Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

JOB DESCRIPTION

Job Title: Healthcare Assistant

Reporting to: Practice Manager

Purpose: To assist the GPs and practice nurse team in the service and delivery of care management of the practice population.

Job Summary

The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures while providing supervision to more junior staff.

Key responsibilities

Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication

Personal and People Development

• Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance
• Work with management on any new training requirements
• To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
• Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of a basic HCA

Health, Safety, and Security

• Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks
• Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe, and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including:

1. Hand washing

2. Universal hygiene procedures

3. Collection and handling of laboratory specimens

4. Segregation and disposal of waste materials

5. Decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

6. Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

7. Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

8. Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

• Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
• Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring, and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
• Use the computer monitor safely
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health
• Keep up to date with all mandatory training

Service Improvement

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
• Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
• Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
• Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
• Be able to manage your own time effectively

Equality and Diversity

• Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
• Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
• Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
• Act as a chaperone

Clinical Skills Health and Well-being

• Undertake, record, and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:
• Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratories
• Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations, and for pre-medical checks:

1. Blood Pressure
2. Pulse Rate And Rhythm
3. Height And Weight - Body Mass Index
4. Venepuncture
5. ECG
6. New Patient Checks

• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence

Information Processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff, and the practice
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

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 strictly confidential
• Information 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.
• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check will be undertaken as a matter of course

Changes to this Job Description:

The duties and responsibilities outlined in this list are neither definitive nor restrictive and

may change in detail from time to time as the post develops to meet the changing needs of

the surgery.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Basic IT Skills
• Knowledge in Vision and Docman clinical systems
• Skills in Phlebotomy, ECGs, Patient Health Checks, Blood Pressures
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Health and safety awareness
• Awareness of Blood Borne Viruses

Desirable

• Ability to provide quality care
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good team working skills
• Effective time management skills
• Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions
• Adaptable to change
• Computer literate

Special Requirement of the Post

Essential

• Provide cover for absence of other HCA when required

Experience

Essential

• Experience in GP Practice

Desirable

• Experience within a health care setting

Qualifications

Essential

• Academic/Vocational Qualifications
• Qualified in Phlebotomy
• Qualified to NVQ level 3

Desirable

• Good General Education

Qualities/Attributes

Essential

• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure and remain calm
• Flexible and adaptable
• Aware of own limitations
• Keen to develop

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

Trowbridge Health Centre

Address

Trowbridge Health Centre

Hammersmith Fields

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8LW

Employer's website

https://www.trowbridgehealthcentre.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)