GP Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

SHIPSTON MEDICAL CENTRE

Job Description

Job title:

General Practice Assistant GPA

Reports to:

General Practitioner GP

Hours:

37.5 per week

Salary:

£27485 to 30162 a year wte - based on 37hrs week

DBS

Satisfactory results from an enhanced DBS check will be required the practice will organise and pay for this

Job role and purpose:

A GPA will support patient care by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient.

The GP assistant is a new role for which there is a national job description and qualification the GP assistant Certificate. It is a requirement of the role that the certificate is completed within 2 years of being in post. This will involve a small amount of training virtually or off site. Shipston Medical Centre will support completion of training and experience to meet the requirements of the certificate, but currently the practice need for this role is heavily focussed on the administrative functions and as such the vast majority of the role is covered by the administrative functions and noted below. This may change to suit practice need.

Main duties and responsibilities:

Administration

Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc.

Extracting all information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes

Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients

Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.

Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g., getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultations

Completing basic non-opinion forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc

Clinical

Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs & phlebotomy

Explaining treatment procedures to patients

Support the GP with immunisations wound care

Other

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

Attend all relevant annual updates

Inform your line manager of any concerns regarding GPA role and any professional development needed

Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when you have reached them

Health and Safety

• To comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974
• The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
• Reporting potential risks identified

Equality and Diversity

To always carry out their responsibilities in line with Equal Opportunities Policy and Procedure.

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.

Risk Management and Clinical Governance

To work within the Clinical Governance Framework of the practice, incorporating Risk Management and all other quality initiatives and all aspects of CQC implementation.

Confidentiality

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 Any breach of confidentiality may render an individual liable for dismissal and/ or prosecution.

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

Safeguarding

Whilst in post, staff are expected to acquire and update their knowledge on safeguarding as per the intercollegiate document requirements and Shipston Medical Centre policies.

Professional development

• The post holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment
• To participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Attendance engagement with all mandatory update training as defined by the practice.

General

• To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, within the bounds of his/her own competence as guided by the attached management framework.
• To work across the Shipston Medical Centre sites and undertaking community visits as required.
• In light of national policy and due to the needs of the business it may be necessary for the Practice to alter the opening hours of the surgeries. This could incorporate different opening hours and weekend working which may affect when you are required to work. The post holder is expected to be flexible and accommodating, following consultation, in terms of any changes to operating times in the future.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. You may be required to perform any other duties as the organisation may require. You undertake to work to the best of your ability and use your best endeavours to promote, develop and extend the employer's organisation and interests.

Conditions

All offers of employment are conditional on you demonstrating your eligibility to work in the UK. Offers are also conditional on receipt of a minimum of two satisfactory references, covering at least the last three years of education or employment, with any gaps in employment history being explained satisfactorily. Whether references are deemed satisfactory is at the discretion of the organisation.

Demographic and role information will be shared with the South Warwickshire GP Federation to support reporting against the role funding.

Convictions

During the recruitment process, we will ask job applicants to disclose any unspent convictions but will not ask job applicants questions about spent convictions, nor expect them to disclose any spent convictions, unless the job is exempt under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 Exceptions Order 1975. If the position is identified as being exempt, the applicant will be required to undergo a DBS check, and this will also form a condition of employment.

Person Specification

Experience

Desirable

• Experience of working with the general public
• Experience of working in a health care setting
• NHS - Primary Care General Practice experience
• Relevant health and safety experience

Knowledge and skills

Essential

• We are looking for someone with a keen eye for detail who is able to work methodically and using their own initiative in line with guidance and protocols. A skilled communicator with proven experience of using Outlook, Word and other computer programmes, you will be able to deal well with colleagues and the public and act in a professional and confidential manner.
• Joining an established team you will be supported by knowledgeable colleagues and work with them across a range of activities.

Qualifications

Essential

• Good standard of education with good literacy and numeracy skills

Desirable

• Educated to A level standard
• GP Assistant Certificate training will be provided

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

Shipston Medical Centre

Address

Shipston Medical Centre

Badgers Crescent

Shipston on Stour

Warwickshire

CV36 4BQ

Employer's website

https://www.shipstonmc.warwickshire.nhs.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)