Health Care Assistant (Tadpole Surgery)

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB TITLE: Health Care Assistant (Tadpole Surgery)

REPORTS TO: Senior Nurse

HOURS: Tuesday - Friday

Purpose: To assist Westrop clinical team in the delivery of high quality health care to the health centre population.

Responsible to: Nurse Team Leader, Practice Manager and the GP Partners

Job summary

The HCA works under indirect supervision of the nurse team leader and undertakes task and duties delegated by the nurse team leader or a suitably qualified regulated professional. The HCA will work collaboratively with the clinical team to meet the needs of patients of the health centre(s), following policy and procedures.

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, including participating in supervision.

Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development.

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:

o Hand washing

o Universal hygiene procedures

o Collection and handling of laboratory specimens

o Segregation and disposal of waste materials

o Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

o Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

o Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

o Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

Clinical skills health and well-being

Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:

o Chaperone of patients.

o Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory.

Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine

1. Blood pressure

2. Pulse rate and rhythm

3. Temperature

4. Height and weight - body mass index

5. Visual acuity

6. Venepuncture

7. ECG

8. Administer influenza, pneumococcal, shingles and B12 vaccinations

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.

Support and monitor patients during nebulisation therapy.

Assist in the care of patients with chronic diseases.

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 assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security 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:

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, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised.

Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role.

Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually).

Reporting potential risks identified.

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 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

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• An ability to use own judgement, resourcefulness, common sense. A proactive approach to change.
• Excellent communication skills.

Experience

Essential

• High attention to detail. Healthcare experience in a doctors surgery, community or hospital:
• 1 year (preferred)
• Good interpersonal skills.
• Flexible approach.
• Team player with ability to work without direct supervision.
• Relevant qualifications would be beneficial however not essential.

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

Westrop Medical Practice

Address

Tadpole Surgery

William Morris Way

Tadpole Garden Village

Swindon

Wiltshire

SN252PP

Employer's website

https://www.westropmedicalpractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)