Health Care Assistant Maternity Cover (Fixed-Term)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Job title: Health Care Assistant Maternity Cover (Fixed-Term)

Reports to: Nurse Lead/Lead GP (Clinically)

Practice Manager (Administratively)

Hours: Part or Full time position

Job Summary

The post holder will work under the indirect supervision of a registered practitioner, Practice Nurse or Assistant Practitioner, and in partnership with the Practice Management Team, to deliver safe, effective and high-quality care to the practice population.

Phlebotomy (venepuncture) is an essential requirement of this role, and the post holder must be trained and competent to undertake this independently in accordance with practice protocols.

The focus of the role is the delivery of delegated clinical duties, preventative care and health promotion activities within defined competencies and agreed protocols. The Health Care Assistant will support the multidisciplinary team in meeting the needs of patients whilst contributing to quality improvement and service development.

Key Responsibilities

As a Healthcare Assistant in Primary Care, you will support the clinical team in delivering safe, effective and patient-centred care. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Undertake phlebotomy (venepuncture) in accordance with training, competency and practice protocols.
• Support and deliver NHS Health Checks and assist in long-term condition monitoring (e.g. diabetes, asthma, hypertension) under clinical supervision.
• Perform and accurately record clinical observations including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, height, weight and BMI.
• Undertake ECG recordings and other diagnostic procedures where trained and deemed competent.
• Carry out point-of-care testing including urinalysis, pregnancy testing, and blood glucose monitoring.
• Provide basic wound care including cleaning, dressing changes, and removal of sutures or clips within scope of practice.
• Administer vaccinations and injectable medications where appropriately trained and authorised.
• Deliver brief health promotion interventions including smoking cessation advice, lifestyle guidance and signposting to relevant services.
• Support clinicians during minor procedures and other clinical interventions as required.
• Process and manage laboratory samples in accordance with practice and pathology protocols.
• Ensure accurate, timely and contemporaneous documentation within the clinical record system.
• Maintain infection prevention and control standards, including safe handling of equipment and clinical waste.
• Maintain and restock clinical rooms and ensure equipment is clean, safe and ready for use.
• Provide chaperone support in accordance with practice policy and professional standards.
• Recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns in accordance with practice policy.
• Support call and recall systems for long-term condition management and screening programmes.
• Participate in audit, quality improvement and service development activities as required.

Please note that this role may evolve in line with NHS guidance, service development and practice needs, and you may be required to undertake additional duties appropriate to the role and your level of training and competency.

Communication

• Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Support patients sensitively when receiving information regarding their care.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication
• Estimate and maintain effective communication with individuals and groups within the practice environment and with external stakeholders
• Act as an advocate when representing patients and colleagues
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Delivering a quality service

• Recognise and work within own competence, scope of practice and level of training, seeking support where appropriate
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete clinical records in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload to maintain safe and effective patient care
• Deliver care in line with practice protocols, national guidance (e.g. NICE) and evidence-based practice
• Participate in quality governance systems and practice audit activity
• Contribute to improving the quality of care in collaboration with the wider clinical team
• Support shared learning within the practice and participate in team meetings where appropriate
• Participate in the review of incidents, complaints and near-miss events, identifying learning and improvement actions
• Recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns relating to children and vulnerable adults in accordance with practice policy
• Work within policies relating to safeguarding, domestic abuse, substance misuse and vulnerable patients, referring concerns appropriately

Continuous Professional Development

• Take responsibility for own learning, development and performance, participating in supervision and appraisal processes.
• Maintain and update a personal development portfolio in line with practice requirements.
• Undertake mandatory and statutory training relevant to the role.
• Participate in the implementation of changes within own area of responsibility.
• Contribute to the development and review of local guidelines and protocols where appropriate.
• Support the induction and development of new staff or students as required.
• Share learning and good practice with colleagues to support continuous improvement.

Team Working

• Understand own role, responsibilities and scope of practice within the multidisciplinary team.
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting colleagues to deliver high-quality patient care.
• Accept delegated duties appropriately, working within competence and escalating concerns when required.
• Prioritise and organise own workload to ensure safe and effective service delivery.
• Contribute positively to team meetings and service improvement initiatives.
• Participate in local projects and practice developments as agreed with the management team.

Management of Risk

• Work within practice policies and procedures to ensure the safety of patients, colleagues and visitors.
• Monitor work areas to ensure they are clean, safe and free from hazards, reporting concerns appropriately.
• Support safe storage and stock rotation of vaccines, equipment and clinical supplies in accordance with practice policy.
• Apply infection prevention and control measures in line with local and national guidance.
• Recognise and escalate safeguarding concerns relating to children and vulnerable adults in accordance with policy.
• Complete mandatory health and safety training requirements.
• Report incidents, near-misses or risks in line with practice procedures.

Utilising Information

• Use clinical IT systems to accurately record patient activity and interventions in a timely and contemporaneous manner.
• Ensure clinical documentation meets legal, professional and practice standards.
• Use agreed coding systems to support audit and monitoring processes.
• Maintain awareness of information governance responsibilities, including data protection and confidentiality requirements.
• Access relevant information resources to support safe patient care where appropriate.

Confidentiality

• Respect patient privacy at all times and handle sensitive information in accordance with practice policy and legislation.
• Maintain strict confidentiality regarding patients, colleagues and practice business information.
• Share information only where appropriate and in line with information governance and safeguarding requirements.
• In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description the post holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers, practice staff and other health care 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.

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 recognises 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 right

Special requirements for this post

• Keyboard and computer skills
• Phlebotomy trained and assessed as competent
• Flexibility of working hours
• Excellent communication skills
• An understanding and acceptance of own capabilities and awareness of own limitations
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities

All members of staff must be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain efficient running of the practice. The Reception Supervisor and Business Manager reserve the right to re distribute duties and functions amongst members of staff from time to time and requests for such changes shall not be reasonably refused

Person Specification

Skills

Essential

• Phlebotomy trained and assessed as competent, Flexibility to work across practice opening hours, including early mornings, evenings or occasional weekends in line with service needs.

Desirable

• Keyboard and computer skills,
• Excellent communication skills,
• An understanding and acceptance of own capabilities and awareness of own limitations,
• Ability to work without direct supervision and determine own workload priorities.

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

Freshney Green PCC

Address

Sorrel Road

Grimsby

DN34 4GB

Employer's website

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