GP Health Care Assistant

MAIN PURPOSE

The post holder is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe and effective heath care to the whole practice population. To assist medical personnel in the care of practice patients to include treatment, preventative care, screening, and patient education. They will act as a focal point of communication between patients, doctors, nurses, and other members of the primary health care team. They will work collaboratively with the whole general practice team to meet the needs of patients and supporting the delivery of policy and procedures. The role of the Healthcare Assistant is to make sure the patient experience is as comfortable and stress-free as possible. The post will also include some administrative duties.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Clinical Care

• Assist in and perform routine tasks relating to patient care as directed by nursing staff and GPs.
• New patient registration and NHS Health checks.
• Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies that promote them to live healthily and apply principles of self-care. This will include smoking cessation.
• Various checks and monitoring. e.g. BP monitoring, Urinalysis, Weight monitoring etc.
• Assist with childhood and adolescent immunisations maintaining any Child Health and Practice records.
• Assist clinicians in emergency management of patients.
• Provide lifestyle advice to patients making any necessary referrals within the Practice.
• Ensure specimens are labelled and bagged ready for collection with the necessary paperwork completed.
• Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly, reporting any problems to the Nurse Team Leader
• Ensure sharps bins are ready for collection.
• Restocking/maintenance of equipment
• Restocking of clinical areas and consulting rooms
• Participate in the Flu and Covid vaccination programmes (training given)
• Skilled phlebotomist
• Process lab samples.
• Monitor patients conditions by taking temperatures, sat levels, weight, height, pulse
• Urinalysis
• Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician.
• Assisting GPs with minor surgery
• ECGs
• Cleaning all clinical areas ensuring continued high standards in infection control
• Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of nurses and treatment rooms.
• Participation in administrative systems in the practice
• Attend and participate in any Nurse meetings and appropriate practice meetings when required.
• Dressings (following training)
• Suture removal
• Vaccinations including flu, covid, pneumonia and nasal flu.
• Diabetic foot checks
• Smoking cessation
• Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post.

2. Administration and professional responsibilities

• Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team.
• Ensure accurate notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded on the computer clinical system (EMIS)
• Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice.
• Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports.
• To assist in seasonal and special projects as requested e.g., flu campaign.
• Ordering and display of Health Promotion materials
• Ensuring all single use items are kept stocked and in date.
• Participation in administrative systems in the practice
• Maintaining GP and Nurses rooms, stocking and rotating items as required
• A duty to advise the Lead Nurse or the Practice Manager of potential problems or errors within the range of assigned tasks.
• Complete all mandatory training required for the practice and post in line with CQC requirements.
• Any other delegated duties considered appropriate to the post.

3. Special Requirements of the Post:

• Caring, kind and empathetic
• Good observational skills
• Friendly and cheerful
• A good listener
• An understanding, acceptance, and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.
• Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness, and common sense.
• A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of health care and keep up to date with all aspects of care relevant to the post.
• A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and reported to appropriate member of the team.
• A commitment to the effective use of practice and NHS resources.
• An awareness of own limitations and experience.
• Excellent communication skills
• An understanding and acceptance of one’s capabilities and awareness of own limitations.
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities.
• Basic keyboard and computer skills
• Full DBS check

GENERAL

As part of the nursing team the HCA will be employed to undertake nursing and administrative duties as deemed suitable by the Partners. Where necessary, training will be given prior to any patient contact. The HCA will usually work alongside another member of the nursing and/or GP team and there will always be a clinician available to refer to. The role involves the use of the computer and keyboard skills along with the ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload, as necessary.

To maintain a safe and effective level of practice and to bring any training needs to the attention of the Nurse team Leader so these can be addressed.

They will be required to always act in a professional manner and adhere to practice policies, protocols, and guidelines.

1. Training

Training requirements will be monitored constantly, as well as by yearly appraisal. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It’s the individual’s responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.

2. Accountability

Although accountable to the Partners of the practice through the Practice Manager as an employee, they are ultimately responsible for their own practice and must ensure that limitations are always acknowledged. Full training will be provided for any clinical procedures.

3. Meetings

It will be necessary to attend various Practice meetings as requested. The only reason for not attending will be annual, study or sick leave.

4. Liaison

As well as the nursing team, the HCA will work closely with reception and administration staff and will be expected to communicate and liaise with all other members of the Practice team.

5. Communication

· Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

· Communicate effectively with patients and Carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background, and preferred ways of communicating.

· Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.

· Estimate and maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.

· Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues.

· Participate in practice team meetings.

· Be able to produce written documents that evidence the contribution of the nursing team to the practice priorities.

· Awareness of principles of The Caldicott Guardian

6. Team working

· Understand own role and scope in the practice and identify how this may develop over time.

· Delegate appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.

· Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies.

· Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.

· Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team.

7. Management of Risk

· Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.

· Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures, and guidelines.

· Ensure the safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs. Oversee the monitoring, stock control and documentation of controlled drug usage according to legal requirements.

· Apply infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines.

· Apply policies that reduce environmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access to health care for all.

· Participate in the local implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general practice.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive but to indicate the main responsibilities of the post and may be amended from time to time after consultation with the post-holder to reflect the needs of the service.

Job Type: Permanent

Pay: £13.00-£15.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Employee discount

Application question(s):

• Why do you want to work for the Elms Medical Practice?
• What are the professional skills you possess which are required for the post?
• What are your personal qualities?

Work Location: In person