Job responsibilities
Job Title: Health
Care Assistant (HCA)
Responsible to: Practice
Manager/Practice Nurse
Hours of work: TBC
Salary Band: TBC
Job Summary
The purpose of the role is to
assist the clinical and research teams in the service and delivery of
care to the practice population.
The post holder works under supervision of the clinical and research
teams and undertakes task and
duties delegated by the clinical and research teams or a suitably
qualified regulated professional.
They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to
meet the needs of patients,
following policy and procedures.
Key Responsibilities
Clinical skills
Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the
tasks for which you have received appropriate
Training:
Venepuncture in accordance with Practice
procedures
Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for
investigation by the pathology laboratory
Measuring and recording the following
physiological measurements in routine
Presentations:
1. Blood pressure
2. Pulse rate and rhythm
3. Temperature
4. Height and weight - body mass index
5. Visual acuity
6. 24 hour ECG/BP recording
7. ECG
Prepare and maintain environments and equipment
in accordance with IPC protocols and
manufacturers guidelines before, during and after
patient care interventions
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
Support and monitor patients during nebulisation
therapy
Assist clinicians in minor surgery and coil
fitting
Perform basic dressing changes according to a
nursing care plan
Communication
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate effectively with patients and
carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
Personal and people
development
Take responsibility for own developmental
learning and performance, including participating in
Supervision
Take responsibility for maintaining a record of
own personal development
Work with management on any new training
requirements
To recognise and understand the roles and
responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the
role of a basic HCA
Health, safety and security
Use the personal security systems within the
workplace according to practice guidelines
Identify the risks involved in work activities
and undertake them in a way that manages the risks
Use appropriate infection control procedures and
maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free
from hazards, reporting any potential risks identified, including:
1. Hand washing
2. Universal hygiene procedures
3. Collection and handling of
laboratory specimens
4. Segregation and disposal of
waste materials
5. Decontamination of instruments
and clinical equipment
6. Reporting and treatment of
sharps injuries
7. Dealing with blood and body
fluid spillages
8. Assisting patients and
colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures
Understand, apply & manage the principles of
the cold chain
Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of
vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
Know the general principles of first aid and
resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
Be aware of statutory child health procedures
and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
Know the health and safety policies and
procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining
documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within
your area of responsibility
Use the computer safely
Be able to identify the risks to health of
microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according
to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
Service improvement
Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in
current clinical audit
Work with colleagues in the team on the
development of current and new services and other initiatives
Maintain the notice board in the waiting rooms
and promote good health with educational material on a monthly basis
Deal with
requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets
Quality
Alert other team members to issues of quality
and risk in the care of patients
Ensure
own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
Practice
in accordance with agreed standards of care
Enable patients to access appropriate
professionals in the team
Ensure
stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and
consulting rooms
Know how clinical governance affects the HCA
role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk
situation immediately
Know the practice's policies, especially the
whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
Ensuring GCP training is undertaken and updated
as necessary in order o provide support to the Research Team.
Be able to manage your own time effectively
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, needs and beliefs
of patients and carers
Understand basic legal and communication issues
regarding child abuse, family violence,
vulnerable adults, substance
abuse and addictive behaviour
Act as a chaperone
Information processes
Record information and activities undertaken
with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or
computer systems as appropriate
Assist the research team in maintaining accurate
records of research subjects
Maintain confidentiality or information relating
to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
Take the necessary precautions when transmitting
information
Complete information governance on-line tool kit
Any other duties as business
needs demand in line with the HCA scope of practice
