Job responsibilities
The PCN Health Care Support Worker will be part of our Proactive Care Team which currently consists of a Complex Care Nurse and two Community Care Coordinators. The post holder for this role will predominantly visit the housebound frail elderly at home to collect routine baseline blood pressure, bloods and urine samples in preparation for long term condition reviews. In addition, it is hoped that the PCN Health Care Support Worker will be trained to perform a food check for those with diabetes. The post holder will also be trained to administer vaccines (such as flu) and injections (such as B12 injections). The cases requiring a visit will be allocated by the Practice nurse teams, which are within the Taunton Central PCN. Any urgent clinical concerns regarding patients will be directed back to the patients registered GP Practice. However, as part of the Proactive Care Team, the PCN Health Care Support Worker can also signpost patients to our Proactive Care Team who can offer a holistic assessment and personalised care planning should the patient wish to take part in this.
As a Health Care Support Worker, you will have an understanding of:
- Health and Social Care models
- Physiology, psychology and organisation and function of the human body
- Actions which can improve an individual's quality of care
- The provision and promotion of holistic person-centred care
- Duty of care and safeguarding of individuals
- Patient-centred goals and how to support individuals to achieve their goals and promote independence
- Individual's place in society and key supportive factors
Communication:
- Communicate effectively with patients/individuals, their families, careers and health/social care practitioners using a range of styles and ensuring information remains confidential at all times.
- Communicate with patients when taking samples or specimens.
- Communicate with patients when carrying out consultations/visits, observations and tests.
- Communicate both routine, complex and sensitive information to patients/clients, relatives and colleagues.
- Provide and receive routine information orally to inform work colleagues or external contacts.
- Help to maintain good communication, liaison and working arrangements with all organisations/agencies across the health, care and voluntary sectors.
Planning and Organisation:
- Plan tasks allocated to, and appropriate to, the post.
- Support and act as a role model to other team members.
- Allocate work to and support the development of others as appropriate to the post.
- Take responsibility for prioritising and reflecting on own actions, behaviour and work and apply learning to improve patient services, delivery and systems.
- Work as part of a team, seeking help and guidance when unsure.
Analytics:
- Make decisions in own areas of responsibility/duties e.g. identifying correct applications of procedure; when to report a problem; best vein for bloods.
- Be able to problem solve and take action regarding an individual's care through an awareness policy and legislation.
- Recognise risk in relation to care provision.
- Address straightforward problems in post's day-to-day work, reporting concerns and changes to supervisor in a timely manner.
- Undertakes surveys, audits as necessary to own work; if required, occasionally participate in clinical trails or equipment testing.
- Participate in PCN surveys and audits.
Responsibility for Patient/Client Care, Treatment and Therapy:
- Undertake defined clinical or therapeutic interventions appropriately as delegated by a Registered Practitioner and as documented in the care/treatment plan.
- Prepare individuals for activities to be carried out by other members of the healthcare team, looking after them before, during and/or after those activities in line with their care/treatment plan.
- Support individuals with their identified health needs, implement clinical care and care packages as directed.
- Use people skills to build an holistic approach and therapeutic relationship with patients.
- Identify and respond to signs of pain or discomfort.
Any Other Specific Tasks:
Including but not limited to:
Undertake holistic assessments of patient.
Carry out a range of clinical duties with minimal/no direct supervision, including:
- triaging patients
- phlebotomy
Undertaking/taking/identifying:
- blood pressure monitoring
- oxygen saturation levels
- body temperature
- pulse rate
- ECG
Assist the PCN Community Complex Care Nurse with delegated clinical tasks.
Recognise limitations in mental capacity in patients and respond appropriately.
Review of this Job Description:
This job description is intended as an outline indicactor of general areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing service needs. This job description is to be reviewed in conjunction with the post holder on an annual basis.
