General Practice Assistant (GPA)

Job description

Job responsibilities

A General Practice Assistant (GPA) will support GPs in the 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 the patient.

Duties:

Duties may include, and may not be limited to:

Working with the PCN leadership team to design, plan and implement the PCN vision and strategy.

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

Filtering test results based on set protocols to minimise those requiring opinions form the clinicians

Assisting the clinical staff in general to alleviate workload that can safely and appropriately be delegated to the GPA

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)

Supporting the GP with immunisations/wound care

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

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Work to practice protocols

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

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

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.

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.

General

To undertake any other duties commensurate with the role, within the bounds of his/her own competence.

Person Specification

Quality

Essential

• The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:
• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
• Work to practice protocols
• 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

Personal/Professional Development

Essential

• 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
• Attend all relevant annual updates
• Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding GPA role and any professional development needed
• Be aware of own professional boundaries and what to do when reached

Experience

Essential

• Candidates should have at least one years' experience of General Practice (such as Health Care Assistants or Receptionist role)

Communication

Essential

• 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

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

GP First Ltd

Address

Castlefields Surgery

Castle Way

Stafford

ST16 1BS

Employer's website

https://www.gpfirst.net/ (Opens in a new tab)