professional and patient-focused.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable Criteria

• Previous experience working within GP practices or PCNs.
• Experience supporting chronic disease management clinics.
• NHS Health Check training.
• Knowledge of EMIS Web and/or SystmOne.
• Understanding of Enhanced Access service specifications.

Additional Requirements

• Ability to travel between Enhanced Access sites across the PCN where required.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and mandatory training.
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and bank holidays in line with service needs.

Enhanced Access Specific Duties

The post holder will support delivery of:

• Routine GP and nursing appointments.
• Long-term condition monitoring clinics.
• Vaccination and immunisation programmes (where appropriately trained).
• Health promotion and prevention services.
• Network-wide Enhanced Access clinics operating during evenings and weekends.

This role is central to ensuring patients have timely access to safe, high-quality care outside of core practice hours while supporting the achievement of PCN Enhanced Access service objectives.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate, NVQ Level 2/3 in Health & Social Care, or equivalent healthcare qualification.
• Evidence of Healthcare Assistant training.
• Phlebotomy certificate.
• Venepuncture competency or willingness to undertake training.
• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.

Desirable

• NHS Health Check qualification/training.
• ECG competency.
• Training in wound care, long-term condition monitoring, or vaccinations.
• Evidence of continuing professional development (CPD).

Experience

Essential

• Essential
• Experience working in a healthcare setting such as a GP practice, community service, hospital, or care environment.
• Experience providing direct patient care and support.
• Experience undertaking basic clinical observations.
• Experience maintaining accurate patient records.
• Experience working as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience communicating effectively with patients, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Desirable

• Desirable
• Previous experience working within Primary Care or a Primary Care Network (PCN).
• Experience performing venepuncture and ECGs.
• Experience supporting long-term condition management clinics.
• Experience using EMIS Web or SystmOne.
• Experience working in evening, weekend, or extended-hours healthcare services.

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

East End Health Network

Address

20 Old Montague Street

London

E1 5PB

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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