Health Care Assistant

Job summary

A new vacancy has arisen for a Health Care Assistant within Brannam Medical Centre. The Practice is looking for an enthusiastic, experienced Health Care Assistant to join our nursing team, in caring for our list of over 19,300 patients in the Barnstaple area.

The successful applicant will be providing clinical services to support the Nursing Team ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and efficient care within their scope of practice, maximising outcomes for patients. The HCA will assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, long term conditions, preventative care, health promotion and patient education.

The role will also include training and development of junior health care assistants to support improved services for our patients.

You will need to have excellent communication skills, be caring, sensitive and empathetic, have good IT abilities, be able to manage your time, work as a team member and autonomously and have the ability to work under pressure in a busy medical practice

As a long-established training Practice for doctors and other clinical team members, we are proud of the supportive environment within the Practice, with a supervising clinical member of staff being available at all times.

We welcome applicants that are currently working in primary care as well as applicants that have come from a hospital or community background, open to job sharing arrangements.

Main duties of the job

Principal Responsibilities Phlebotomy duties. To take and, where appropriate, despatch laboratory specimens including blood, urine, swabs and other diagnostic tests as required by GPs. Setting up the ECG machine to take ECGs and making sure that they have been analysed by a GP. Carrying out blood pressure checks To prepare the examination areas and instruments and to assist the GPs in minor operations, coil fittings and other clinics. To advise patients on health care, minor ailments, health promotion and illness prevention. To support the nursing team. To undertake NHS Health checks Carrying out ear irrigation, having been adequately trained. To administer flu, pneumonia, and B12 injections having been adequately trained. To share supervisory responsibilities with the Practice Nurses if appropriate for the management of the treatment room, stock control and ordering of drugs, leaflets and medical supplies. To ensure that all medical equipment is regularly and adequately maintained and in date and ensure that all clinical rooms are adequately stocked with medical equipment etc. To ensure that fridge temperatures are regularly monitored. To maintain high standards of tidiness, hygiene and safety in the use of all equipment and areas of work, in line with the Practice Health and Safety policy, Infection Control Policy as well as all other Practice policies and procedures.

About us

Brannam Medical Centre is a long-established training Practice for doctors, nurses and other clinical team members, we are proud of the encouraging and supportive environment within the Practice.

The Treatment Room team numbers Advanced Care Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners, Senior Nurses, Nursing Associate, Health Care Assistants and Phlebotomists all supported by our GP Lead.

Barnstaple is an excellent place to live and work. A popular holiday destination on the Taw estuary, it is close to surfing beaches and the beautiful Exmoor National Park. Sailing, cycling, walking and a host of other leisure activities are readily available and a link to the M5 motorway gives easy access to the rest of the country.