Job responsibilities
JOB DESCRIPTION
Job Title: General Practice Assistant
Reports to: Practice Manager and/or GP
Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week
Job Summary:
The General Practice Assistant (GPA) will support the GPs in the smooth running of the surgery by relieving administrative pressure by handing routine administrative tasks combined with some basic clinical duties.
The GPA works as part of the practice team as a Healthcare Assistant and a PA to the GPs. The role will reduce routine administrative workload on the GPs enabling them to use their time more efficiently allowing time to focus on patient care.
The individual will be expected to demonstrate learning against the NHS Health Education England GPA Competency Framework. The course works through a range of core competencies within care, administration, clinical and communication.
Job Responsibilities:
Scanning and attaching clinical post to the patients medical records whilst prioritising urgent letters to the Dr On-Call
Extract data from the clinical letters and add the medical code the patients records
Arrange appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments for patients
Perform basic clinical duties for e.g., phlebotomy, dip urine samples, blood pressure readings and ECGs
Completing (non-opinion) forms for the GP to sign such as insurance forms, mortgage and Department of Works and Pensions benefit forms and other as appropriate
Explaining treatment procedures to patients
Arranging contact with outside agencies for the GP to arrange admission or seek advice whilst the GP continue with their consultation
Support the GP with immunisations or wound care
As practice processes change under the direction of NHS England etc. duties and responsibilities will evolve, and it is expected that the post-holder will undertake training in order to participate and be competent in a wide range of activities.
Communication:
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members, patients and carers.
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
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 and the practice Infection Control Policy and published procedures 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.
Actively reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised.
Keeping own work areas and general/patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role.
Undertaking periodic infection control training.
Reporting potential risks identified.
Confidentiality:
While 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.
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:
- Mandatory training courses, i.e. fire safety, safeguarding, basic life support etc.
- 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.
Contribution to the Implementation of Services:
The post-holder will:
Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
Make use of information technology systems available within the practice, following systems for data security and protection.
Participate in audit where appropriate.
Any other duties commensurate with the role to ensure the smooth running of the practice.
