Healthcare Assistant

An important element of the role will involve supporting patients with mental health needs to access appropriate physical health monitoring and preventative healthcare. This may include undertaking planned physical health checks and clinical observations within patients' homes or clinic settings to help reduce barriers to accessing routine physical healthcare.

Working under the leadership of the PCN Nurse Lead and alongside experienced registered nurses, the Healthcare Assistant will undertake delegated clinical activity within their competence and agreed scope of practice.

While significant previous experience is required, the role also offers an opportunity for an experienced HCA to develop beyond a traditional practice-based HCA role. Through structured support, exposure to wider PCN and MDT working, the postholder will have opportunities to broaden their professional view, develop confidence in community working and progressively work with greater autonomy within appropriate professional and organisational boundaries.

A key purpose of the role is to enable registered nurses within the PCN Nursing Team to work at the top of their professional competence by appropriately delegating activity, both clinical and none clinical that can be undertaken by an experienced HCA.

Undertake planned clinical visits to patients in

their own homes as part of the PCN Nursing Team's community caseload.

Develop the ability to independently manage an

allocated programme of visits within an agreed scope of practice.

Undertake delegated clinical procedures,

monitoring and observations during home visits.

Apply existing primary care experience to

recognise when findings are outside expected parameters or when a patient's

presentation requires further clinical assessment.

Provide a significant element of the PCN's

housebound phlebotomy service, undertaking planned blood collection from

patients within their own homes and other appropriate community settings.

Promptly escalate clinical concerns to the PCN

Nurse Lead, registered nurse, GP or other appropriate clinician.

Support proactive and preventative management of

the PCN's housebound and vulnerable population.

Identify unmet health needs and opportunities

for intervention during patient contacts.

Work respectfully within patients' homes,

maintaining dignity, confidentiality and professional boundaries.

Follow lone-working procedures and undertake

dynamic assessment of environmental and personal safety risks.

The successful candidate is expected to join the service

with an established range of primary care HCA competencies. Depending upon

existing training and demonstrated competence, duties are expected to include:

phlebotomy;

blood pressure monitoring;

pulse, respiratory rate, temperature and oxygen

saturation measurement;

height, weight and BMI measurement;

urinalysis;

capillary blood glucose testing;

ECG recording;

collection and processing of appropriate

clinical specimens;

collection of clinical information and

observations required for chronic disease reviews;

supporting NHS Health Checks and preventative

healthcare activity;

providing appropriate health-promotion and

lifestyle information;

supporting vaccination and immunisation

programmes; and

accurate recording of clinical activity within

the patient's electronic record.

Following appointment, additional clinical competencies

may be developed according to service need, the individual's development

objectives and appropriate governance arrangements. The postholder will not

undertake clinical diagnosis or activities requiring registered professional

judgement outside their agreed scope of practice.

Chronic Disease and Preventative Care

A significant element of the role will involve supporting

the PCN Nursing Team with chronic disease monitoring and preventative

Undertake defined elements of long-term

condition monitoring in accordance with agreed templates and protocols.

Obtain appropriate clinical observations and

information to support subsequent review by registered clinicians.

Recognise results or information requiring

escalation rather than attempting to independently interpret matters outside

the HCA scope of practice.

Identify opportunities for health promotion and

prevention during routine contacts.

Support appropriate NHS Health Check activity.

Promote vaccination and screening uptake.

Provide brief lifestyle advice within

competence.

Support the identification of patients who may

benefit from other PCN, practice or community services.

Vaccination and Immunisation

The HCA will be an active member of the PCN's vaccination

programmes, including community and housebound delivery. Responsibilities may

supporting seasonal vaccination campaigns

telephone calls

supporting vaccine preparation, stock management

and cold-chain processes.

accurately recording vaccination activity.

providing approved information to patients and

carers about vaccinations.

escalating clinical questions or concerns to an

appropriate registered clinician.

Where service requirements change in the future,

administering appropriate vaccines may form part of the role, but only where

the postholder has received the required training, has been assessed as

competent and the appropriate legal, consent and clinical governance

arrangements are in place.

This role provides an opportunity for an established Primary

Care HCA to further develop their practice within a supportive nursing team. The

postholder will be encouraged to progressively take greater responsibility for

planning and managing their own delegated workload, particularly within the

PCN's housebound and community nursing programme. Development will be supported

regular access to the PCN Nurse Lead and

registered nursing colleagues.

structured induction to PCN and community

working.

clinical supervision.

competency assessment.

continuing professional development.

opportunities to develop additional clinical

skills; and

exposure to a broader range of patients and

services than may ordinarily be available within a single general practice.

work within their demonstrated competence and

agreed scope of practice.

maintain accurate and contemporaneous clinical

records.

recognise their professional boundaries and seek

registered clinical advice when required.

comply with infection prevention and control

procedures.

follow medicines and vaccine-management

procedures relevant to their role;

recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns.

comply with lone-working arrangements.

report incidents and near misses appropriately.

participate in learning arising from incidents,

complaints and patient feedback.

maintain confidentiality and comply with

information governance requirements.

Healthier West Wirral Primary Care Network is an ambitious and forward-thinking organisation serving over 70,000 patients across five GP practices on the west side of the Wirral Peninsula.

We are committed to delivering high-quality, patient-centred care by developing innovative services that meet the changing needs of our local population. Our focus is on providing proactive, integrated care closer to home, improving patient outcomes while supporting the sustainability of primary care.

Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, clinical pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, physician associates, care coordinators and social prescribers, all working collaboratively to deliver seamless care across our communities.

As the NHS continues its shift towards neighbourhood healthcare, we are proud to be developing new models of care and creating opportunities for clinicians to shape services, develop specialist interests and make a real difference. If you're looking for a role where you can innovate, collaborate and influence the future of primary care, we'd love to hear from you.

Qualifications