Job responsibilities
Job Description: General
Practice Assistant
Introduction
The General
Practice Assistant role (GPA) is an enhanced administrative role, with some
basic, clinical elements.
The role can
be flexed to suit general practice requirements, but any clinical duties
undertaken must be covered by the practice governance and associated
liability insurance/arrangements.
There are many
factors for the GP practice to consider as GPAs will come from different
backgrounds, with different skill sets, and their role in the practice may
differ significantly from a GPA role in another practice.
Any
remuneration or adaptation of the job description will be at the discretion of
the GP practice and in agreement with the GP Assistant.
Job title
General Practice Assistant
(GPA)
Hours
37 hours per week
Contract
Permanent (subject to
satisfactory probation)
Pay scale
Band 3 4 dependent
on experience
Line Manager
Practice Manager
Accountable to GP for
clinical components of the role
Job Summary
The General Practice
Assistant will support the smooth running of clinics by performing the more
routine administration and basic clinical tasks on behalf of the GP, freeing
up their time to focus on the patient.
The GPA must ensure that they
work within and recognise their scope of practice, escalating any concerns to
the GP.
Job Description:
General Practice Assistant /conti
Duties
Sorting all clinical post and
prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others
such as clinical pharmacist etc.
Extracting all information from clinical letters
that needs coding and adding to notes.
Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow
up appointments of patients.
Supporting GP with basic observations as required
e.g., dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs & phlebotomy.
Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core
elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance
forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc.
Explaining treatment procedures to patients as
requested by the GP.
Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g.,
getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission
while the GP can continue with their consultation(s).
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
and Safety
The
post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others
health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety
Policy, to include:
Using personal security systems within the workplace according
to Practice guidelines.
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and
undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
Using appropriate infection control procedures and maintaining
work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.
Reporting potential risks identified.
Equality
and Diversity
Acting in a way that recognises 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 to and of the
individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings,
priorities and rights.
Acting in a way that recognises 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.
Personal/
Professional Development
The post
holder should:
Either hold or be willing to undertake a GP Assistant Skills
Certificate qualification.
Participate in an annual individual performance review,
including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal
and/or professional development.
Participate
in regular supervision provided by a named/duty senior/more experienced
clinician regarding clinical elements of the role and/or issues arising in
the practice.
Take responsibility for own development, learning and
performance and demonstrate skills and activities to others who are
undertaking similar work.
Attend all relevant annual updates.
Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding the GPA role and of
any professional development needed.
Be aware of own role boundaries and what to do when you have
reached them.
Quality
The
post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.
Work to practice protocols and procedures.
Assess own performance and take responsibility for own actions
and be accountable for their own practice.
Work under direct or indirect supervision, as appropriate to the
task being carried out.
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 recognise the importance of effective communication within
the team and strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members.
Be familiar in all mediums of communications such as email,
tasks, telephone etc.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of
communication and respond accordingly.
Communicate effectively to outside agencies.
Communicate clearly with their lead GP.
Contribution
to the implementation of services
The
postholder 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 audits where appropriate.
