Job description

Job responsibilities

Healthcare Assistant

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: HEALTHCARE ASSISTANT

REPORTS TO: NURSE MANAGER (Clinically)

PRACTICE MANAGER (Administratively)

HOURS: 17-20 hours per week (Can be negotiated)

Job summary:

Working under the direct supervision of the Clinical Team and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the Healthcare Assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.

Duties and responsibilities:

NHS Health Checks.

ECG recording.

Phlebotomy.

INR's.

Diabetic foot checks.

Chaperoning duties.

Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses.

Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms.

Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions.

Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being.

Helping to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be promoted.

Confidentiality

• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
• Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
• Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
• Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice, including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff
• Responsible for hand hygiene across the practice
• Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols across the practice
• Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes

• Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
• Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
• Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)
• Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
• Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
• Spillage control procedures, management and training
• Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
• Maintenance of sterile environments
• Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Equality and diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
• Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional development

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
• Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
• Participate in audit where appropriate.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Previous experience of the role.
• Evidence of ongoing clinical updates and training.

Desirable

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths.
• Qualified to NVQ level 2 (or further) in Health and Social Care.

Experience

Essential

• Phlebotomy, ECG and other Clinical HCA tasks.
• Experience of working within a Clinical Nursing Team as a Clinical Healthcare Assistant.

Desirable

• Experience of working in primary care
• Experience of working in a GP practice

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

Hathaway Medical Centre

Address

Middlefield Road

Chippenham

Wiltshire

SN14 6GT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.hathawaysurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)

Job description

Job responsibilities

The post holder is a registered experienced nurse who, acting within their professional boundaries, will provide general practice nursing services to the whole practice population.

As an autonomous practitioner, the nurse is responsible for the care delivered and will demonstrate sound clinical judgement, critical thinking and decision-making skills in the management of patients. The post holder will work collaboratively within the general practice team to meet patient needs and to support the delivery of practice policies and procedures.

Key Responsibilities;

Clinical Practice

• Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and wellbeing.

• Proactively identify, assess and manage patients at risk of developing long-term conditions, where appropriate.

• Work collaboratively with other healthcare professionals to diagnose, monitor and manage long-term conditions, including non-pharmacological interventions, in line with national and local guidance and practice protocols.

• Support patients to adhere to prescribed treatment and management plans.

• Have a special interest in an area of chronic disease, or be willing to train in a specific area.

• Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including the initiation of effective emergency care.

• Undertake cervical cytology consultations.

• Deliver vaccination and immunisation programmes for adults and children.

• Provide advice and administer travel vaccinations in accordance with current guidance.

• Assess, manage and treat patients presenting with aural conditions using evidence-based care.

• Provide opportunistic wound care and dressings as required.

Communication

• Use sensitive, clear and effective communication to ensure patients are fully informed and able to give valid consent.

• Communicate effectively with patients, carers and colleagues, adapting communication styles to meet individual needs, cultural backgrounds and levels of understanding.

• Anticipate and reduce barriers to effective communication wherever possible.

• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues where appropriate.

Delivering a Quality Service

• Practice within professional competence and the NMC Code of Conduct at all times.

• Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and complete patient records in line with legislation, policies and procedures.

• Manage and prioritise own workload to maintain safe and high-quality care.

• Deliver care in accordance with NSF, NICE and other evidence-based guidelines.

• Participate in audit, peer review, benchmarking and evaluation to improve service quality.

• Contribute to clinical governance, quality improvement and service development activities.

• Participate in the review and learning from complaints, incidents and near-misses using agreed frameworks.

• Support shared learning across the practice and wider organisation.

• Safeguard vulnerable children and adults in line with statutory guidance and local procedures.

Personal and Professional Development

• Take responsibility for own professional development, performance and learning, including participation in supervision and appraisal.

• Act as a positive role model and support the development of colleagues.

• Promote the practice as a learning environment and encourage shared learning.

• Engage with service development, innovation and change within own area of practice.

• Keep up to date with local and national developments relevant to practice nursing.

• Promote awareness of support services (e.g. PALS) and ensure patients can access information in appropriate formats.

Team Working

• Work effectively as part of the multidisciplinary team, contributing positively to team functioning and patient care.

• Understand own role and responsibilities within the organisation and how this may evolve over time.

• Delegate appropriately and safely, ensuring competency of those undertaking delegated tasks.

• Accept delegated duties appropriately and manage workload effectively.

• Use referral pathways appropriately and in line with practice protocols.

• Participate in team meetings, service development activities and agreed local projects.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be reviewed regularly in line with service needs.

Person Specification

Experience

Desirable

• Cervical smear taker, Child immunisations, Asthma diploma.

Qualifications

Essential

• Must hold a current NMC registration

Desirable

• Chronic Disease qualification for Asthma and COPD.

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).

Employer details

Employer name

Hathaway Medical Centre

Address

Middlefield Road

Chippenham

Wiltshire

SN14 6GT

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://www.hathawaysurgery.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)