Health Care Assistant

Job responsibilities

The Pendle Medical Partnership

Job Title:Health Care Assistant (HCA)

Grade: This is NOTAfC - but Starting at a similar level to AfC Band 2 and above - subject to role experience -

Hours 20 hours per week (including some Saturday morning and possible early evening working)

Location The post will be based at both our sites in Earby and Colne with opportunities to link with a neighboring GP Practices in our PCN. candidates must be flexible to work at BOTH Sites

Accountable to:Business Manager

Line Manager :Lead Nurse

Job Summary

To provide high quality, effective, evidence-based healthcare to meet the needs of our registered practice population and to support other clinical staff teams.

Main duties of the job

We are seeking a caring and enthusiastic Healthcare Assistant to join our team on a part-time basis. The successful candidate will play a vital role in supporting our clinical team and ensuring the smooth running of our practice.

Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with patient assessments and taking vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and weight).
• Adult vaccinations
• Performing routine clinical tasks such as blood tests, ECGs. Health checks, frailty and respiratory care.
• Assisting with wound care, dressings, and other minor procedures.
• Preparing and maintaining clinical areas, ensuring they are clean and well-stocked.
• Providing health education and lifestyle advice to patients.
• Assisting with administrative tasks such as managing patient records and scheduling appointments.
• Supporting the nursing and medical team in delivering high-quality patient care.

Job descriptionJob responsibilities

Key responsibilities include:

• Assisting with patient assessments and taking vital signs (e.g., blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and weight).
• Performing routine clinical tasks such as blood tests, ECGs, and administering vaccines.
• Supporting patients with activities of daily living and providing personal care as needed.
• Assisting with wound care, dressings, and other minor procedures.
• Preparing and maintaining clinical areas, ensuring they are clean and well-stocked.
• Providing health education and lifestyle advice to patients.
• Assisting with administrative tasks such as managing patient records and scheduling appointments.
• Supporting the nursing and medical team in delivering high-quality patient care.

Requirements:

• Previous experience as a Healthcare Assistant in a primary care or clinical setting is essential
• Relevant healthcare qualification (e.g., NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care).
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a compassionate approach to patient care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Basic IT skills and experience with electronic patient records.
• A commitment to continuous professional development and learning.

Safeguarding

25. To ensure current training requirements in relation to Safeguarding are up-to-date, and to consider aspects of Safeguarding throughout all elements of working practices.

26. To ensure that any safeguarding concerns are reported to the GP Safeguarding Lead, or their Deputy, within the practice.

Equality and diversity

27. To 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.

Confidentiality

27. Subject to the necessary sharing of information with other health professionals with the consent of the patient, you are required to preserve the absolute confidentiality of the affairs of patients and all matters connected with the medical affairs of the Practice, and this obligation shall continue in perpetuity.

28. Disclosures of confidential information, or disclosures of any data of a personal nature, can result in prosecution for an offence under Data Protection legislation, or an action for civil damages under the same Act, in addition to any disciplinary action taken by the Surgery, which may include dismissal.

Health and Safety

29. The postholder will comply with Practice policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for both themselves and others. This includes (but not limited to) :-

- Identifying, reporting and correcting health and safety hazards and infection hazards when recognised

- Awareness and understanding of national standards of infection control and cleanliness

- Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal

- Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas clean and safe

The tasks outlined are not intended to be an exhaustive list, but an indication of the nature of the work to be carried out by the post holder, particularly as information requirements, and methods of service delivery are changing rapidly.

Qualifications

Essential

• Essential
• Previous experience as a Healthcare Assistant in a primary care or clinical setting is essential
• Relevant healthcare qualification e.g., NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a compassionate approach to patient care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Basic IT skills and experience with electronic patient records.
• A commitment to continuous professional development and learning
• Able to evidence mandatory training and level of continuing professional development

Desirable

• Further development of knowledge in chronic disease management e.g. diabetes or respiratory disease in patient cohorts.
• Desirable also includes.
• Previous experience as a Healthcare Assistant in a primary care or clinical setting is essential
• Relevant healthcare qualification e.g., NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with a compassionate approach to patient care.
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Basic IT skills and experience with electronic patient records.
• 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.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 2 years post registration

Desirable

• Broader experience of working in primary care.
• Previous Practice Nurse role.

Knowledge, Skills and Personal attributes

Essential

• Excellent communication and Empathy skills
• Able to develop good working relationships with both patients and staff
• Liaison with multi-disciplinary Teams
• Perform basic reviews and audits
• Competent IT skills- specifically MS Teams and Email
• Data Collection skills
• Accurate note keeping
• Ability to prioritise
• Able to contribute to practice, teams, policies, standards and guidance
• Able to manage own time well
• To maintain principles of confidentiality
• Awareness of current developments in the NHS and developments in primary care.
• Self motivation
• Assertiveness
• Capacity to manage a demanding workload
• Corporate loyalty, values and behavior
• Adherence to no smoking policy
• Available to work flexibly
• Able to drive and have access to car for business purposes

Desirable

• Awareness of EMIS

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.

UK Registration

Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).