Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Summary

To provide clinical support to the General Practitioners (GPs), Nursing and other Health Care Professionals at Croft Medical Centre.

Giving nursing care and health promotion advice according to the individual needs of the patient under the supervision of the nursing or GP team.

Key Responsibilities

Encouraging patients to exercise freedom of choice by enabling them to access information that they are able to make informed decisions.

Encouraging and assisting patients with activities of daily living to ensure optimum dignity, physical and mental comfort are met in accordance with patient wishes and beliefs.

Patient Care

Having a Good basic knowledge of patient care

Supporting individuals experiencing a change in their care requirements and provision by:

Providing information as directed or by directing questions to the appropriate member of the care team as required.

Enabling patients to receive care from other health care professionals by:

Ensuring all relevant documentation and computer records are complete and ready for the consultation in accordance with local and national policy, and as directed by the nursing or clinical staff.

Contribute to Care Planning and the Delivery of Care by:

Carrying out nursing procedures in accordance with local policy documents and as directed by the qualified staff in line with the job role and description.

Ensuring documentation is completed accurately and promptly to ensure care is recorded and essential information is available to other members of the care team.

Collection and entry of data onto electronic computer systems as required.

Contribute to the movement and handling of individuals in line with local policy and individual needs.

Assist in health education at Croft Medical Centre by encouraging patients to self care and participation in health promotion activities by:

Assist and support the multi-disciplinary care team in observing, reporting and documenting of changes in condition and reporting these to the lead clinician.

Supporting patients during group clinics and individual consultations and activities by:

Preparing patients for the activity to be undertaken

Preparing equipment and clinics for the activity

Assisting in delivery of the activity offering guidance and support to the patient as required.

Supporting other health care professionals in the delivery of patient group activities.

Preparing patient information resources/ literature to support individual and group needs

Contribute to the assessment of individual health and care needs by:

Making decisions within specified criteria under supervision of qualified health staff.

Assessing and monitoring care within specified criteria under supervision of qualified health staff.

Leading activities within specified criteria under supervision of qualified health staff.

Clinical Activities

Under the direction of a senior member of the health care team undertake delegated clinical procedures when competence has been demonstrated. Clinical procedures that may be delegated are

Dressings

Measuring and recording of weight and heights

NHS Health Checks

Mental Health Check Reviews

Collection and where appropriate test specimens of urine - urinalysis

Blood Glucose testing.

INR Monitoring

ECG

Venepuncture

24 Hour blood pressure application and removal

Assisting with minor surgery procedures

Assisting with IUCD and Implanon procedures

Removal of Sutures

Influenza, Pneumonia and Shingles Vaccinations

Chaperone duties

Vaccine cold chain storage, monitoring and stock management.

Prepare clinical offices and treatment rooms for clinical activities eg. Setting up clinics for clinical procedures or activities

Ensuring that the environment and equipment is clean in line with the activity to be carried out and local policy and procedures

Ensuring that the necessary documentation and / or materials and equipment are available

Carry out cleaning of equipment as required and in line with local and national policies and procedures.

Monitor and record equipment readings and checks in line with manufacturers and local policy guidelines. Ensuring equipment provided is safely maintained and faults reported to an appropriate person.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
• Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment.
• Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards.
• Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the practice, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers
• Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum once annually)
• Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
• Spillage control procedures, management and training
• Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
• Maintenance of sterile environments
• Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.

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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

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

Personal Development and Training

The post holder will participate in annual appraisal

Will attend mandatory and statutory training required for the post.

Will have a plan of training needs identified and agreed, and participate to enhance patient care and personal development

Check equipment and general clinical stores and ensure there are adequate supplies against agreed levels and order supplies under the direction of the senior member of staff.

Be aware of and carry out duties in accordance with policies procedures and evidence based clinical standards.

Ensure the implementation of the Data Protection Act (1998) as applied to Croft Medical Centre and observance of policy relating to maintaining patient confidentiality at all times.

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) the post holder should take all reasonable actions to ensure the health and safety of themselves, fellow staff and patients is maintained

The post holder must at all times carry out his / her responsibilities with regard for The Equality Act 2010

Support the Practice Manager and GP Partners in the planning and implementation of nursing strategies to deliver key evidence based care requirements

Work in a cooperative and supportive manner with all members of the Primary Health Care Team and surgery staff

Undertake other tasks and responsibilities as required commensurate with the job title, the post and its grading.

This job description is not exhaustive and will be subject to periodic reviews

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• Qualified to NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Croft Medical Centre

Address

Calder Walk

Sydenham

Leamington Spa

Warwickshire

CV31 1SA

Employer's website

https://croftmedical.co.uk/ (Opens in a new tab)