About this role
Job summary
We are a friendly, supportive, and forward-thinking GP surgery looking for an experienced Primary Care Health Care Assistant (HCA)to join our established clinical team. This is a great opportunity for someone passionate about patient care, who enjoys working in a fast-paced and collaborative environment.
This role is up to 37.5 hrs per week with salary dependant on experience.
The HCA will work and support the practice nursing and administrative teams in the delivery of clinical and administrative services. This role involves working as part of the practice multi-disciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population. You will be expected to work under the supervision of the practice nurses and to practice protocols.
Main duties of the job
The following are the core responsibilities of the Healthcare Assistant in delivering health services. There may be, on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks. This will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:
Key Responsibilities,
Phlebotomy Blood pressure monitoring ECGs Health checks and NHS Health Checks Smoking cessation support Basic wound care and dressings Assisting with chronic disease reviews Health promotion including weight, height and lifestyle advice Diabetic pre assessments and foot checks Administering B12, flu and other vaccinations Urine checksAdditional Responsibilities,
LD and ADHD checks Dementia reviews Coil check support Telederm Supporting minor surgery clinicsThe post holder has a duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and vulnerable adults in line with the NHS Trusts safeguarding policies and procedures.
They must ensure that they are aware of, and work within, local and national safeguarding legislation, guidance and procedures. The post holder will be required to attend mandatory safeguarding training appropriate to their role and to act at all times to protect the safety and wellbeing of patients, service users and colleges.
About us
We are looking for an experienced, enthusiastic, flexible and reliable person to join our lovely team at our semi-rural training practice, a short drive from Bristol.
We are a Park Run practice, interested in the environment and individual wellbeing. We have a garden and an active social team.
Job description Job responsibilities
Core Responsibilities:
Consult with patients and their families to undertake assessments of patient needDeliver and assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion, long-term condition management and patient educationBe an integral part of the general practice teamMaintain accurate and comprehensive, contemporaneous patient record keeping using EMIS or other clinical softwareReport and record all accidents, incidents and complaints and refer immediately to the Practice Manager and appropriate practice nurse or duty doctor on call.Provide clinical support to registered nurses and other healthcare professionals within the organisationDeliver basic clinical care interventions under supervision, supporting continuity of care and patient safety initiativesAct as a chaperone as requiredEnsure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportationProvide support during minor operations as requiredEnsure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the organisations PolicyWork within national and local protocols where these existRecognise the boundaries of their practice and know when and to whom patients should be referredSupport in the delivery of enhanced services and other service requirementsSupport the administrative team on an as-required basisUndertake all mandatory training and induction programmes
Attend staff development training programmes as appropriate, for example BLS training.To be familiar with emergency procedures including fire, resuscitation and health and safetyContribute to and embrace the spectrum of clinical governanceAttend team meetings for the purpose of maintaining an informed interest in the work undertaken at the surgery and contribute to the primary healthcare team objectives.Be familiar with and adhere to practice policies and protocols.Maintain a clean, tidy, effective working area at all timesAttend a formal appraisal with their manager at least every 12 months. Once a performance/training objective has been set, progress will be reviewed on a regular basis so that new objectives can be agreed
In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Healthcare Assistant has the following wider responsibilities:
Participate in any audits as directedParticipate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient careSupport and participate in shared learningComplete opening and closing procedures in accordance with the duty rota
This job description is not exhaustive, and you will be required to carry out any other duties that may be required by the practice either on a temporary or permanent basis.
To always follow the practice code of conduct
Personnel:
Maintain good professional relationshipsTake reasonable care of his/her/their own safety and that of other persons who may be affected by his/her/their act or omissionCo-operation with the practice to ensure all members of the team adheres to statutory regulations/policies and codes of practice and departments safety rulesOffer innovative ways of working and opportunities to facilitate learningMaintains a caring environment through the support of colleaguesTakes an active involvement in staff meetings
Confidentiality:
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 appropriatelyIn 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 confidentialInformation 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
Health & Safety:
To implement and lead on a full range of health promotions. Manage their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, and to adhere to the infection control policy and guidelines. This will include (but will not be limited to):
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelinesAwareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelinesResponsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangementsIdentifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient processMaking effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processesSafe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposalUsing appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible managementActively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognisedKeeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managersUndertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually)Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children. Ability to recognise signs and symptoms of child abuseEquality & diversity:
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 legislationRespecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleaguesBehaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional development:
Will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional developmentTaking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Quality:
Will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and riskAssess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervisionContribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performanceWork effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needsEffectively manage own time, workload and resources
Communication:
Should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team membersCommunicate effectively with patients and carersRecognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Contribution to the implementation of services:
Apply practice policies, standards and guidanceDiscuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own workParticipate in audit where appropriateSupport the practice in achieving quality indicators and targets
Person Specification - Health Care Assistant
Qualifications & Training
Essential:
NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent)Evidence of recent and relevant healthcare trainingDesirable:
Additional training in phlebotomy, ECGs, smoking cessation, wound care, or long-term condition supportImmunisation and vaccination training (e.g. B12, flu)Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Experience
Essential:
Recent experience working in a general practice or primary care settingExperience carrying out basic clinical duties such as blood pressure checks, phlebotomy, ECGs, health checks, etc.
Desirable:
Experience supporting chronic disease managementExperience assisting in minor surgery clinicsExperience using EMIS Web or similar clinical systemsExperience of simple wound dressings
Skills & Abilities
Essential:
Excellent communication and interpersonal skillsAble to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary teamOrganised and able to manage time and workload effectivelyCompetent IT skills (email, patient records, templates, etc.)Able to work under pressureAdaptable and able to embrace and implement change
Desirable:
Ability to adapt to new technologies or systemsComfortable supporting patients with complex needs or long-term conditionsLateral thinking/problem solving skills
Knowledge
Essential:
Enthusiastic, motivated, and flexibleFriendly and approachable mannerCommitted to ongoing professional developmentReliable and punctual
Desirable:
Willingness to undertake additional training or qualifications relevant to the role
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent) Evidence of recent and relevant healthcare training
Desirable
Additional training in phlebotomy, ECGs, smoking cessation, wound care, or long-term condition support Immunisation and vaccination training (e.g. B12, flu) Basic Life Support (BLS) certification
Experience Essential
Recent experience working in a general practice or primary care setting Experience carrying out basic clinical duties such as blood pressure checks, phlebotomy, ECGs, health checks, etc
Desirable
Experience supporting chronic disease management Experience assisting in minor surgery clinics Experience using EMIS Web or similar clinical systems Experience of simple wound dressings
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.
UK Registration
Applicants must have current UK professional registration. For further information please see NHS Careers website (opens in a new window).
Employer details Employer name Frome Valley Medical Centre
Address 2 Court Road
Frampton Cotterell
Bristol
BS36 2DE
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.fromevalley.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)