Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Patient Care:

To assist in the delivery of care for defined groups of patients to include treatment, preventative care, screening and patient education.

To provide health promotion and lifestyle advice to patients and to be familiar with services provided by relevant local and community organisations

Participate in the delivery of care for defined groups of patients within agreed clinical guidelines. For example:

BP monitoring

Urinalysis

Weight monitoring

Temperature & pulse recording

Phlebotomy

Diabetic foot checks

Initiate follow-up or onward referral to other professionals, where necessary.

Infection control:

Maintain a safe and appropriately clean working environment, where applicable in accordance with Infection Control Policy.

Maintain appropriate clinical cleanliness of instruments according to Infection Control Policy.

Understand and adhere to Health and Safety regulations.

Administration:

Ensuring adequate supply of blood consumables & other treatment room items.

Maintain adequate supplies of consumables in all consulting rooms.

Keep clear, accurate and contemporaneous written medical records including computer records, as appropriate.

Assist with administration of call and recall systems in relation to chronic disease management

Participate in planning, implementing and evaluating audit topics to improve patient care.

Other duties:

Maintain close and effective liaison with all colleagues.

Maintain good liaison with other PHCT professionals, as necessary.

Understand and adhere to any statutory regulations that are required of the practice.

Attend and participate in practice meetings, as appropriate to the post.

Undertake additional duties as may from time to time be necessary, commensurate with the post.

Communication:

Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed & validly consent to treatment

Communicate effectively with patients & carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background & preferred ways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communication & take action to improve communication

Maintain effective & collaborative communication channels with practice colleagues & external stakeholders, with appropriate regard to confidentiality

Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues

Ensure awareness of sources of support & guidance & provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties & referring where appropriate

Learning and development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment. Such training to include:

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

General Principles

You must ensure that you practise within the realms of your personal competency at all times & never perform a task or procedure unless you are competent, authorised & experienced to do so.

You are required to adhere to all current clinical protocols within your sphere of work.

This Job Description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the post holder. The post holder is required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested by the Partners or the Practice Manager.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Basic general education
• Evidence of further study/self development within the last 5 years

Desirable

• Evidence of maintaining up-to-date skills & knowledge
• Evidence of competence in phlebotomy
• Healthcare qualification (or willingness to work towards this)

Experience

Essential

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Excellent inter-personal skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good listening skills
• Basic keyboard skills
• An understanding of basic Health & Safety issues
• An understanding of infection control issues
• An understanding of health promotion issues

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Tact, diplomacy and treating others with sensitivity and empathy
• Ability to use common sense
• Ability to work on own initiative
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Flexibility in attitude and working patterns
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Understanding of confidentiality issues in general practice
• Smart and tidy appearance
• Assessed as fit for work through Occupational Health Service
• Good time-keeping and attendance record

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Washway Road Medical Centre

Address

67 Washway Road

Sale

Cheshire

M33 7SS

Employer's website

https://wrmc.org.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)