Job responsibilities
In accordance with the practice timetable, as
agreed, the post-holder will make themselves available to undertake a variety
of duties and responsibilities typical of working in Primary Care. Making
professional, autonomous decisions in relation to presenting problems, whether
-self referred or referred from other health care workers within the
organisation. Assessing the healthcare needs of patients with undifferentiated
and undiagnosed problems. Screening patients for disease risk factors and early
signs of illness Developing care plans for health in consultation with patients
and in line with current practice disease protocols. Providing counselling and
health education. Admitting or discharging patients to and from the caseload
and referring to other care providers as appropriate. Recording clear and
contemporaneous consultation notes to agreed standards. Collecting data for
audit purposes. Compiling and issuing computer-generated acute and repeat
prescriptions (avoiding handwritten prescriptions whenever possible). Other
responsibilities within the organisation Awareness of and compliance with all
relevant practice policies / guidelines, e.g., prescribing, confidentiality,
data protection, health and safety. A commitment to life-long learning and
audit to ensure evidence based best practice. Contributing to evaluation /
audit and clinical standard setting within the organisation. Contributing to
the development of computer-based patient records. Contributing to the
summarising of patient records and Read-coding patient data. Attending training
and events organised by the practice or other agencies where appropriate.
Personal / Professional development In addition to maintaining continued
education through attendance at any courses and/or study days necessary to
ensure that professional development requirements for PREP are met, the
post-holder will participate in any training programmes implemented by the
practice as part of this employment, such training to include; Participation in
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 team
activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's
performance. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet
patients' needs. Effectively manage own time, workload, and resources.
Communication The 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. Recognise
people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond
accordingly. Contribution to the implementation of services The post-holder
will: Apply practice policies, stands and guidance. Discuss with other members
of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
Participate in audit where appropriate. 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 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 and safety policy, the practice
health and safety manual, and the practice infection control policy and
published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to): Ensuring
a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as
appropriate to the responsible manager. Safe management of sharps use, storage
and disposal. Maintenance of own clean working environment. Using appropriate
infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and
sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective
action where needed or escalation to responsible management. Actively
identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and
infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general
/ patient areas clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in
relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility
in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in
consultation (where appropriate) with responsible managers. Undertaking
periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually). Correct waste and
instrument management including handling, segregation, and container use.
Maintenance of sterile environments. 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 recognises the importance of
people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with the
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
