Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT

REPORTS TO: Business Manager /GP Partners

HOURS: 37.5 hours per week

SALARY: £25,459

Job summary

To assist in patient care and practice related duties working under the direct supervision of the GPs / Practice Nurses and strictly in accordance with specific Practice guidelines and protocols. The Health Care Assistant will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures.

The Health Care Assistant will be required to support the practice team in providing high quality primary care services to the patients registered with the Practice. The Health Care Assistant needs to practice in a safe and confident manner, respecting the principles of health, safety, infection control and security at all times

The Health Care Assistant will be required to attend all appropriate updates and refresher courses within the timeframes specified for the clinical tasks in question. This will take into account any new or amended policies, protocols and procedures relating to any aspect of clinical practice.

Job Responsibilities

Long term condition reviews

ECG recording

Phlebotomy

Blood Pressure Recording

Urinalysis

Blood Sugar analysis

Height and Weight measurement

INRs

Application of basic dressings (under direction of Practice Nurse)

Administration of influenza / pneumococcal vaccines

Chaperoning duties

Processing and management of laboratory samples as requested by the GPs.

Vaccine / cold chain storage, monitoring and recording.

Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms

Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GPs during the performance of minor operations.

Undertaking specific clinical activities for named patients that have been delegated and taught specifically in relation to that individual.

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

Maintain accurate records

Undertake administrative support as required

Assisting with the collation of data on needs related to health and well-being.

Any ad-hoc task as delegated by the GP Partners, within level of competencies.

Spirometry (desirable)

Diabetic Foot checks (desirable)

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

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 recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognise 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

• GCSE standard
• Good numeracy and literacy skills (Maths & English GCSE A to C)
• NVQ 2 or above in Health Care

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience in a Health Care setting / NHS
• Knowledge and understanding of the Health Care Assistant Role
• Ability to self-motivate, organise and prioritise own workload
• Good interpersonal skills and the ability to communication with a diverse range of people
• Aware of accountability within role
• Excellent organisational skills
• Working knowledge of IT systems and the ability to use email / internet

Desirable

• Use of SystmOne

Skills

Essential

• Clinical skills - Phlebotomy
• Excellent communication skills
• Accuracy and attention to detail
• Good time-management skills
• Keyboard and computer skills
• Able to work as part of team

Personal Attributes

Essential

• Understanding, Acceptance and Adherence of the need for strict confidentiality
• Confident and able to work under pressure
• Enthusiastic and self-motivated
• Able to work in a changing environment
• Conscientious and committed
• Pleasant and articulate
• Sense of humour
• Own transport and full driving licence
• Flexibility around working hours

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

Roundwell Medical Centre

Address

Dr Torrens Way

New Costessey

Norwich

NR5 0GB

Employer's website

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