Job responsibilities
General Practice Assistants (GPAs sometimes known as Medical Assistants) will support the GP(s) smooth running of clinics by performing the more routine administration and clinical tasks on behalf of the GP, freeing up their time to focus on patients.
Duties
- Sorting all clinical post and prioritising for the GP in terms of actions. Signposting some post to others such as clinical pharmacist etc.
- Extracting all information from clinical letters that needs coding and adding to notes
- Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up appointments of patients
- Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
- Dipping urine, taking blood pressure, ECGs & phlebotomy
- Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of some forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage, benefits agency forms etc
- Explaining treatment procedures to patients
- Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting an on-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP can continue with their consultation(s)
- Support the GP with immunisations/wound care
Confidentiality
Whilst 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. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential.
Data Protection
You must not at any time use the personal data held by the organisation for a purpose not described in the Register entry or disclose such data to a third party. If you are in any doubt regarding what you should or should not do in connection with the Data Protection Act then you must contact your line manager or appropriate senior lead at the time
Flexibility
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive. The post-holder will be expected to adopt a flexible attitude towards the duties outlined which may be subject to amendment at any time in consultation with the post-holder and in line with the needs of the organisations in which it works. The post holder may be required to fulfil other duties, as agreed with the Partners and/or Practice Manager.
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.
Team working
- Assist in the supervision of other staff or learners where appropriate.
- Work with the PCN member practice teams to ensure delivery of services and programmes.
- Actively engage in the performance cycle to identify training and support requirements.
Equality and diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of all those around them and to include:
- Acting in a way that recognises 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, other staff 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 Richmond Training Hub is aligned to our networks and works closely with all PCNs and practices to offer comprehensive training and development opportunities to all practice and PCN staff. This includes study days, LTC modules, leadership programmes, apprenticeships and advanced clinical practice opportunities.
The post-holder will participate in any programme implemented by the PCN 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.
Some training may need to be undertaken outside of normal working hours and off site.
Quality & governance
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
- Work effectively with individuals in other organisations
- Effectively manage own time, workload and resources
- Follow all available policies and procedures
Communication
The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team
and will strive to:
- Communicate effectively with other team members
- Be familiar in all mediums of communications such as email, tasks, telephone etc
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers
- Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond
- accordingly
- Communicate effectively to outside agencies
- Communicate clearly with their lead GP
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 guidelineswill affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate