Healthcare Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Primary Responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the healthcare assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels. There will be a requirement to see patients in the community on home visits as well as in either of the surgery premises.

a. Undertake new patient health checks;

b. Support the practice nurses with health promotion programmes;

c. Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, etc. and recording observations accurately;

d. Undertake basic wound care and dressings, when trained;

e. Support the practice nurse team with the management of chronic disease;

f. Carry out BMI checks as directed;

g. Act as a chaperone as required;

h. Undertake venepuncture, when trained;

i. Administer flu vaccinations, when trained;

j. Administer B12 injections, when trained;

k. Carry out ECGs as requested, when trained;

l. Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation;

m. Provide support during minor operations, as required;

n. Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session;

o. Ensure fridges are cleaned routinely in accordance with latest guidance;

p. Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the practices infection prevention and control policy;

q. Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate.

Secondary Responsibilities

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the healthcare assistant may be requested to:

a. Partake in audit as directed;

b. Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care;

c. Support and participate in shared learning within the practice.

Generic Responsibilities

All staff at West Somerset Healthcare have a duty to conform to the following:

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

A good attitude and positive action towards ED&I creates an environment where all individuals are able to achieve their full potential. Creating such an environment is important for three reasons: it improves operational effectiveness, it is morally the right thing to do, and it is required by law.

Patients and their families have the right to be treated fairly and be routinely involved in decisions about their treatment and care. They can expect to be treated with dignity and respect and will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Patients have a responsibility to treat other patients and our staff with dignity and respect.

Staff have the right to be treated fairly in recruitment and career progression. Staff can expect to work in an environment where diversity is valued and equality of opportunity is promoted. Staff will not be discriminated against on any grounds including age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. Staff have a responsibility to ensure that we treat our patients and their colleagues with dignity and respect.

Safety, Health, Environment and Fire (SHEF)

This practice is committed to supporting and promoting opportunities for staff to maintain their health, well-being and safety. You have a duty to take reasonable care of health and safety at work for you, your team and others, and to cooperate with employers to ensure compliance with health and safety requirements. All personnel are to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.

Confidentiality

This practice is committed to maintaining an outstanding confidential service. Patients entrust and permit us to collect and retain sensitive information relating to their health and other matters, pertaining to their care. They do so in confidence and have a right to expect all staff will respect their privacy and maintain confidentiality at all times. It is essential that if the legal requirements are to be met and the trust of our patients is to be retained that all staff protect patient information and provide a confidential service.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

To preserve and improve the quality of our output, all personnel are required to think not only of what they do, but how they achieve it. By continually re-examining our processes, we will be able to develop and improve the overall effectiveness of the way we work. The responsibility for this rests with everyone working within the practice to look for opportunities to improve quality and share good practice.

This practice continually strives to improve work processes which deliver health care with improved results across all areas of our service provision. We promote a culture of continuous improvement, where everyone counts and staff are permitted to make suggestions and contributions to improve our service delivery and enhance patient care.

Induction Training

On arrival at the practice all personnel are to complete a practice induction programme.

Learning and Development

The effective use of training and development is fundamental in ensuring that all staff are equipped with the appropriate skills, knowledge, attitude and competences to perform their role. All staff will be required to partake and complete mandatory training as directed by the training coordinator, as well as participating in the practice training programme. Staff will also be permitted (subject to approval) to undertake external training courses which will enhance their knowledge and skills, progress their career and ultimately, enable them to improve processes and service delivery.

Collaborative Working

All staff are to recognise the significance of collaborative working. Team work is essential in multidisciplinary environments. Effective communication is essential and all staff must ensure they communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information in an appropriate manner.

Service Delivery

Staff at West Somerset Healthcare must adhere to the information contained within practice policies and regional directives, ensuring protocols are adhered to at all times. Staff will be given detailed information during the induction process regarding policy and procedure.

Security

The security of the practice is the responsibility of all personnel. Staff must ensure they remain vigilant at all times and report any suspicious activity immediately to their line manager. Under no circumstances are staff to share the codes for the door locks to anyone and are to ensure that restricted areas remain effectively secured.

Professional Conduct

At West Somerset Healthcare all staff are required to dress appropriately for their role. Administrative staff will be provided with a uniform whilst clinical staff must dress in accordance with their role.

Leave

All personnel are entitled to take leave. Line managers are to ensure all of their staff are afforded the opportunity to take their annual leave each year, and staff should be encouraged to take all of their leave entitlement.

This document may be amended following consultation with the post holder, to facilitate the development of the role, the practice and the individual. All personnel should be prepared to accept additional, or surrender existing duties, to enable the efficient running of the practice.

Person Specification

Other Requirements

Essential

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours,
• Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check,
• Occupational health clearance

Clinical Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral),
• Strong IT skills,
• Clear, polite telephone manner,
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook,
• Effective time management,
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously,
• Good interpersonal skills,
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure.

Desirable

• Wound care/removal of sutures and staples,
• ECGs,
• Venepuncture,
• New patient medicals, including height, weight, B/P, pulse checks,
• Ability to record information accurately,
• EMIS user skills.

Experience

Essential

• Experience of working with the general public
• Experience of working in a health care setting

Desirable

• Experience of working in a primary care environment

Qualifications

Essential

• Care Certificate or willing to work towards

Desirable

• Phlebotomy certification

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Polite and confident,
• Flexible and cooperative,
• Motivated,
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required,
• High levels of integrity and loyalty,
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations,
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations,
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient,
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Effectively utilises resources,
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort.

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

West Somerset Healthcare

Address

Robert Street

Williton

Taunton

Somerset

TA4 4QE

Employer's website

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