Out of Hours Driver / Patient Support

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB PURPOSE

To drive leased, third-party vehicles safely and transport doctors and other clinicians with drug bags to various locations across Herefordshire to support the Taurus Out-of-Hours service.

Responsible for following Good Distribution Practice (GDP) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and securely transporting drug bags from base at Berrows Business Centre (Taurus headquarters) to OOH clinicians at Station Medical Centre. Transportation requires adherence to a temperature controlled environment.

To welcome and book-in patients at the primary care centre in Herefordshire during evening, overnight and weekend shifts.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

· Collecting and checking car-pack, including keys and phone etc., ensuring that everything necessary is available and fit for purpose.

· Completing the vehicle inventory process to ensure stock items are in date.

· Responsible for reporting any damage or car faults to Team Leader and Operational Manager (service leads).

· Ensure that any consumables required are in the car, within expiry date, replacing any shortfalls/omissions as necessary.

· Ensure any consumables and oxygens required are in the car and help transfer and set up equipment and oxygen as required in patient’s homes.

· Responsible for ensuring the vehicle is clean, roadworthy and has sufficient fuel for the shift. This will include cleaning windscreen, replacing light bulbs and ensuring correct level of air pressure in the tyres.

· Keeping accurate paper records of the mileage and condition of the vehicle.

· Ensure equipment and medicine bags are securely held within the vehicle.

· Ensuring the next driver and/or Team Leader are provided with a handover, identifying any relevant issues as needed.

Reception / Assistant duties to include:

· Maintaining high levels of accuracy and attention to detail when entering information onto databases or information systems such as ADASTRA and EMIS medical systems. E.g. ADASTRA for ‘new’ patient details transferred to EMIS and referrals from HCP’s (Healthcare Professionals).

· Maintain and monitor patient seating ensuring the area is clean (following infection control guidelines) and fit for purpose and raise any issues with Team Leader and supporting the flow of entry and exit for the building, following infection control processes.

· To observe patients, in the seating area to ensure the area is safe, and immediately escalating concerns to Team Leader and GP on site for any patient who you observe in the seating area that may have deteriorated.

· Identifying any security issues and notifying to the Team Leader and reporting as necessary i.e. Police (999) or 101 service. (e.g. hostile, aggressive and potentially intoxicated patients / members of the public)

· Identifying any safeguarding concerns and escalating to Team Leader

· Providing information and supporting clinicians with patients that do not arrive for their appointment.

· To be approachable and when required provide support to patients, relatives and other Health Care Professions in a professional manner.

· To help provide assistants to a safe working environment for clinicians and patients in a lone working environment and supporting clinicians to feel safe in challenging environments.

Good Distribution Practice

· Undertaking relevant mandatory GDP Training, to be able to provide a full understanding of GDP, covering a number of important topics such as documentation, the Quality Management System and deviations.

· Identify opportunities for improvements and liaise with the GDP or operational team

· Ensure that all Good Distribution Practice (GDP) guidelines are adhered to and cross referenced in line with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in order to ensure patient safety and GDP compliance.

· Ensuring adherence to strict documentation control at all times, including all relevant maintenance logs and completion of all GDP Driver paperwork.

· Ensure HCO63 are signed each and every time drug bags are issued and returned safely to base (Berrows Business Centre)

· Ensure that the vehicle and equipment are suitable for the handling of medicinal products, and to communicate with the Deputy RP and management for any deviations.

· Ensure that, if the bag has been used by the clinician, the green tag has been replaced with a red tag.

· Ensure correct allocated medicines bags are given to the correct clinician and car.

· Ensuring the temperature of the car is suitable for the drug bag (10-22 degrees) even if that requires conditioning the car before the journey and monitoring temperature throughout the shift.

· Ensure the drug bags are under supervision at all times, until given to the clinician and then received back from the clinician.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• 2 GCSEs preferably including English & Maths or equivalent.

Desirable

• Customer Service qualification or equivalent (or relevant experience).

Experience

Essential

• Previous experience working in a driving role.
• Previous experience working in a 24/7 environment and work regularly out of hours.
• Previous experience of dealing with confidential information & record keeping.
• Safe driving and capable of driving at night, in both city and rural locations.

Desirable

• Previous experience in basic car maintenance (in either a work or personal capacity).
• Previous experience working in a health care environment.

Other Requirements

Essential

• Flexible & willing to work across different environments.
• Ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to deal with challenging and difficult situations.
• Over the age of 21 (due to car insurance) with a Clean driving licence (or maximum of 3 points).

Desirable

• Good local knowledge of Herefordshire or willing to learn.

Employer details

Employer name

Taurus Healthcare Limited

Address

Suite 1, Berrows Business Centre

Bath Street

Hereford

Herefordshire

HR1 2HE

Employer's website

https://www.herefordshiregeneralpractice.co.uk (Opens in a new tab)