Healthcare Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

The IUC Healthcare Assistant (HCA) Team will be responsible for delivering a multi-skilled role to support service delivery from time of presentation through to departure. The role will require a caring and compassionate manner, respecting the service users privacy and dignity at all times. Alongside the provision of direct clinical care, the team will also provide an efficient, helpful, informative and supportive clinical reception service in support of the Integrated Urgent Care delivery.

Overall Responsibilities:

To work under the supervision of the qualified clinician team and Senior IUC HCA and to deliver care within own areas of competency.

To deal with all general enquires and explain procedures

To use clinical judgement and communication skills to assist in the initial assessment pathway procedures.

To handle telephone calls as required. Divert calls and take messages, ensuring accuracy of detail and prompt appropriate delivery.

Enter patient information onto the electronic medical records system as part of the Initial Assessment Pathway and other clinical duties.

To work with the Senior IUC HCA and other IUC HCAs and pharmacist assistants to support the pharmacy services when required to maintain stock levels and ensure that prescriptions are filed and forwarded to the prescription authority correctly.

To participate in any new developments and training that arise in the IUC that lead to service improvement.

Undertake any additional duties appropriate to the post as required from any appropriate location.

Specific Responsibilities and Duties:

To register all presenting service users into the electronic system and comply with specific Initial Assessment Pathways and Procedures.

To work in close conjunction with the initial assessment multi-disciplinary team to provide a seamless delivery of care to service users.

To undertake basic observations, record them appropriately in the medical record and act accordingly with qualified staff if needed.

To undertake near patient testing such as:

o Urinalysis

o HcG testing

o Blood sugar monitoring

o DVT/CRP testing

To carry out dressings and simple wound closure and wound care.

To perform venepuncture as required.

To maintain skills and knowledge and ensure that care is delivered according to the latest guidelines and best practice evidence available:

Maintain skills and keep up to date with clinical developments and best practice in areas relevant to urgent care delivery.

Undertake training appropriate to the role, as agreed with the Senior IUC HCA and Practice Development Matron and ensure that learning is shared and transferred into practice.

Act always within own skills and competence.

To attend all mandatory training as required to fulfil duties.

To attend supervision and appraisal as directed.

Ensure the ongoing safety of service users, staff and visitors through systematic assessment, monitoring and reviewing processes:

To maintain standards of infection, prevention and control within the organisation.

Ensure that clinical equipment is maintained in a safe, clean and functional state, reporting any failures or damage to the management team.

The IUC Healthcare Assistant Team will be responsible for standards of infection prevention and control (IPC) within the waiting room area and will be responsible for ensuring that any spillages, including bodily fluids are attended to.

Be knowledgeable about adult and child safeguarding policies and procedures, ensuring that they are up to date with these processes and complete training as required in liaison with the Senior IUC Healthcare Assistant and Safeguarding Lead Matron.

Report all accidents and incidents promptly in accordance with local policies and procedures.

Safeguarding

Will maintain compliance with the safeguarding mandatory training agenda and comply with any further training as necessary

Will have a responsibility to report suspected, observed or disclosed abuse

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality of service delivery and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on your own and the team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance.

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet the patients needs.

Participate in the audit process as required.

To act as clinical assistant and driver, accompanying clinical staff on home visits as necessary. If on the rota as clinical assistant for home visits the car should be left with a full petrol tank at the end of the shift.

To facilitate leadership and supervision clinically to the Healthcare Assistant Team whilst working in a clinical shift.

To participate and work with the Management Team in the implication of new clinical systems.

General Requirements:

To be flexible about working hours on an internal rotation rota basis.

To be approachable and supportive to other staff and service users.

To attend staff meetings as appropriate and to be available for one to one sessions as needed.

To maintain confidentiality at all times.

To carry out any reasonable duties as requested by the Senior IUC Healthcare Assistant and Management Team.

To be aware of and comply with safe practices as laid down by the Health and Safety at Work Act.

To uphold and promote equal opportunities in employment practice and service delivery.

MKUCS Commitment Statements

Safeguarding:

MKUCS is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults, engages with children, adults and staff in policy and practice developments, and proactively encourages feedback.

The organisation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of its service users and expects all staff to share this commitment.

Equality and Diversity:

MKUCS is committed to equal opportunities and operates a no smoking policy.

We aim to ensure that its healthcare and facilities are not discriminatory and, wherever possible, attend to the physical, psychological, spiritual and social communication needs of any patient or visitor showing no discrimination on the grounds of ethnic origin or nationality, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital status, age, sexual orientation, race, political or religious beliefs.

The process for complying with this Job Description, and the manner in which it is undertaken, should not inadvertently discriminate against any groups in society based on their race, disability, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief. Any person who has concerns regarding the equality and diversity impact of any activity should be referred in the first instance to their Line Manager or to the Human Resources Lead

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• GCSE grade A to C in English and Maths

Desirable

• Level 3 NVQ in Health and Social Care (or equivalent)
• Additional Clinical courses e.g. Catheterisation
• Venepuncture
• Care Certificate

Experience

Essential

• Experience in an acute setting caring for patients
• Experience of working with the general public in a care setting
• Experience in the use of computer eg. word processing skills/ keyboard skills
• Good telephone manner
• The ability to communicate professionally with the general public/patients attending MKUCS
• The ability to maintain accurate clinical records
• Knowledge of professional boundaries to ensure patient safety
• Self and team motivated
• Good sense of humour
• Organised and flexible
• Ability to work within policies and procedures

Desirable

• Experience in A&E, UCS or General Practice
• Experience of a medical record systems
• Experience of client telephone interaction and/or patient education
• Knowledge of audit and clinical supervision
• Ability to generate ideas and translate into practice

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.

Certificate of Sponsorship

Applications from job seekers who require current Skilled worker sponsorship to work in the UK are welcome and will be considered alongside all other applications. For further information visit the UK Visas and Immigration website (Opens in a new tab).

From 6 April 2017, skilled worker applicants, applying for entry clearance into the UK, have had to present a criminal record certificate from each country they have resided continuously or cumulatively for 12 months or more in the past 10 years. Adult dependants (over 18 years old) are also subject to this requirement. Guidance can be found here Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (Opens in a new tab).

Employer details

Employer name

Milton Keynes Urgent Care Services

Address

Milton Keynes Univ Hospital Campus

Standing Way, Eaglestone

Milton Keynes

MK6 5NG

Employer's website

https://www.miltonkeynesurgentcare.com/ (Opens in a new tab)