Job responsibilities
Job Title: Health Care Assistant
Accountable
to: Nurse Partner and Nurse Manager
Salary Range: Based on experience
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Part time - up to 30 hours per week
Purpose: To assist the GPs and Practice Nurse Team in
the service and delivery of the care management of the Practice population
Job Summary: To assist in
patient care and practice related duties as directed by and under the
supervision of a registered healthcare professional. To have a knowledge of chronic disease management
and provide support in the delivery of QoF.
To assist with the ordering process across all 4 practice sites.
Place of employment:
The main
places of employment are to be Rosebank Surgery, 153b Stroud Road, Gloucester,
GL1 5JQ, Bartongate Surgery, 115 Barton Street, Gloucester, GL1 4HR, Severnvale
Surgery, St James, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4WD and Kingsway Health Centre,
Rudloe Drive, Kingsway, GL2 2FY.
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Key
Responsibilities
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:
- blood pressure
- pulse rate and rhythm
- O2 sats
- peak flow
- temperature
- height and weight body mass index
- application of basis non-adherent dressing
- new patient health checks
- Venepuncture
- ECG
- Prepare and maintain environments and equipment 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 GP with minor operations/coil fit/implant insertion
- Assist patient preparation for minor surgery
Information processes
- Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
- Maintain confidential or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the Practice
- Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information
Communication
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers,
recognising their need 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
- 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 HCA
- Be aware of QoF and the
delivery of this in practice
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 of any potential
risks identified, including
- hand washing
- universal hygiene
procedures
- collection and handling
of laboratory specimens
- segregation and disposal
of waste materials
- decontamination of
instruments and clinical equipment
- reporting and treatment
of sharps injuries
- dealing with blood and
body fluid spillages
- 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 areas 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
- 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 Practices
policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy.
- Be able to manage your
own time effectively
Equality
and diversity
- Act in ways that
recognise the importance of peoples 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
This job description is not an
exhaustive list of duties, but is designed to give a general indication of the
range of work undertaken and will vary in the light of changing demand and
priorities within the Practice.
Substantive changes in the range of
work undertaken will be carried out in consultation with the jobholder.
