Job responsibilities
JOB
DESCRIPTION
JOB
TITLE: HEALTHCARE
ASSISTANT
REPORTS TO: Nurse
Team Lead
HOURS: Minimum 16 hours
per week (up to 36)
Job Summary
Provide
appropriate care to patients of all ages, in conjunction with other members of
the practice nurse team and medical staff
Carry out
investigations and treatments as part of evidence based care plans and in
accordance with practice policy and protocols
Maintain
a safe and effective practice at all times and bring any deficits in care to
the attention of the Nursing Lead so that they can be addressed
Participate
in team meetings in order to enhance communication and improve patient care
Working
under the supervision of the trained nurses and strictly in accordance with
specific practice guidelines and protocols, the HCA will assist the practice
clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient
care.
Mentorship
role for junior HCAs.
Clinical responsibilities:
-
Liaise
with other health professional in the practice to ensure integrated care
-
Ensure
comprehensive records of patient contacts are kept and that written and
computerised notes are kept up to date
-
Participate
in delivery of enhanced services as required ensuring that all information is
adequately captured according to agreed procedures
-
Ensure
that current evidence-based approaches to patient care are standard practice
-
Adhere to
high standards of infection control measures when collecting and handling
laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body
fluids spillages and report and treat sharps injuries
-
Undertake
diagnostic, health screening, health surveillance investigations as requested
directed by the medical team or as part of an evidence-based protocol
-
Undertake
annual training and demonstrate competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation
techniques
-
Assisting
in the assessment; surveillance and promotion of patients health and well
being
-
Ability
to self-motivate, organise and prioritise workload
Clinical duties:
-
Phlebotomy
-
Capillary
blood samples
-
ECG
recording
-
Chaperoning
duties
-
NHS
health checks
-
HCA QOF
reviews
-
Blood
pressure reviews
-
Taking of
and recording vital signs
-
Ambulatory
and home blood pressure monitoring includes organising appointments, recording
and saving the results
-
Assisting
coil fits; preparation of equipment /completion of records
-
Glucose
tolerance tests
-
Helicobacter
breath tests
-
Urinalysis
-
Ordering
supplies including drugs
-
Assisting
with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and well
being
-
Fitting
event monitor
-
Administration
of influenza vaccine, pneumovax and vitamin B12 injections
-
Dementia
screening/ memory clinic
-
Simple dressings
-
Learning
Disability health checks
-
Suture/
clip removal
Education and Training
-
To
develop their scope of professional practice in order to develop this role to
meet the service requirements in accordance with professional guidelines
-
Completion
of Care Certificate or NVQ in care; this knowledge needs to be regularly
updated
-
Update
training for influenza vaccination administration
-
Completion
of mandatory training
-
Support
the development of the nursing team and the wider practice through
participation in regular audits
-
Acknowledge
own limitations
-
Participate
in an annual appraisal
Professional responsibilities
-
Delegate
to others, with appropriate skills, knowledge and competence
-
To assist
in skill development and sharing best practice as part of initiatives to
develop the nursing team and enhance wider service provision in the practice
-
To ensure
resources are utilized cost effectively. Contribute to identifying alternative,
more cost effective resources
-
Act as a
resource to the general public, patients within the healthcare system and their
families, as well as carers.
-
Attendance
of practice nurse team and other practice meetings
-
To comply
with all Practice and OCCG protocols, procedures, guidelines and policies
-
To wear a
uniform and name badge at all times supplied by the Practice
-
Participate
in the writing of protocols relevant to their role
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.
Maintain
concise accurate records both in written and IT formats
Communication
The HCA 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
Recognise
the need for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Liaison
As well as the nursing and GP
teams, there is a need to work closely with reception and administrative staff
to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems
encountered to the relevant person and ensuring that everyone is aware of the
different roles within the nursing team
There is also a need to establish
and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and healthcare agencies, as well
as other organisations that contribute to the care of patients.
Meetings
It will be necessary to attend
and contribute to various practice meetings as requested and to cascade
information to appropriate team members as necessary, ensuring adequate lines
of communication. It is expected that the only reason for not attending will be
annual, study or sick leave.
Research
Co-operate and participate as
required in any research projects within the Practice
Changes to Jobs
All staff are expected to
undertake reasonable additional duties and responsibilities in order to meet
the evolving service needs of the Practice. Changes should be made in
consultation with staff. Variations to job descriptions can be a common
occurrence and do not in themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of
a post.
Provide cover for absent colleagues if possible.