Healthcare Assistant

Job responsibilities

Job Summary: To assist in patient care and practice related duties as directed by and under the supervision of a registered healthcare professional. The post holder will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Care

1. Work under supervision of the clinicians in providing patient care

• Minor Surgery Clinics
• Chronic Disease Management Clinics

1. Undertake and records the following tasks:

Measurement of blood pressure, temperature

Measurement of pulse, height and weight

Referral to weight management services

Peak flow measurements-following additional training

Venepuncture (where trained)

Collection of specimens as directed

urinalysis

Blood Glucose monitoring patient education

application of dressings (as directed by the practice nurse)

extended new patient registrations checks

1. Recognise changes in the patients observations which must be reported and acted on
2. Assist clinicians in emergency management of patients
3. Enable patients to access appropriate professional in the practice team
4. Act as a chaperone
5. Appreciate the Principles of Healthy Living
6. Provide relevant health promotion literature for patients

Is the link person within the practice for health promotion activities including cervical/ breast/bowel and chlamidya screening

1. Carry out NHS health checks, CVD /Diabetic and any other requirements in line the Local Incentive schemes/ Extended primary care contract and QOF
2. Latent TB Testing
3. Alcohol screening (audit C) for all new registrations aged 16 years and above
4. Administer flu and pneumococcal vaccine as per the TWN CCG/practice guidelines
5. Responsible for the collection of clinical waste/sample /sharps bins and take to designated storage areas ready for collection.
6. Responsible for any spillages that may occur on the premises in line with infection control/practice policy
7. 24 hour ABPM fitting /setting up of device
8. Spirometry

Care and Programme

1. Clearly represent patients point of view to others

Management

1. Ensure stock items are ordered and provided in GP & treatment rooms, emergency equipment
2. Maintain clinical equipment efficiently and ensures servicing is undertaken
3. Follow infection control standards
4. Contribute to new ideas to improve patient care
5. Instruct patients in appropriate techniques or tasks

Administrative Support

1. Undertake basic administrative receptionist duties including

answering the telephone, receiving and transmitting messages

form filling

arrange patient appointments as necessary

liaise with health care professionals

filing and record keeping as appropriate

undertake template entry as directed

ordering of vaccines as directed

checking vaccine fridge temperature on a daily basis and expiry dates of drugs on a regular basis

follow up DNAs in accordance with practice protocol

Maintaining vaccine stock check

Clinical Practice

1. Work effectively in a team

Leadership

1. Interact with colleagues in a professional manner
2. Always act in a way to protect the confidentiality of patients and maintain the integrity of the patient/health carer relationship
3. Maintain and adhere to Health and safety principles at all times
4. Always be aware of own limitations and do not carry out any task or procedure that is beyond the HCAs scope of competence

Clinical Practice

Maintain set standards of organisation in development treatment rooms

1. Take appropriate action if standards are not being met
2. Recognise potential areas of conflict, preventing where possible and reporting to senior staff members if unable to resolve
3. Attend regular study days and maintain safe standards of practice
4. Maintain your personal development profile
5. Act as a support and share good practice with other health care assistants

To familiarise oneself with and endorse the Practice policy on confidentiality and ensure that all information concerning patients, staff and Practice business is treated as strictly confidential at all times.

Equal Opportunities

It is the aim of the Practice to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favorable treatment on the grounds of sex, race, color, religion, marital status, sexuality, age or disability and is not placed at a disadvantage by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be justifiable. To this end the Practice has an Equal Opportunities Policy and it is for each employee to contribute to its success.

Health & Safety

Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974), and to ensure that agreed safety procedures are carried out to maintain a safe environment for employees, patients and visitors

Infection Prevention & Control/Covid 19 Pandemic standard operating procedures

Infection Prevention and Control is the work an organisation does to identify potential risks for spread of infection between patients (and between patients and staff) and to take measures to reduce that risk. The Practice takes its responsibility to do this very seriously.

All staff must take responsibility for their own role in this and all staff receive regular training in their role in Infection Prevention and Control.

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths
• Qualified to NVQ level 3 in Health and Social Care
• Literate and able to perform basic numerical calculations
• Fluent in spoken and written English
• Ability to accurately receive, record and relay information both verbally and written
• Ability to store and retrieve files from numerical, alphabetical and computerised filing systems
• Computer skill including working with the EMISweb clinical system
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to organise delegated work
• The candidate must have:
• Health Care Support Experience.
• Candidates with both clerical and health care support experience will be at an advantage. Those candidates with only one set of experience must demonstrate a willingness to learn the other set of skills.
• Experience of dealing with the public face to face and over the telephone
• To have worked within a practice setting
• Experience of working as a health care assistant or equivalent
• Knowledge of local community and understanding of a multi-cultural, racially diverse population
• Awareness of health and safety issues in the work place
• Understanding of the need to keep and maintain accurate records
• Understanding of equal opportunities
• Understanding of the importance of patient confidentiality and the consequences of breaking confidentiality
• Ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary , multi-agency primary care team
• Polite and helpful manner
• Enthusiasm to learn
• Openness to explore alternative working practices
• Flexible with working hours
• Must have Hepatitis B/Covid Vaccine or be willing to undergo a vaccination programme

Desirable

• Maths & English at GCSE level or equivalent
• Phlebotomy
• Fluent in one or more languages in the local community and willingness to use this skill in working with the public
• Reception experience
• Flexible with 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.

UK Registration

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