Job responsibilities
Duties and Responsibilities:
The duties and responsibilities undertaken may include any or all of the items in the following list. This list serves as an example as to the type of work which is or will be undertaken after relevant training as required.
Diagnosing and treating patients presenting with minor illness:
- Triage and treat patients wishing to see a health care professional making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team
- Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within boundaries of competence and to acknowledge limitations.
- Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary
Providing assessment, screening treatment services and health education advice:
- Dietary advice
- Blood pressure checks
- Urinalysis
- Health screening
- Dressings
- ECG
- Phlebotomy
- Routine injections
- Contraception
- Minor injuries
- Routine immunisations and vaccinations
- Removal of sutures / clips
- Assisting with the fitting of IUCD / IUS
- First registration checks / health surveillance / general health advice
- Provide general and specific health screenings to the practice patients (within agreed protocols) with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary
Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures:
- Undertake the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs etc. Perform investigatory procedures requested by the GPs
Administration and professional responsibilities:
- Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team
- Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes
- Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded and amended
- Ensure appropriate items of service claims are made accurately, reporting any problems to the practice administrator
- Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice
- Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit
- Attend and participate in practice meetings as required
Training and personal development:
- Training requirements will be monitored by appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements. Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments.
- Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development.
- If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given.
- Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan
Liaison:
- As well as the clinical team there is a need to work closely with reception and administration staff to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person.
- There is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and agencies including secondary care
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
- 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
Health and Safety at Work:
The post holder is required to take responsible care for the health and safety of him/herself and other persons who may be affected by his/her acts or omissions at work.
All duties must be carried out in accordance with the practices policies and procedures and with regard to current legislation.
Equality and diversity:
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, in accordance with the practices policies and procedures
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
