About this role
Job summary
An exciting opportunity has arisen to join The Cambridge Practice as a General Practice Assistant (GPA).
The General Practice Assistant plays a vital role in supporting both clinicians and patients by undertaking a combination of administrative and basic clinical duties.
GPAs are trained to manage a range of routine administrative tasks and clinical support activities, helping to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of patient care. The role enables GPs and other healthcare professionals to focus on patients with more complex clinical needs, whilst ensuring a high standard of service and continuity of care.
This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is organised, patient-focused, and keen to develop their skills within a busy and supportive general practice environment.
Applications from current Healthcare Assistants and other primary care staff looking to progress their career are warmly welcomed.
Main duties of the job
Main Duties of the RoleUndertake a range of clinical procedures including venepuncture, ECGs, urinalysis, blood pressure monitoring, pulse oximetry, height, weight & BMI measurements.Support clinicians in the management of long-term conditions, NHS Health Checks, vaccination programmes & anticoagulation monitoring.Prepare patients, clinical rooms and equipment for consultations, procedures and clinics.Provide basic health promotion and lifestyle advice within scope of practice.Act as a chaperone and support clinicians with wound care and minor procedures.Administrative DutiesSupport clinicians with referrals, correspondence, test results, clinical coding and medical record management.Process workflows within EMIS and Docman, ensuring accurate coding and patient record updates.Coordinate follow-up appointments and support patient pathway administration.Manage clinical emails, documentation and patient communications in accordance with practice procedures.Support safeguarding processes, audits and medicines management activities as required.General ResponsibilitiesMaintain confidentiality and comply with information governance requirements.Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary team to support patient care and service delivery.Report risks, incidents and concerns in line with practice policies.Participate in mandatory training, appraisal and continuing professional development.Act professionally at all times and support less experienced colleagues where appropriate.
About us
The Cambridge Practice was established in 2018 following the merger of Southlea Surgery and Victoria Surgery in Aldershot, and has been part of the Aldershot Primary Care Network since 2019.
We are a fully accredited NHS GP Training Practice, with a long history of supporting the education and development of future GPs. We provide a high quality training environment for GP registrars and a range of healthcare students, including nursing, advanced clinical practice, paramedic, and physician associate students. As a training practice, we are regularly reviewed to ensure high standards of patient care and efficient practice management.
Our main site is based within Aldershot Centre for Health, colocated with other healthcare providers, promoting collaborative working. We also operate a branch surgery located to the south of Aldershot, approximately three miles from the main site.
Job description Job responsibilities
Clinical
Prioritise health problems, intervening appropriately, to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care.
Support clinicians in managing long-term conditions, in line with national and local policies and practice needs.
To undertake venepuncture/cannulation when requested by healthcare professionals
Implement and participate in immunisation programmes for both adults and children.
Health promotion and well-being plus individual plans for patients with/at risk of a long term condition.
Maintain and develop own skills where applicable and assessed as competent and within scope of competency;
Vital Signs Monitoring
Measuring and recording blood pressure, temperature, pulse, and respiratory rate.
Recording oxygen saturation using pulse oximetry
Managing results appropriately in accordance to practice protocol
Phlebotomy
Drawing blood samples for laboratory testing.
Labelling and preparing samples for transport in line with IPC protocols.
ECG Recording
Performing 12-lead electrocardiograms.
Ensuring patient comfort and accurate electrode placement.
Report ECG recording as per practice protocol
Urinalysis
Collecting and testing urine samples using dipsticks.Documenting and reporting abnormal findings.
Height and Weight Measurements
Calculating BMI and recording data in the patient record.
Referring patients to Weight Management Clinics as appropriate
Patient education on weight management.
Chaperoning
Acting as a chaperone during intimate examinations or procedures
Basic Health Screening
Supporting delivery of NHS Health Checks.
Assisting with routine screening (e.g., smoking status, alcohol intake, lifestyle questionnaires).
Long-term disease reviews and providing appropriate patient education within scope of competency.
Manage Anticoagulant Clinics INR Star using national guidance and protocols.
Wound Care
Supporting clinicians during dressing changes.
Setting up equipment for minor procedures/vasectomy clinics.Health Promotion Support
Providing brief lifestyle advice (e.g., smoking cessation, diet, exercise, hypertension management, cholesterol management) as directed by the clinician.
Patient Preparation
Preparing patients for examination or procedures.
Ensuring clinical rooms and equipment are clean, safe, and ready for use.
Administration
The duties and responsibilities undertaken by members of the GPA team may include, but are not limited to, the following
Ensure information is held in a secure and confidential manner in line with data protection guidelines.
Support the GP in managing documentation such as hospital letters, referrals, and test results.
Help prepare medical reports, referrals (e.g. through e-RS), and correspondence.
Manage clinical inboxes, update medical records, and assist with repeat prescriptions (under protocol).
Coordinate follow-up appointments and track patient pathways.
Help with patient registration and record summarisation as needed.
Support the tasks provided in the clinical system specific to patients as directed by the clinical team
To participate in coding patients records in line with coding protocols.
Facilitate effective communication between patients, members the primary health care team, secondary care, and other associated healthcare agencies
Processing workflow items on EMIS such as medical reports and out of hours documents ensuring the accurate coding and recording of the visit on the clinical record.
Upload patient documents sent via Econsult Docman 10 inbox onto patient records triaging these as appropriate and sign positing these with a clinical member of the team.
Support in undertaking a wide range of secretarial and administrative duties and the provision of administrative support to the multidisciplinary clinical team.
Support and coordinate in the proactive administration of safeguarding referrals and tasks to safeguard adults, children and young people registered at The Cambridge Practice.
Support the practice clinical pharmacist as required in accordance to duty rota
Partake in clinical audits as directed by the audit lead or medicine management team
Support the medicine management team in reviewing and updating the practice prescribing policy.
Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of action
Administer record and respond to clinical requests for patients to be seen by contacting the patient to book into a clinic when appropriate.
Attending meeting with the administration team bringing any issues, discussing any changes.
Liaise with the APM or OM where necessary to address any capacity concerns.
Management of Generic Practice emails
Ensuring the practice emails are reconciled daily.
Coding patient information received via email onto the clinical systems.
Adding clinical letters onto Docman 10 alerting the clinical team to any urgent letters received via the generic emails.
Redirecting any patient requests to the relevant teams following the Practice email policy to ensure the correct protocols are followed when answering and replying to the generic emails.
Sending acknowledgments to all emails received from the practice.
Risk Management
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
Alert Team Lead to issues of quality and risk and report risks timely.
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.
Team working
Work as an effective and responsible member of the team, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
Support clinical & administration team activities and identify opportunities to improve patient care and referral system.
Communication
Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues
Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programmes implemented by the practice as part of this employment, to effectively perform well in this role, such training may include:
Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
Provide a role model for others to emulate, exhibiting the high standards of professionalism and behaviour.
Act as a role model, assessor and mentor to less experienced employees
Person Specification
Experience Essential
Experience of working in a healthcare, primary care, community care, social care or customer-facing environment. Experience of providing administrative support and maintaining accurate records. Experience of communicating effectively with patients, colleagues and external agencies. Experience of using computer systems and managing sensitive information confidentially. Experience of working as part of a team in a busy and demanding environment. Experience of prioritising workload and working to deadlines. Experience of delivering a high standard of customer or patient care.
Desirable
Previous experience working in a GP practice, Primary Care Network (PCN), NHS setting or other healthcare environment. Experience of carrying out clinical procedures such as venepuncture, ECG recording, blood pressure monitoring or NHS Health Checks. Experience of supporting long-term condition management clinics. Experience of using EMIS Web, Docman, Accurx or other clinical systems. Experience of clinical coding and medical record management. Experience of processing referrals, correspondence and clinical workflows. Experience of supporting safeguarding processes, audits or medicines management activities. Experience of working within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Qualifications Essential
GCSE Grade C/4 or above (or equivalent) in English and Mathematics. NVQ Level 2 or Level 3 in Health & Social Care, Clinical Healthcare Support, or equivalent relevant qualification. Evidence of good IT skills, including Microsoft Office applications. Willingness to undertake the General Practice Assistant training programme (if not already completed). Commitment to continuing professional development.
Desirable
General Practice Assistant (GPA) qualification or accredited GPA training. Care Certificate. Phlebotomy qualification/training. Qualification or certification in ECG recording. Basic Life Support (BLS) certification. Immunisation and vaccination training. NVQ Level 3 in Health & Social Care or equivalent clinical qualification. Knowledge of EMIS Web, Docman, Accurx or other primary care clinical systems. Additional training in long-term condition management, health promotion, or NHS Health Checks.
Disclosure and Barring Service Check This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.
Employer details Employer name The Cambridge Practice
Address Aldershot Centre For Health
Hospital Hill
Aldershot
Hampshire
GU11 1AY
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://cambridgepractice.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)