Senior Healthcare Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary

The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team leader and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team leader 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 while providing supervision to more junior staff.

Key responsibilities

Communication

Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication

Undertake effective communication with patients in specific clinical situations

Communicate effectively with other team members

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 the practice to access appropriate training based on identified need
• To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
• Be familiar with the changing structures of health care provision relevant to general practice

Health, safety and security

• Use and encourage others to be familiar with 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 and encourage others to adopt appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of 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. Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

• Understand and apply 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 monitor 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
• Contribute to the preparation of local guidelines, protocols and standards
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• 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
• Know the practice's policies in this respect, especially the whistle-blowing policy - available in the practice staff handbook
• Be able to manage your own time effectively
• Give and receive feedback professionally and defuse situations using problem resolution skills to reduce potential for formal complaints

Equality and diversity

• Ensure own actions support equality, diversity and rights
• 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

Clinical skills health and well-being

• 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:

1. blood pressure
2. pulse rate and rhythm
3. temperature
4. height and weight - body mass index
5. visual acuity
6. venepuncture
7. ECG
8. peak flow readings
9. inhaler technique
10. spirometry

• Support and monitor patients during nebulisation therapy
• Undertake spirometry under indirect supervision
• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
• Assist regulated professional while patients undergoing minor surgery
• 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
• Undertake simple dressing procedures following local recommendations and using aseptic techniques
• Where appropriate, provide support and encouragement to self manage their conditions
• Have a basic understanding of long term conditions including diagnostic interventions, treatments, and the principles of care and self management
• Plan, develop and implement health promotion activities as appropriate e.g. smoking, exercise and diet
• Assess patients readiness to change and provide motivational support as appropriate in cases of smoking, obesity and healthy living for older people
• To administer the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine under indirect supervision of a regulated professional
• To gain the underpinning knowledge and practical skills to administer basic life support or adrenaline if necessary

Information processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Inputs accurate Read codes about patients to ensure accurate retrieval of information for monitoring and auditing processes
• Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Literacy and numeracy skills
• NVQ Level 3 or working towards this or equivalent qualification

Desirable

• HCA course specific to general practice

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others
• Flexible, reliable and responsive to change
• Demonstrates an ability to value the opinions of others Demonstrates high level of self awareness, i.e. strengths and weaknesses, personal qualities and skills
• Willingness to undergo education/ training for both practice and service needs
• Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives (appraisal)

Experience

Essential

• 2 years previous experience working in a general practice or other healthcare environment

Employer details

Employer name

Ashby Turn Primary Care Centre

Address

The Link

Scunthorpe

North Lincolnshire

DN16 2UT

Employer's website

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