Health Care Assistant HCA

Job summary

We are looking for a part time Health Care Assistant to join our friendly NHS GP surgery situated within the Eltham Community Hospital premises next to the Eltham High Street.

This will be a permanent position.

Healthcare assistants (HCAs) are a vital part of the team that support the medical staff.

Under the supervision and direction of qualified nursing staff, healthcare assistants carry out a wide range of duties to care for, support, and provide information to patients and their families.

Responsibilities may include:

Taking and recording basic observations such as blood pressure and temperature

Listening and talking to patients.

Healthcare assistants are often the first point of contact for a patient, so you'll need to be friendly and confident, with good interpersonal skills. You'll need to be able to put patients at their ease, helping them with their personal care while making sure they feel comfortable.

Previous experience in Primary healthcare is desirable but not essential, as healthcare assistants are assessed individually to see what tasks they are competent to carry out. Training and development is available for those who want to progress - a role as a healthcare assistant can be the first step to becoming a nursing associate or a qualified nurse.

Main duties of the job

Specific Responsibilities

Clinical Skills

• Undertake record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training.
• Measuring and recording:- blood pressure pulse rate and rhythm temperature height and weight

Body mass index

• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions.
• Ensure GPs rooms and clinical treatment rooms are clean and well stocked.
• Undertake 2nd dressing procedures following local recommendations, complying with infection control principles and practice.
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence.
• Checking calibration and Cleaning of equipment.
• Plan, develop and implement ways of raising and promoting awareness of health and well-being, keeping records of what has been done.
• Provide support and encouragement to patients to self manages their conditions as appropriate.
• Administer influenza, pneumococcal and Vitamin B12 vaccinations ( once training completed )
• Remove sutures and clips.
• Weight management after training and competence assessment
• Pre diabetic reviews.
• Undertake foot checks for people with diabetes after full training and assessment of competence.
• Assist GPs in clinics when requested.
• Act as a chaperone, when requested
• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems and Read codes

About us

We are located in an affluent area of Eltham, within the Royal Borough of Greenwich. Access is also available to Central London in 14 minutes.

We have a rapidly expanding list size and are looking for candidates with the drive to be actively involved with practice development.

We are situated within a Community Hospital with many additional services on site, such as MSK, X -Ray and Phlebotomy.

We are an EMIS Practice

Permanent Position with flexible working hours and days .

You would have a key role in the development of the surgery within the local area, as well as the option for developing a portfolio career.

Support for development of special interests

List size of just over 8,000 patients