Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

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

· Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory

· Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations:

· Blood pressure

· Pulse rate and rhythm

· Temperature

· Height and weight – body mass index

· Visual acuity

· Venepuncture

· ECG

· Basic dressings

· Ear irrigation

· Ordering/maintaining stock levels and control in treatment area.

· Responsible for ensuring effective sterilisation of equipment

· Prepare and maintain environments during and after patient care interventions

· Perform new patient registration checks

· Support the in-house services for cardiology and long-term conditions

· Provide chaperone services for patients and clinicians

· 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

Responsibility for Information Processes

· Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate

· Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice

· Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

· Understand and follow the requirements of confidentiality (including the Data Protection Act) and the Freedom of Information Act and to refer on any queries as appropriate.

· Follow Practice policy regarding the use of email and computer tasks as the main internal method of non-verbal communication and the use of the intranet and the internet as the main source of internal and external information, including the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition.

Organisation/Quality

The post-holder will:

· Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients

· Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems

· Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation

· Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care

· Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team

· Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.

· Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of work, implementing improvements where required.

· Ensure that you are familiar with the Practices Policies available in the practice staff handbook

· Ensure that you undertake all mandatory training as per the practices Training Policy.

· Attend the practices Protected Learning Time Sessions.

· Maintain your CPD and ensure you revalidate all the necessary skills and qualifications in a timely manner.

· Cold chain management (logging fridge temperatures and downloading dataloggers, informing appropriate person if any concerns.

· Checking emergency equipment and ensuring equipment is in date

· Supporting the Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) to achieve and support patients with specific disease areas. (this can incorporate quite a lot but we need to see where it develops)

Safeguarding

Affinity Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and

vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Staff should ensure

that they are aware of the organisation’s policy and procedures for safeguarding and discharge their

responsibilities for safeguarding effectively. It is individual staff member’s responsibility to maintain

competences with regards to levels of safeguarding training commensurate with individual roles. Staff

should report any safeguarding concerns to the appropriate agencies in line with the safeguarding

policy.

Equality and diversity

· Act in ways that recognise the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures.

· Respect the privacy, dignity and beliefs of patients, carers, visitors and co-workers. They must be treated equally, irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion, etc.

· Follow the Practice Chaperoning policy.

· Be aware of statutory procedures, local guidance and referral criteria regarding protection of children and vulnerable adults, including Practice policies. Follow the guidance and policies and take action in an appropriate manner.

Health, safety and security

· Wear the appropriate Personal Protection Equipment and clothing at all times in accordance with the Infection Control Standard Operating Procedure.

· Apply appropriate infection-control measures and maintain work areas in each clinical room, in accordance with the Infection Control Standard Operating Procedure, so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified including:

· Hand washing

· Universal hygiene procedures

· Collection and handling of laboratory specimens

· Segregation and disposal of waste materials

· Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

· Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

· Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

· Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

· Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines.

· Assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.

· Follow Health and Safety Policies and guidelines, including fire procedures and those pertaining to clinical areas of risk. Use safe working procedures and report incidents using the incident reporting system.

· Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Patient Confidentiality and ensuring dignity and respect of patients

The jobholder should respect patient confidentiality at all times and not divulge patient information unless sanctioned by the requirements of the role. This includes written and verbally communicated information. The job holder should at all times treat patients with dignity and respect and actively seek to assure an environment that facilitates this.

Communication & working relationships

To be responsible for ones own behaviour to effectively create a working environment that has a good team spirit, is professional in orientation and has mutual respect amongst colleagues. Establishing and maintaining effective communication and constructive input to areas of service development and systems re-design.

Training and Development

You will be required to complete the mandatory training and ensure you embrace the Training & Development Policy. You are also required to attend the monthly Protected Learning Time meetings

Special Working Conditions

You may be asked to work at other premises owned or associated to the practice. This will be subject to reasonable request in terms of travel compared to the routine site of work.

You may also be asked from time to time to be flexible in your working hours as per the needs of the practice.

You will be required to wear a uniform and/or scrubs.

Teamwork

· Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care.

· Ensure clear understanding and utilisation of services and referral mechanisms and policies to meet patient need.

Other

You will be required to work at other premises owned or associated to Affinity Care. This will be subject to reasonable request in terms of travel compared your routine site of work. You may also be asked from time to time to be flexible in your working hours as per the needs of the practice.

You will be required to:

· Give good and regular attendance.

· Maintain a tidy and organised work area.

· Any other duty as requested, including covering for absent colleagues.

This job description is subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation with the post-holder in the light of changing circumstances.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Experience in the NHS or a GP surgery
• Experience of dealing with the public/patients

Qualifications

Essential

• Performing Phlebotomy in Primary Care
• Willingness to undertake further training

Desirable

• NVQ Level 2/3 or QCF Diploma Level 2 or 3 in Health Care
• GCSE Grade A-C English and Mathematics

Other

Essential

• Possess a pleasant and polite manner
• Demonstrate care, compassion and empathy
• Take pride in their job and respect others equally
• Able to demonstrate enthusiasm for developing
• Clinical skills and competency relevant to the role
• Be punctual
• Be methodical and accurate
• Able to work flexible hours

Skills/Knowledge

Essential

• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the needs of the patient and the role of the HCA
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to deal tactfully and empathetically with distressed or anxious patients
• Ability to work within a team and on own
• Ability to work to scheduled timelines
• Ability to prioritise own workload

Desirable

• Ability to handle simple medical equipment e.g ECG machine, spirometry
• Competent in basic health care assistant duties
• Computer & IT skills
• Able and willing to teach others

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

Affinity Care

Address

Westcliffe Medical Practice

Westcliffe Rd

Shipley

West Yorkshire

BD18 3EE

Employer's website

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