Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: Healthcare Assistant
REPORTS TO: Practice Manager
HOURS: 20 hours per week
Job Summary:
The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) plays a vital role in supporting the clinical team to deliver safe, high-quality patient care in a primary care setting. Working under the supervision of a registered nurse and GP, the HCA assists with clinical duties, health promotion, and administrative tasks to ensure the smooth running of the practice.
Job Responsibilities:
Clinical Duties:
Carry out routine health checks and new patient checks, including blood pressure, height, weight, and BMI measurements.
Perform venepuncture (phlebotomy) and process specimens for laboratory analysis.
Conduct ECGs and dopplers recording results accurately.
Administer vaccinations and immunisations (following appropriate training and protocols).
Undertake wound care and dressing changes under the guidance of the Practice Nurse.
Assist in chronic disease monitoring (e.g., diabetes, COPD, hypertension) through health reviews.
Support with NHS Health Checks and lifestyle advice (e.g., smoking cessation, diet, exercise).
Prepare and maintain clinical rooms, ensuring infection control procedures are followed, rooms are stocked appropriately and items in date.
Accurately record all patient encounters on the clinical system (EMIS).
Undertake Spirometry testing.
Chaperoning services when requested by clinicians
Always maintain infection control standards and take part in IPC audits
Ensure safe handling and disposal of clinical waste
Ensure any significant events are reported to the Practice Manager.
Liaise effectively between clinical and administrative teams
Participate actively in team meetings and practice development
Confidentiality:
In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately.
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 & Safety:
The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:
Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines
Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards
Reporting potential risks identified
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.
- Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.
Personal/Professional Development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
- Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.
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.
Contribution to the implementation of services:
The post-holder will:
- Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.
- Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
- Participate in audit where appropriate.
Personal Qualities
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with patients and colleagues.
Strong organisational skills and ability to work under pressure.
Commitment to patient confidentiality and data protection.
Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
Flexible and adaptable to meet changing service needs.
Qualifications
Essential:
Experience working in a healthcare environment.
Competence in basic clinical skills (blood pressure, phlebotomy, ECGs, etc.).
Desirable:
NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care (or equivalent).
Experience in a GP practice or primary care setting.
Training in vaccinations, wound care, and long-term condition reviews.
Knowledge of EMIS clinical systems.
