Healthcare Assistant

Clinical aspect

The applicant will have the ability to follow clinical

standards, protocols and perform phlebotomy, urinalysis, blood

pressure/temperature/pulse recording/ECGs, sample dispatch, chaperoning,

health promotion, assisting GPs with minor procedures. Along with other forms

of observations.

The ability to recognise abnormalities and report in an

appropriate and timely manner.

Administrative aspect

Electronic documentation of consultations, stock

management, and ordering.

The ability to work effectively as part of the

multidisciplinary team is paramount as is effective communication and a

professional manner. Patient confidentiality should always be considered and

maintained.

RESPONSIBLE TO: Direct supervision from ANP, Practice Nurses, and GPs with direction from the Practice Manager.

OBJECTIVE: To provide healthcare support skills to clinical staff during contracted hours by providing venepuncture, preventative care, screening and patient education, and also any administrative duties.

As part of the nursing team the Healthcare Assistant will be employed to undertake nursing and administrative duties as deemed suitable by the Partners. Full training will be given. The HCA will work alongside a member of the nursing team and will refer to the doctor when necessary. The role involves the use of the computer and keyboard skills along with the ability to organise and prioritise workload are necessary.

All duties will be carried out according to training and practice guidelines, and a professional manner is essential at all times. Regular updates will be provided.

NURSING

New patient registration checks, including completing any necessary paperwork

BP monitoring & hypertensive checks

Provide lifestyle information and make any necessary referrals within the practice

Height & weight measurement

Ensure specimens are bagged and labelled ready for collection times complete with any necessary paperwork

Oversee clinical waste collection, reporting any problems to the Practice Manager

Ensure sharps bins are ready for collection

Restocking/maintenance of equipment

Cleaning and sterilisation of clinical instruments

Restocking clinical areas and consulting rooms

Peak flow and spirometry

ECG readings

Set up patients for 24 hour BP monitoring and download data when completed

Provide support for minor surgical procedures

Provide support for IUCD fittings

Administration of flu vaccine

Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team

Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultation and treatments are recorded in the patients notes

Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded

Ensure appropriate data is recorded to support the Quality and Outcomes Framework initiative

Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient healthcare and registration with the practice

Attend and participate in practice meetings as required

Assist in formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy

To assist in the call and recall appointment systems

To provide assistance in seasonal campaigns, ie flu campaign

Book appointments and recalls ensuring sufficient information is recorded to enable retrieval of the record and support for the follow up consultation

Monitor appointment schedule to ensure system is running appropriately, reporting any problems to Practice Manager

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

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

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

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.

We are currently a six partner dispensing Practice, with

support from 2 Salaried GP, in a rapidly growing small market town. We enjoy

good working relationships, within an active Primary Health Care Team, and we

provide Medical Services to our local Community Hospital, St Monicas. Our

Partnership provides General Medical Services (GMS) to a population of 8130.

Almost half of this population inhabits outlying villages and farms. The

Practice is also responsible for the medical care of the residents of nursing

and residential care homes within the area, as well as caring for a significant

number of patients with learning difficulties and physical handicaps, living in

community units within the area. We work from partnership owned premises, built

34 years ago, which was recently extended and refurbished to provide additional

space. We are located at the edge of the town, looking onto community

grasslands and the Cleveland Hills, with both patient and staff parking

on-site. We have an excellent working relationship with the Community Team,

which includes District Nurses, Midwife, Community Matron, Health Visitor, and

Social Services, who are based locally. The GPs are an integral part of

communications in the Practice, and when not seeing patients face to face, work

from Clinicians Corner within our open plan office space, which gives them

direct access to the administration team and, we believe, is the corner stone

to the open and friendly ethos of the Practice.

Experience

Qualifications