Healthcare Assistant

The healthcare assistant role within our practice supports the clinical team bytaking patient observations, carrying out phlebotomy and ECGs, wound care, and assisting with minor procedures, along with conduct health checks, long-term condition assessments, provide lifestyle advice, and administer certain vaccinations if trained. Part of the HCA role is to maintain clinical areas and supplies, and act as chaperones. The role requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, and a compassionate, team-oriented approach to patient care.

The following are the basic core responsibilities of the health

care assistant role. There will be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out

other tasks, dependent upon such factors as workloads, staffing levels and new

primary care targets. The role involves working across three sites at Blackhall,

Peterlee and Seaham.

Primary responsibilities

Patient health checks

Patient observations such as blood pressure, height, weight, BMI and

pulse oximetry

Health Promotion Programmes including flu, pneumococcal and other

campaigns

ECG recording

Chaperoning duties

Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses

Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording

Surgical equipment, consumables and vaccine re-stocking and stock

rotation

Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms

Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and

after patient care interventions, including assisting GPs during the

performance of minor operations

Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and

well-being

Undertaking specific clinical activities for named patients that have

been delegated and taught specifically in relation to that individual

Helping to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be

promoted

Assisting with the collection and collation of data on needs related to

health and well-being

Participate in practice audit as directed by the audit lead

Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and

patient care

Support and participate in shared learning within the practice

Complete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty

rota

located in the Easington area in County Durham and operates across two

locations caring for 10,000+ patients.

We are a large training practice with

four GP partners, four salaried GPs, a nursing team of nurse practitioners, nurses

and HCAs, pharmacists along with a large administrative team to support the team

and patients. We provide education and supervision GP trainees and medical

students.

As part of Easington Central PCN we

offer enhanced access and attached staff including physiotherapist, health and

wellbeing coach, clinical pharmacist, care coordinator, adult mental health

support, CAMHS and social prescribers. Everyone within the team and wider PCN team

is supportive, friendly and approachable.

Qualifications

Essential: - Good standard of general education; - GCSE Mathematics C or above; - GCSE English C or above; - Qualified to NVQ level 2 in Health and social care

Desirable: - Qualified to NVQ level 3 in Health and social care

Knowledge and skills

Desirable: - Knowledge of SystmOne

Experience

Essential: - Experience of working within a healthcare setting; - Experience of working with the public

Desirable: - Experience of working within a primary care environment; - Practical experience of computerised recording systems; - Full driving license