Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Healthcare Assistant

Reporting to: Practice Manager

Purpose: To assist the GPs and practice nurse team in the service and delivery of care management of the practice population.

Job Summary

The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures while providing supervision to more junior staff.

Key responsibilities

Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication

Personal and People Development

• Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance
• Work with management on any new training requirements
• To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
• Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of a basic HCA

Health, Safety, and Security

• Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks
• Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe, and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including:

1. Hand washing

2. Universal hygiene procedures

3. Collection and handling of laboratory specimens

4. Segregation and disposal of waste materials

5. Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

6. Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

7. Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

8. Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

• Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
• Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring, and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
• Use the computer monitor safely
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
• Keep up to date with all mandatory training

Service Improvement

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
• Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
• Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
• Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
• Be able to manage your own time effectively

Equality and Diversity

• Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
• Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
• Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
• Act as a chaperone

Clinical Skills Health and Well-being

• Undertake, record, and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:
• Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratories
• Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations, and for pre-medical checks:

1. Blood Pressure
2. Pulse Rate And Rhythm
3. Height And Weight - Body Mass Index
4. Venepuncture
5. ECG
6. New Patient Checks

• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence

Information Processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff, and the practice
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

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.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken as a matter of course

Changes to this Job Description:

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this list are neither definitive nor restrictive and

may change in detail from time to time as the post develops to meet the changing needs of

the surgery.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Basic IT Skills
• Knowledge in Vision and Docman clinical systems
• Skills in Phlebotomy, ECGs, Patient Health Checks, Blood Pressures
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Health and safety awareness
• Awareness of Blood Borne Viruses

Desirable

• Ability to provide quality care
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good team working skills
• Effective time management skills
• Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions
• Adaptable to change
• Computer literate

Special Requirement of the Post

Essential

• Provide cover for absence of other HCA when required

Experience

Essential

• Experience in GP Practice

Desirable

• Experience within a health care setting

Qualifications

Essential

• Academic/Vocational Qualifications
• Qualified in Phlebotomy
• Qualified to NVQ level 3

Desirable

• Good General Education

Qualities/Attributes

Essential

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure and remain calm
• Flexible and adaptable
• Aware of own limitations
• Keen to develop

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

Trowbridge Health Centre

Address

Trowbridge Health Centre

Hammersmith Fields

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8LW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

This role encompasses both face to face and telephone on the day appointments, alongside home visits for patients who are housebound and unable to visit the surgery. The post holder will make decisions and apply appropriate clinical interventions to the presenting patient in the surgery or their own home. This included initial history taking, clinical assessment, diagnosis, treatment and evaluation of care.

The post holder will work autonomously, within the Practices policies, protocols and guidelines and to demonstrate safe clinical decision making. The post holder will have access to the duty team at all times, during both clinics and home visits for advice and support.

Main responsibilities:

Undertake consultations with patients as an autonomous practitioner and using own clinical judgement to diagnose, treat, refer and/or discharge patients.

Maintain accurate clinical records, in an efficient manner.

Make direct referrals to primary, secondary and social services within locally agreed pathways, guidance and protocols.

Support and continue the development of an on the day emergency patient service in the Practice.

Work as part of the ECP team, sharing best practice.

Be a part of the practices response to emergency clinical situations within the practice.

Work as part of an MDT across the practice.

Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion and health education.

Where the post holder is an independent prescriber: to prescribe safe, effective and appropriate medication as defined by current legislative framework

Ensure all mandatory training is completed, alongside relevant CPD for the role, including keeping up to date with any changes.

The above constitutes the main responsibilities of the post and may be subject to change, to meet the needs of the Practice. Any changes will be discussed prior to implementation, wherever possible.

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.

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (previously CRB check) will be undertaken as a matter of course.

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 which is welcoming, non-judgmental and respects the individuals 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.

Undertake mandatory and statutory training as required.

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.

Portray a professional image at all times.

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

Communicate effectively with other service providers

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.

Changes to this Job Description

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this list are neither definitive nor restrictive and

may change in details from time to time as the post develops to meet the changing needs of

the surgery.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• To be able to effectively and safely assess, plan and refer patients appropriately and evaluate patient care confidently.
• Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
• Can demonstrate a broad and sound knowledge of common conditions in primary care, for both adults and children.

Desirable

• Independent prescribing
• Experience of working in a GP practice

Qualifications

Essential

• Be a registered paramedic with HCPC registration
• Minimum of 3 years post registration experience

Desirable

• Independent prescribing qualification
• Post qualification training in minor illness and injuries

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

Trowbridge Health Centre

Address

Trowbridge Health Centre

Hammersmith Fields

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8LW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

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