Job responsibilities
Job
responsibilities
Responsible to:
Lead Nurse/Practice Manager
Accountable to: GP
Partners
Salary: Band 3/4 dependent on experience
Job Summary
A GP Assistant will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient.
Duties
Primary Duties and
Areas of Responsibility
Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc.
Extracting all information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes
Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients
Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs & phlebotomy
Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc
Explaining treatment procedures to patients
Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting an on call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)
Support the GP with immunisations/wound care
Signpost team
members, service users and carers to relevant services including the Social
Prescribing Link Worker Service
Personal Attributes
& Qualities
Demonstrates
ability to work as a member of a team.
Able to recognise
personal limitations and refer to more appropriate colleague(s) when necessary.
Actively work
toward developing and maintaining effective working relationships both within
and outside the practice.
Liaise with other
stakeholders as needed for the collective benefit of patients including but not
limited to GP, Nurses, other practice staff and other healthcare professionals
including Care Home Team.
Develop excellent
working relationships with all partners, wider service networks including the
voluntary sector, GP practices, adult social care, hospitals, community
pharmacists and other members of the MDT
Communicate
effectively with service users and their families/carers, other staff both
internal and external and members of the public
To act at all times
in an anti-discriminatory manner
To be able to plan
and respond to workload according to operational priorities
To be responsible
for and to undertake any training required in order to maintain competency
including mandatory training
To contribute to,
and work within a safe working environment.
The GP Assistant must at all times carry out duties and responsibilities with due
regard to the GP Practices equal opportunity policies and procedures
The GP Assistant is expected to take responsibility for self-development on a
continuous basis, undertaking on-the-job training as required
The GP Assistant must be aware of individual responsibilities under the Health and
Safety at Work Act, and identify and report as necessary any untoward accident,
incident or potentially hazardous environment.
Confidentiality
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately
In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data
Health & Safety
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
Reporting potential risks identified
Equality and Diversity
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.
Acting in a way that recognizes 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.
Equality and
Diversity
The post-holder must
co-operate with all policies and procedures designed to ensure equality of
employment. Co-workers, patients and visitors must be treated equally
irrespective of gender, ethnic origin, age, disability, sexual orientation,
religion etc.
Personal/Professional Development
Post holder must hold or be prepared to undertake Professional Development to gain a GP Assistant Certificate qualification
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
Attend all relevant annual updates
Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding GPA role and any professional development needed
Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when you have reached them
Quality
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
Work to practice protocols
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members
Be familiar in all mediums of communications such as email, tasks, telephone etc
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Communicate effectively to outside agencies
Communicate clearly with their lead GP
Contribution to the Implementation of Services
The post-holder will:
Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance
Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate
Job Description
Agreement
This job
description is intended as a guide to the scope and responsibilities of the
post and is not exhaustive. It will be subject to regular review and amendment
as necessary in consultation with the post holder.
