Quantock Vale Surgery

General Practice Assistant

Information:

This job is now closed

Job summary

An excellent opportunity has arisen at Quantock Vale Surgery for a GP Assistant to join our friendly practice team.

Quantock Vale Surgery is a small dispensing GP surgery with 2 GP partners, 1 salaried GP and 6,000 patients. We are looking to recruit a flexible and enthusiastic team member, and the ideal candidate will have excellent patient services skills and be able to work under pressure.

Main duties of the job

General Practice Assistants provide a support role to the GPs, carrying out administrative tasks and some basic clinical duties (phlebotomy, urine dipping, ECGs, blood pressures, referrals). The successful candidate will work closely with our GPs to improve effiency within the practice.

About us

The General Practice Assistant will work with the GPs and Practice Manager to support the practice with delivery of simple clinical procedures and some administrative tasks on behalf of the GPs.

Quantock Vale Surgery is made up of 2 GP partners, 1 salaried GP and an advanced paramedic. The management team is made up of the Practice Manager, Operations & Patient Services Manager and Lead nurse. The nursing team includes two practice nurses and a HCA, and the administrative team include 2 medical secretaries, 1 administrator and 9 receptionist/administrators.

The Role: A GPA will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP freeing up their time to focus on the patient. The post holder will work in accordance with their allocated GPs working style and preference and tasks may include, but not limited to the following:

Details

Date posted

13 September 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

A1097-23-0002

Job locations

Mount Street

Bishops Lydeard

Taunton

Somerset

TA4 3LH


Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

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

Extracting 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, for example, taking a brief history and recording basic observations

Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, performing ECGs and phlebotomy

Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign

Explaining treatment procedures, processes and pathways to patients

Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies, for example SPL, Social Services while GPs continue with consultations

Support the GP with immunisations

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust practice staff with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters.

Comply with Legislation with regards to data protection act and ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

The post-holder must regard all information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers (as well as information relating to the practice as a business organisation) 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, data protection legislation and the protection of personal and sensitive data, as well as other related healthcare legislation (e.g. the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice)

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will comply with practice policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others. This includes (but not limited to):

Identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

Identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business

Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness, as well as ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols and implementing them across the practice.

Active observation 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, raising them with appropriate management and managing those risks across clinical and patient processes.

Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal

Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other managers

Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards;

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

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder 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 legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity.

Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.

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

Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Job description

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

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

Extracting 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, for example, taking a brief history and recording basic observations

Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, performing ECGs and phlebotomy

Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign

Explaining treatment procedures, processes and pathways to patients

Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies, for example SPL, Social Services while GPs continue with consultations

Support the GP with immunisations

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust practice staff with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters.

Comply with Legislation with regards to data protection act and ensure confidentiality is maintained at all times.

The post-holder must regard all information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers (as well as information relating to the practice as a business organisation) 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, data protection legislation and the protection of personal and sensitive data, as well as other related healthcare legislation (e.g. the NHS Confidentiality Code of Practice)

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will comply with practice policies, procedures and clinical guidelines for self and others. This includes (but not limited to):

Identifying, reporting, and correcting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised

Identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business

Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness, as well as ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols and implementing them across the practice.

Active observation 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, raising them with appropriate management and managing those risks across clinical and patient processes.

Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal

Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other managers

Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards;

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

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder 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 legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity.

Behaving in a manner that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.

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

Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of human needs physical, emotional, social.
  • Proven ability to recognise and manage risk.
  • Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable adults, safeguarding and the associated legislative framework
  • Be familiar in all mediums of communications, such as email, tasks, telephone etc.
  • Understanding of basic health and social care terminology.
  • Good interpersonal skills especially in communication with patients and carers.
  • Ability to communicate confidently with staff of all seniority levels- appropriate rapport with their lead GP.
  • Ability to work well across teams
  • Good time management and prioritisations skills, ability to work to strict deadlines
  • Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision, understanding where clinical input is needed
  • IT skills and experience in the use of Microsoft Excel.
  • Comfortable working in busy environment and able to maintain high level of attention to detail when under pressure.

Desirable

  • Familiarity with IT systems currently in use in health and social care settings
  • Experience using EMIS Web

Qualifications

Essential

  • Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience

Desirable

  • Qualified in phlebotomy.
  • Relevant degree or training experience.

Experience

Essential

  • Communication and relationship building
  • Experience in health or social care.
  • Experience of developing relationships with a wide variety of people
  • Highly organised.

Desirable

  • Experienced medical administrators, with excellent IT and typing skills.
  • Experience working within primary care.
Person Specification

Skills and Knowledge

Essential

  • Understanding of human needs physical, emotional, social.
  • Proven ability to recognise and manage risk.
  • Knowledge of the needs of vulnerable adults, safeguarding and the associated legislative framework
  • Be familiar in all mediums of communications, such as email, tasks, telephone etc.
  • Understanding of basic health and social care terminology.
  • Good interpersonal skills especially in communication with patients and carers.
  • Ability to communicate confidently with staff of all seniority levels- appropriate rapport with their lead GP.
  • Ability to work well across teams
  • Good time management and prioritisations skills, ability to work to strict deadlines
  • Ability to work on own initiative without direct supervision, understanding where clinical input is needed
  • IT skills and experience in the use of Microsoft Excel.
  • Comfortable working in busy environment and able to maintain high level of attention to detail when under pressure.

Desirable

  • Familiarity with IT systems currently in use in health and social care settings
  • Experience using EMIS Web

Qualifications

Essential

  • Evidence of a consistent pattern of learning from education, training and experience

Desirable

  • Qualified in phlebotomy.
  • Relevant degree or training experience.

Experience

Essential

  • Communication and relationship building
  • Experience in health or social care.
  • Experience of developing relationships with a wide variety of people
  • Highly organised.

Desirable

  • Experienced medical administrators, with excellent IT and typing skills.
  • Experience working within primary care.

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

Quantock Vale Surgery

Address

Mount Street

Bishops Lydeard

Taunton

Somerset

TA4 3LH


Employer's website

http://www.quantockvalesurgery.nhs.uk/welcome,29687.htm (Opens in a new tab)

Employer details

Employer name

Quantock Vale Surgery

Address

Mount Street

Bishops Lydeard

Taunton

Somerset

TA4 3LH


Employer's website

http://www.quantockvalesurgery.nhs.uk/welcome,29687.htm (Opens in a new tab)

Employer contact details

For questions about the job, contact:

Practice manager

Andy Adams

andy.adams3@nhs.net

01823432361

Details

Date posted

13 September 2023

Pay scheme

Other

Salary

Depending on experience

Contract

Permanent

Working pattern

Part-time, Flexible working

Reference number

A1097-23-0002

Job locations

Mount Street

Bishops Lydeard

Taunton

Somerset

TA4 3LH


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