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St James Medical Centre

General Practice Assistant

The closing date is 05 September 2025

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Job summary

We are looking for an enthusiastic and patient-centred person to join our team of General Practice Assistants.

We would like an organised, enthusiastic and patient centred person to join our busy multi-disciplinary team. You will be part of a supportive team which includes 8 GP partners, salaried GPs, ACPs, a team of Practice Nurses and General Practice Assistants, as well as a team of PCN staff which include FCPs, Pharmacists, Wellbeing Coaches, and Care Coordinators. A supportive Management Team, Reception Team and Administration Teams.

Main duties of the job

We ask the person in this role to:-

  • Work collaboratively within the practice team to meet the needs of our patients and supporting the delivery of policy and procedures.
  • Assist the GP's including the Duty Doctor to review the digital triage and book/signpost to the most appropriate healthcare professional.
  • Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote healthy lifestyle
  • Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow-up appointments.
  • Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting the Duty Doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue their consultations.
  • Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECG's and phlebotomy and Long-Term condition bloods.

There is a requirement to complete formal training for this role, which is the General Practice Accredited Training.

About us

St James is a friendly, high achieving Practice based over two sites with a registered list of 18,000 patients.St James is based in the centre of Taunton which is the County town of Somerset.The second site is based in a more rural setting 10 minutes away.

We have monthly CPD afternoons as we recognise that practice CPD supports our team and contributes to strong working relationships.

We offer the NHS Pension Scheme.

Details

Date posted

13 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience £12.43 to £12.77

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

A1080-GPA25-0001

Job locations

Coal Orchard

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 1JP


Orchard Medical Centre

Morse Road

Norton Fitzwarren

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 6DG


Job description

Job responsibilities

A GPA will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient.

Processing of digital triage 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

Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.

Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs and phlebotomy

Completing basic, non-opinion, forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefit agency forms etc.

Explaining treatment procedures to patients

Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies eg. Getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)

Support the GP with immunisations/wound care.

Job description

Job responsibilities

A GPA will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient.

Processing of digital triage 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

Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.

Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs and phlebotomy

Completing basic, non-opinion, forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefit agency forms etc.

Explaining treatment procedures to patients

Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies eg. Getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)

Support the GP with immunisations/wound care.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a primary care environment
  • experience of working in a healthcare setting.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with the public
  • Experience of working in a customer service role.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
  • Strong IT skills
  • Clear, polite telephone manner
  • Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
  • EMIS or alternative clinical software experience
  • Effective time management (planning and organising)
  • Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Polite and confident
  • Flexible and cooperative
  • Motivated
  • Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
  • High levels of integrity and loyalty
  • Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
  • Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
  • Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Effectively utilises resources
  • Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
  • Other requirements
  • Flexibility to work outside of core hours
Person Specification

Experience

Essential

  • Experience of working in a primary care environment
  • experience of working in a healthcare setting.

Desirable

  • Experience of working with the public
  • Experience of working in a customer service role.

Qualifications

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
  • Strong IT skills
  • Clear, polite telephone manner
  • Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
  • EMIS or alternative clinical software experience
  • Effective time management (planning and organising)
  • Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Polite and confident
  • Flexible and cooperative
  • Motivated
  • Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
  • High levels of integrity and loyalty
  • Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
  • Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
  • Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
  • Commitment to ongoing professional development
  • Effectively utilises resources
  • Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
  • Other requirements
  • Flexibility to work outside of core 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

St James Medical Centre

Address

Coal Orchard

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 1JP


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

St James Medical Centre

Address

Coal Orchard

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 1JP


Employer's website

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

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Lead Advanced Care Practitioner

Mark Woolgar

mark.woolgar@nhs.net

01823285400

Details

Date posted

13 August 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience £12.43 to £12.77

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Full-time

Reference number

A1080-GPA25-0001

Job locations

Coal Orchard

Taunton

Somerset

TA1 1JP


Orchard Medical Centre

Morse Road

Norton Fitzwarren

Taunton

Somerset

TA2 6DG


Supporting documents

Privacy notice

St James Medical Centre's privacy notice (opens in a new tab)