Health Care Assistant

Sacriston Surgery

The closing date is 02 May 2025

Job summary

Working under the direct supervision of the Nursing Team Leader as part of the practices multidisciplinary team, to support the team in the delivery of nursing services, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population.

The healthcare assistant will:

Deliver and assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion and patient education.

Undertake administrative duties appropriate to the post and for the efficient operation of clinical activities.

Main duties of the job

Undertake patient health checks, for example, NHS Health checks & Patients with LD annual health checks

Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes, for example, pre-diabetic / diabetic patients and dietary and/or lifestyle advice

Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately

Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly

Undertake wound care, dressings (not compression)

Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics (includes foot screening)

Carry out BMI checks as directed

Where trained, undertake venepuncture, administer vaccinations, for example B12, influenza, pneumonia, shingles, carry out ear irrigation

Carry out ECGs as requested, recording findings accurately

Carry out ABPI and/or diabetic Dopplers as requested, recording findings accurately

Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses, ensuring specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation, including swabs e.g. MRSA

Provide support during minor operations (as required)

Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session

Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment

Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording

Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation

Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.

About us

Sacriston Surgery is a great place to work!

The nursing team is led by an ANP who specialises in diabetes. There are two current practice nurses, a Nurse Associate and a HCA. There is also another ANP who leads on care for the frail and elderly. This team is part of a wider practice team, comprising of 8 GPs (4 GP Partners and 4 Salaried GPs), two practice pharmacists, two Care Coordinators, an Administrative team, and two managers.

We are a forward thinking, enthusiastic team, working in a semi-urban / rural practice with over 10,700 patients, in a former mining village just 3 miles from Durham City. We work out of a modern purpose-built 3-storey medical centre (visits are welcome!)mi-urban / rural practice with over 10,700 patients, in a former mining village just 3 miles from Durham City. We work out of a modern purpose-built 3-storey medical centre (visits are welcome!)

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A1173-25-0002

Job locations

Front Street

Sacriston

Durham

Co Durham

DH7 6JW


Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the healthcare assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Undertake patient health checks, for example

NHS Health checks

Patients with Learning Disability annual health checks (if requested)

Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes, for example

Pre-diabetic / diabetic patients and dietary and/or lifestyle advice

Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately

Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly

Undertake wound care, dressings (not compression), and other clinical tasks as required

Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics

Foot screening

Carry out BMI checks as directed

Act as a chaperone as required

Where trained:

  • undertake venepuncture
  • administer vaccinations, for example B12, influenza, pneumonia, shingles
  • carry out ear irrigation
  • undertake a cryotherapy clinic, for example, skin tags and warts

Carry out ECGs as requested, recording findings accurately

Carry out ABPI and/or diabetic Dopplers as requested, recording findings accurately

Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses

Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation, including swabs e.g. MRSA

Provide support during minor operations (as required)

Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session

Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment

Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording

Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation

Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the healthcare assistant may be requested to:

Participate in practice audit as directed by the audit lead

Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

Support and participate in shared learning within the practice.

Job description

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the healthcare assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

Undertake patient health checks, for example

NHS Health checks

Patients with Learning Disability annual health checks (if requested)

Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes, for example

Pre-diabetic / diabetic patients and dietary and/or lifestyle advice

Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately

Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly

Undertake wound care, dressings (not compression), and other clinical tasks as required

Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics

Foot screening

Carry out BMI checks as directed

Act as a chaperone as required

Where trained:

  • undertake venepuncture
  • administer vaccinations, for example B12, influenza, pneumonia, shingles
  • carry out ear irrigation
  • undertake a cryotherapy clinic, for example, skin tags and warts

Carry out ECGs as requested, recording findings accurately

Carry out ABPI and/or diabetic Dopplers as requested, recording findings accurately

Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses

Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation, including swabs e.g. MRSA

Provide support during minor operations (as required)

Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session

Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment

Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording

Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation

Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the healthcare assistant may be requested to:

Participate in practice audit as directed by the audit lead

Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

Support and participate in shared learning within the practice.

Person Specification

Other Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
  • Strong IT skills
  • Clear, polite telephone manner
  • Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
  • Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Desirable

  • Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
  • EMIS user

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
  • Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check
  • Occupational Health Clearance

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Dressing & Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples
  • ECGs
  • Venepuncture
  • New patient medicals including height, weight, BP, Pulse
  • NHS Health Checks
  • Vaccinations (e.g. B12, influenza, pneumococcal)
  • Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Desirable

  • Chaperone procedure
  • Doppler / ABPI

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Polite and confident
  • Flexible and co-operative
  • 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

Qualifications

Essential

  • Healthcare qualification (level 2, 3 or 4) or working towards gaining equivalent level
  • Phlebotomy certification

Desirable

  • Ear syringing certification (willingness to train to do this)

Experience

Essential

  • In a primary care environment
  • With the public
  • In a healthcare setting
Person Specification

Other Skills

Essential

  • Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
  • Strong IT skills
  • Clear, polite telephone manner
  • Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
  • Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
  • Good interpersonal skills
  • Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure

Desirable

  • Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
  • EMIS user

Other requirements

Essential

  • Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
  • Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) Enhanced check
  • Occupational Health Clearance

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

Essential

  • Dressing & Wound Care / Removal of sutures & staples
  • ECGs
  • Venepuncture
  • New patient medicals including height, weight, BP, Pulse
  • NHS Health Checks
  • Vaccinations (e.g. B12, influenza, pneumococcal)
  • Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Desirable

  • Chaperone procedure
  • Doppler / ABPI

Personal Qualities

Essential

  • Polite and confident
  • Flexible and co-operative
  • 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

Qualifications

Essential

  • Healthcare qualification (level 2, 3 or 4) or working towards gaining equivalent level
  • Phlebotomy certification

Desirable

  • Ear syringing certification (willingness to train to do this)

Experience

Essential

  • In a primary care environment
  • With the public
  • In a healthcare setting

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

Sacriston Surgery

Address

Front Street

Sacriston

Durham

Co Durham

DH7 6JW


Employer's website

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

Employer details

Employer name

Sacriston Surgery

Address

Front Street

Sacriston

Durham

Co Durham

DH7 6JW


Employer's website

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

For questions about the job, contact:

Management Partner

Martin P Bell

martin.bell1@nhs.net

01913710232

Date posted

16 April 2025

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time

Reference number

A1173-25-0002

Job locations

Front Street

Sacriston

Durham

Co Durham

DH7 6JW


Supporting documents

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