About this role
Job summary
We are seeking an experienced and compassionate Health Care assistant to join our dedicated team for 16 hours per week. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical skills and a passion for delivering high-quality patient care within a GP surgery setting. This role is pivotal in supporting our GPs and healthcare team in delivering a wide range of services to our patient population.
As a Health Care Assistant, you will be responsible for assisting and performing routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs.
This vacancy will remain open until a suitable applicant is appointed. Early applications are encouraged, as the advert may close once the right candidate has been identified.
Main duties of the job
Work closely with GPs, nursing team, and other medical staff to provide holistic patient care.
Basic long term medical condition reviews Take blood samples and prepare specimens for laboratory testing. Wound care / ulcer care Doppler Removal of Sutures Urinalysis Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate Maintain and promote Infection Control and prevention standards within the practice Foster a supportive and welcoming environment for patients, addressing any concerns they may have about their care. Maintain accurate, up-to-date patient records in accordance with practice policies and confidentiality requirements.
We are committed to safeguarding patients and vulnerable people.
About us
We are a very friendly, cohesive, welcoming and happy GP Practice who passionately believe in the importance of strong primary care for our community.
We are a supportive team that looks constantly to how we can improve, develop and grow.
Our clinical team currently consists of 2 GP Partners, Salaried GPs, 2 Prescribing Paramedics, 3 Practice Nurses, 3 HCA's and a Phlebotomist.
Job description Job responsibilities
Job Summary
The health care assistant will work as part of the primary healthcare team providing Personal Medical Services to the patients of practice.
Job Responsibilities
Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff and GPs
Wound care / ulcer care/Doppler*
Removal of Sutures
New Patient Medicals/Urinalysis
ECGs
Venepuncture
Blood pressure monitoring
Ear syringing*
Chaperoning and assisting patients where appropriate who are being examined by another clinician
Assisting GPs with minor surgery and coil fittings
Requesting pathology tests, for example urine culture, swabs
Interest in Long Term Medical Conditions and carrying out basic reviews including tasks such as diabetic foot assessments
Following agreed clinical protocols with referral to senior nurses or GPs as appropriate
Maintain and promote Infection Control and prevention standards within the practice
* following verified training and completion of competencies
Other tasks will include:
Chaperoning and assisting patients who are being examined by another clinician.
Maintain general tidiness and cleanliness of clinical consultation and treatment rooms
Participation in administrative systems in the Practice
At all times there will be a need to maintain accurate records
A duty to advise senior nurses of potential problems or errors within a range of assigned tasks
Attend and participate in any Practice meetings when required.
On occasion there may be a requirement to undertake home visits
Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post
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 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 confidential.
Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, healthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged to authorised persons, in accordance with practice policies and procedures relating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data
Health and Safety
The post-holder will be responsible for their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
Awareness of the correct and safe management of the specimen process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
Awareness of hand hygiene across the practice
Awareness of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols across the practice
Awareness of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
Awareness of practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
Using 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 management
Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
Keeping 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 managers
Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)
Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
Spillage control procedures, management and training
Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
Maintenance of sterile environments
Equality and Diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues by:
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.
Personal and Professional development
In addition to maintaining continued education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to ensure that NMC professional development requirements for revalidation are met, the post-holder 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 development
Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work
Quality
The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
Communication
The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Communicate effectively with other team members
Communicate effectively with patients and carers
Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond according
Contribution to the implementation of services
The post-holder will:
Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate
Safeguarding
The post-holder to be aware of all current safeguarding policies which are available on our TeamNet portal.
Person Specification
Qualifications Essential
Previous experience working as a Health Care Assistant Proven phlebotomy skills and recent practice Ability to follow protocols and work to clinical standards Clear communication skills and ability to work well within a team Good organisational skills and ability to prioritise tasks IT literate, with a basic understanding of clinical systems Understanding of confidentiality, safeguarding and infection control Commitment to providing high-quality, person-centred care
Desirable
NVQ Level 2 (or equivalent) in Health and Social Care Experience working in primary care or community health settings Training or experience with ECGs Familiarity with EMIS Web GCSE (or equivalent) in English and Maths
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 Axbridge & Wedmore Medical Practice
Address Houlgate Way
Axbridge
Somerset
BS26 2BJ
United Kingdom
Employer's website https://www.axbridgeandwedmoremedicalpractice.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)