Job responsibilities
Communication:
The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating.
Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.
Maintain effective communication within the practice environment and with external stakeholders.
Ensure respect and dignity for patients at all times.
Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.
Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.
Communicate effectively with other colleagues and external healthcare providers in pursuance of continuity and safe delivery of patient care.
Delivering a quality service:
Recognise and work within own competence and professional code of conduct as regulated by the NMC.
Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
Deliver care according to NICE and other local guidelines as well as evidence-based care.
Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities.
Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self, the team, and the experience of patients implementing improvements where required.
In partnership with other clinical teams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to local and national policies and initiatives as appropriate.
Professional & personal development:
The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
Maintain continued education and learning by attending all mandatory training and other events as deemed necessary by the Practice.
Participate in the annual performance review (appraisal), including taking responsibility for maintaining record of own personal and/or professional development for revalidation purposes.
Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time.
Take responsibility for own learning and performance acting as a positive role model.
Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within work.
Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principles of safe practice and assessment of competence.
Be responsible for ensuring own clinical practice complies with Data Protection/Confidentiality/ Caldicott principles.
Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments that are relevant to the area of practice.
Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure quality of own work.
Actively promote diversity, including race diversity, both in the delivery of the Practices services and in the management and development of staff within the clinical area. Generate and sustain relationships that promote dignity, rights and responsibilities. Identify and take action to address discrimination and oppression.
Team working:
Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice.
Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services.
Enlist support and influence stakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of services
Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols and standards.
Support and assess learners in practice as relevant.
Infection prevention:
Follow consistently high standards of infection prevention practice, especially with reference to hand decontamination.
Be aware of and follow all Practice infection prevention guidelines and procedures relevant to the work.
It is the responsibility of all staff, whether clinical or non-clinical, to familiarise themselves with and adhere to current policy in relation to the prevention of the spread of infection.
Clinical staff, on entering and leaving clinical areas and between contacts with patients, must apply alcohol gel to their hands and also wash their hands frequently with soap and water. Staff are required to communicate any infection risks to the Infection Control lead.
Research projects & clinical audits:
Co-operate and participate as required in any research projects and clinical audits within the Practice.
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 will have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, 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 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, 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
- Monthly training sessions as necessary
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
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 guidelines will affect own work
Participate in audit where appropriate
