Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

**Please only apply if you have recent Venepuncture experience**

Clinical skills

• Venepuncture
• ECGs
• Assisting with chronic disease reviews
• Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory
• Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations:

- blood pressure

- pulse rate and rhythm

- temperature

- height and weight - body mass index

• Assist GPs with minor surgery clinics
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being.
• Where appropriate, provide support and encouragement to self-manage their conditions
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups.
• To gain the underpinning knowledge and practical skills to administer basic life support if necessary.

Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication.

Personal development

• Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance, including participating in supervision
• Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development
• Work with management on any new training requirements
• Participation in an individual annual review.

Health, safety and security

• Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks
• Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including:

- hand washing

- universal hygiene procedures

- collection and handling of laboratory specimens

- segregation and disposal of waste materials

- decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

- reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

- dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

- Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

• Understands and apply the principles of the cold chain
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Service improvement

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audits.
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives.

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients.
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems.
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care.
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation.
• Be able to manage your own time effectively.

Equality and diversity

• Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers and colleagues.
• Act in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting these in a way that is consistent with the practices policies and procedures and current legislation.
• Behaving is a manner that is welcoming, non- judgmental and respects the individuals circumstances, priorities, feeling and rights.

Information processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers into our clinical record system in an accurate and timely fashion
• Ensure that the rights, confidentiality and privacy of the patient are observed at all times.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

• Venepuncture
• Experience of working in a care environment
• Basic computer experience

Qualifications

Essential

• 4 GCSE (or equivalent) including Maths & English
• Willingness to undertake an NVQ or an equivalent qualification

Knowledge and Skills

Essential

• Demonstrates a basic understanding of the needs of the patient and the role of the HCA
• Willing to further develop clinical skills and competency relevant to the role.

Desirable

• Understands issues regarding accountability and delegation

Personal Qualities

Essential

• Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others
• Flexible, reliable and responsive to change
• Demonstrates an ability to value the opinions of others
• Willingness to undergo education/ training for both practice and service needs
• Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives (appraisal)

Communication and verbal skills

Essential

• Able to communicate routine information that requires tact and persuasive skills, or where there may be barriers to understanding
• Ability to communicate effectively via telephone or group discussion
• Good interpersonal skills

Working conditions

Essential

• Physical contact with patients for the purpose of investigations or treatments
• Ability to work with high patient turnover and a pressurised environment on a daily basis

Mental and emotional effort

Essential

• Concentration required daily, e.g. Ability to deal with occasional exposure to distressing circumstances or emotional events
• Ability to cope with occasional exposure to aggressive behaviour
• Ability to work with competing priorities
• Ability to deal tactfully and empathetically with distressed or anxious patients and carers

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

Wellington Medical Centre

Address

Mantle Street

Wellington

Somerset

TA21 8BD

United Kingdom

Employer's website

https://tauntondeanewestpcn.gpweb.org.uk/wellington-medical-centre (Opens in a new tab)