Job summary
We're looking for a compassionate and caringHealth Care Assistant with a passion to be a key part of the patient carejourney. Our Health Care Assistants take great pride in the essential work wedo. Our nursing team are committed to caring for our patients and familiesdelivering consistent high quality patient focused care.
In Primary Care we know that being at the heart of the community we are best placed to support patients to live healthier lives. Working in general practice gives you the opportunity to work closely with patients and the local community across their lifespan and to really make a difference
Main duties of the job
Working under the direct supervision of the seniorpractice team and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines andprotocols, the healthcare assistant will assist the practice clinical team inthe provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care
Thepost holder will provide an important service for patients, carrying outprocedures and supporting patients to live healthier lives. An important partof the service is taking blood samples, performing Healthcare checks andundertaking home visit appointments when required
The role requires initiative and good judgementbut will always be supported by other more senior clinicians on duty who willbe available to advise
About us
We aim to provide patient centred care, a positive working environment and excellent service to our patients. We are proud of our work ethos which is friendly and professional. We aim to ensure a smooth-running practice. The staff work closely together and enjoy social events outside of works time.
Awburn House Medical Centre is located just outside Hyde, Cheshire its patient population is 7,500 and we have a team of 2 Partners, 2 salaried GP's, 1 Practice Nurse and 1 Healthcare assistant. The Clinical staff are supported at the practice by a team of 6 reception/administration staff and The Practice Manager.
Job description
Job responsibilities
To be a member of the practice based nursing team and also providesupport to the practice clerical team as requested and as in the terms of yourcontract.
Working under the direct supervision of the senior practice team andstrictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, thehealthcare assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provisionand delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.
You will provide high quality care to the practice population. You willbe supervised by members of the nursing, medical and clerical team, at alltimes working to your job description and within your capabilities according toyour training and appraisal.
The post holder willprovide an important service for patients, carrying out procedures andsupporting patients to live healthier lives. An important part of the serviceis taking blood samples, performing Healthcare checks and undertaking homevisit appointments when required.
The post holderwill also be responsible for the clinical cleaning and checking of clinicalequipment and supplies and supporting the delivery of the service by providingsome administrative support, such as ordering clinical supplies.
The role requires initiative and goodjudgement but will always be supported by other more senior clinicians on dutywho will be available to advise.
Responsibilities for patient care
Provision of aphlebotomy (blood-taking) service
To ensure testsamples are appropriately labelled and packaged for transportation to thelaboratory.
To liaise with thelaboratory, acting as first contact for day-to-day test queries.
To carry out healthscreening and measurements, including: blood pressure; weight, height and BMI;urinalysis; pulse rate and rhythm; ECG; and peak flow readings.
To carry outpatient health checks, including health screening and measurements, andrecording previous medical history, family history and current medications.
To provideeducation and health promotion to patients as appropriate.
To act as achaperone for other clinicians.
To collectlifestyle data from patients, including smoking status, alcohol consumption andexercise.
To refer thepatient to another clinician when appropriate.
To report anyobserved changes in the patients condition or behaviour, or any other causefor concern, to an appropriate clinician.
Assisting theclinical staff where required.
To maintainaccurate and contemporaneous records to relevant professional Standards &guidelines.
Have a basicunderstanding of long term conditions including diagnostic interventions,treatments and the principles of care and self-management.
Provide a serviceto promote healthy lifestyles, including for patients with long termconditions, smoking cessation, alcohol use and weight management.
Provide education,support and encouragement to patients to self-manage their conditions,
To administer theinfluenza, pneumococcal, shingles & B12 vaccines, on the instruction of aregulated professional or to work towards this skill.
Respondappropriately in the rare event of an adverse reaction to vaccination,including maintaining skills in basic life support.
To assist the GP/PNsin anticoagulation checks.
To carry out cardiomemos, CRP testing, D Dimer Testing, Ear Syringing
To develop newskills and partake in any training requirements that will expand the healthcareassistant service, as appropriate to the level of the post.
Administrative responsibilities
Maintaining stockcontrol of clinical supplies.
Arranging thecalibration and maintenance of equipment and keeping relevant records.
Supporting thedelivery of standards and targets annual influenza vaccinations, childhoodimmunisations, cervical screening, QOF.
Plan, develop andimplement health promotion activities in the waiting room, smoking,exercise and diet.
Organise theprovision of patient information leaflets, as required.
Communications and relationships
Demonstratesensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed andconsent to treatment.
Communicateeffectively with other members of the Primary Health Care Team ( GPs,Practice Nurses, District Nurses & Health Visitors).
Communicateeffectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternativemethods of communication and responding accordingly.
Recognise peoplesneeds for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Provide and receivesensitive information.
To understand andfollow the requirements of confidentiality (including the Data Protection Actand practice policy) and the Freedom of Information Act and to refer on anyqueries as appropriate.
Understand own roleand scope in the organisation.
Work as aneffective and responsible team member, supporting others.
Ensure clearunderstanding and utilisation of referral mechanisms within the practice.
Accept delegationfrom other nurses, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time managementstrategies are embedded in own practice.
Organisation/Quality
To follow Practicepolicies, including Health and Safety, Security, Confidentiality andInformation Governance.
To practice inaccordance with agreed standards of care.
To ensure that ownactions are consistent with clinical governance systems and bring to theattention of more senior staff any specific quality and risk situations.
To manage own time,workload and resources effectively.
To support and worktowards the achievement of national standards ( QOF), local CCG standardsand Practice standards.
Review, enter andprocess data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurateinformation retrieval for monitoring, financial and audit processes.
To support the aimsand objectives of the Practice and contribute to the ongoing development of thePractice as required.
Participate inaudit as required data input, information gathering and analysis
Equality and diversity
To act in ways thatrecognise the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that isconsistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.
To respect theprivacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers, visitors andco-workers. They must be treated equally, irrespective of gender, ethnicorigin, age, disability, sexual orientation, religion etc.
Behaving in amanner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental andrespects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights.
To follow thePractice chaperoning policy.
Be aware ofstatutory procedures, local guidance and referral criteria regarding protectionof children and vulnerable adults, including Practice and CCG policies. Tofollow the correct guidance and policies and take action in an appropriatemanner.
Health, safety and security
Use of correctinfection control procedures.
Follow Health &Safety Policies and guidelines, including fire procedures and those pertainingto clinical areas of risk.
Use safe workingprocedures and report incidents using the practice incident reporting system.
Ensure the safestorage, rotation and disposal of vaccines, drugs and clinical equipment withinarea of responsibility.
Ensure thatclinical rooms are at all times kept in a clean and orderly manner and thatrelevant equipment is ready for use by nursing and medical staff during clinicsessions
Ensure that thedrug refrigerator is at correct temperature on a daily basis and that drugs arewithin their expiry dates and used in correct sequence. Order drugs and other supplies as directedensuring that adequate levels of stock are available in the surgery. Maintain the cold chain when drugs aredelivered to the surgery
Training/Personal development
To undergo regularappraisal, supervision and training as necessary to update skills andknowledge.
Participation in anannual individual performance review, including taking responsibility formaintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
Takingresponsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstratingskills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work,
To give good andregular attendance.
To attend practicemeetings and required training events
To maintain a tidyand organised work area.
To ensure that allprotocols are adhered to at all times
To support andcontribute to self and team development, treating colleagues with dignity andrespect
To undertake anyadditional work and other duties appropriate to the role as required by theemployer.
This jobdescription is subject to periodic review and amendment in consultation withthe post holder in the light of changing circumstances and to meet new workingrequirements.
Flexibility
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive description ofevery duty performed by the Health Care Assistant, but rather a guideline tohelp you to understand the type and nature of the duties you will be expectedto undertake. In a small business such AwburnHouse flexibility in the duties undertaken and the hours worked are essentialto achieve the objectives of a smooth running practice.
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
1. Knowledge, training and experience of HCA duties within General Practice.
2. Experience of working with the general public, preferably within a service environment.
3. Good administrative and organisational skills, with the ability to prioritise work.
4. Experience of using computers, with good keyboard skills, personal skills and abilities.
5. Physical dexterity with the confidence to carry out clinical procedures phlebotomy, blood pressure measurement.
6. The ability to communicate clearly and effectively with a wide range of individuals, both verbally and in writing.
7. A friendly and approachable manner, with good people skills, showing care and empathy.
8. The ability to cope with occasional exposure to challenging behaviour, distressing circumstances or emotional events.
9. The ability to work positively as a member of a busy team.
10. Must have a full driving licence in order to undertake home visit appointments.
11. A conscientious approach and the commitment to working in an adaptable and flexible manner.
12. Willingness and ability to undertake any training required to carry out the role effectively and safely.
13. The ability to give good and regular attendance.
Desirable
14. NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent.
15. Previous experience working in hospitals or primary care.
16. Previous experience with EMISWeb patient system however full training will be given if required.
17. Previous experience using the Docman software however full training will be given if required.