Job summary
Bradford on
Avon and Melksham Health Partnership are seeking an enthusiastic and self-
motivated Health Care Assistant to join our experienced, established, and
busy clinical team.
You will
need to be enthusiastic, hard-working, and flexible, paying fine attention to
detail and with high standards of provision of care. You need to have excellent
communication, organisational and administrative skills to work within our multi-disciplinary team.
Main duties of the job
As a key member of the clinical team, the
successful applicant will be involved in provision of routine care, undertaking face to face consultations, whilst providing a
high standard of patient care. The role requires excellent communication skills and an empathetic and caring manner.
About us
Bradford on
Avon & Melksham Health Partnership is a responsive, innovative, and
ambitious training practice, who pride ourselves on delivering safe and timely
care, enabling patients to optimise their health and well-being. We offer our
staff the opportunity to develop their skills and competencies by providing
in-house (and external - where appropriate) training and mentorship, in a
supportive and nurturing environment.
We operate
across 3 GP sites, two in Bradford on Avon and one in the nearby village of
Winsley.
We serve a
population of 19,000 patients, covering both Bradford on Avon and Melksham. The
current Practice team consists of GP partners, GP Associates, Retained GPs, as
well as a multi-disciplinary team including Clinical Pharmacists, Emergency
Nurses, Practice Nurses, Research Nurses, HCA's, Paramedics, Mental Health
practitioners as well as non-clinical staff. We are in the process of expanding
the team to incorporate further areas of expertise into our multi-disciplinary
team.
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT (HCA)
ACCOUNTABLE TO: PRACTICE NURSE LEAD
REPORTS TO: CLINICAL NURSE LEAD
Job Purpose:To be part of the primary healthcare team providing high quality and forward thinking nursing care to meet the holistic healthcare needs of the practice population.
Job summary:
The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team lead and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team lead or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following practice policy and procedures.
Responsibilities:
1. CommunicationThe post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
2. Personal and people developmentThe post-holder will participate in any training program implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- 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
- To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
- Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of an HCA
- Participation in annual staff review and development, including taking responsibility for maintain a record of won personal and/or professional development
- Undertaking modules in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) programme or equivalent, as appropriate
3. 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:
- Assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy.
- 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 measure
- Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
- Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
- Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
- 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
- Use the computer monitor safely
- 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
4. Service improvement
- Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
- Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
- Deal with stock and maintain equipment
- Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets
5. QualityThe post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- 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
- Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
- Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
- Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
- Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
- Be able to manage your own time effectively
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the tem by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
6. Equality and diversityThe post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
- Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
- Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
- Act as a chaperone
Roles:1. Clinical nursing Practice
- Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:
- Work within Leg Ulcer Clinic managing patients treatment
- 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
- Visual Acuity
- Venepuncture
- ECG
- Health Checks
- Phlebotomy
- Spirometry
- Peak Flow Measuring
- Chaperoning duties
- Urinalysis and pregnancy testing
- Simple or review dressings
- Processing and management of laboratory samples requested or taken by GP's. Nurses
- Preparing and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GP's during the performance of minor operations
- Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being
- Helping to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be promoted
- Assisting with the collection and collation of data n needs related to health and well-being.
- Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
- Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
- Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence
- Undertaking specific clinical activities for named patients that have been delegated and taught specifically in relation to that individual
- Undertaking any other clinical activity that has been delegated and taught
- Work within Leg club and develop wound dressing skills
2. Supporting the clinical team
The healthcare assistant also provides support for other members of the primary healthcare team and contributes towards the coordination of the team activities.
Tasks include:
- Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment, enduring regular servicing is undertaken and documented.
- Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording
- Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation
- Clearing and re-Stocking consulting rooms
- Assist nursing team in the stock control and ordering necessary medical supplies
- Ordering and maintain the health promotion and information materials available in the practice and on display in the waiting rooms, ensuring such displays are tidy and contemporary.
- Maintaining and order stock
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 the 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 careers, 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 s 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.
Information processes:
- Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
- Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
- Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information
Job description
Job responsibilities
JOB TITLE: HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT (HCA)
ACCOUNTABLE TO: PRACTICE NURSE LEAD
REPORTS TO: CLINICAL NURSE LEAD
Job Purpose:To be part of the primary healthcare team providing high quality and forward thinking nursing care to meet the holistic healthcare needs of the practice population.
Job summary:
The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team lead and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team lead or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following practice policy and procedures.
Responsibilities:
1. CommunicationThe post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
2. Personal and people developmentThe post-holder will participate in any training program implemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
- 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
- To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
- Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of an HCA
- Participation in annual staff review and development, including taking responsibility for maintain a record of won personal and/or professional development
- Undertaking modules in the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) programme or equivalent, as appropriate
3. 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:
- Assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy.
- 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 measure
- Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain
- Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
- Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
- 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
- Use the computer monitor safely
- 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
4. Service improvement
- Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
- Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
- Deal with stock and maintain equipment
- Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets
5. QualityThe post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:
- 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
- Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
- Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
- Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
- Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
- Be able to manage your own time effectively
- Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
- Contribute to the effectiveness of the tem by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the teams performance
6. Equality and diversityThe post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
- Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
- Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
- Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behaviour
- Act as a chaperone
Roles:1. Clinical nursing Practice
- Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:
- Work within Leg Ulcer Clinic managing patients treatment
- 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
- Visual Acuity
- Venepuncture
- ECG
- Health Checks
- Phlebotomy
- Spirometry
- Peak Flow Measuring
- Chaperoning duties
- Urinalysis and pregnancy testing
- Simple or review dressings
- Processing and management of laboratory samples requested or taken by GP's. Nurses
- Preparing and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GP's during the performance of minor operations
- Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being
- Helping to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be promoted
- Assisting with the collection and collation of data n needs related to health and well-being.
- Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions
- Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
- Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence
- Undertaking specific clinical activities for named patients that have been delegated and taught specifically in relation to that individual
- Undertaking any other clinical activity that has been delegated and taught
- Work within Leg club and develop wound dressing skills
2. Supporting the clinical team
The healthcare assistant also provides support for other members of the primary healthcare team and contributes towards the coordination of the team activities.
Tasks include:
- Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment, enduring regular servicing is undertaken and documented.
- Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording
- Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation
- Clearing and re-Stocking consulting rooms
- Assist nursing team in the stock control and ordering necessary medical supplies
- Ordering and maintain the health promotion and information materials available in the practice and on display in the waiting rooms, ensuring such displays are tidy and contemporary.
- Maintaining and order stock
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 the 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 careers, 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 s 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.
Information processes:
- Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
- Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
- Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a nursing team
Desirable
- Experience of working in primary care
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Experience of working within a nursing team
Desirable
- Experience of working in primary care
Qualifications
Essential
- Qualified to NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care
Desirable
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.
