Job summary
Job Title: PCN General
Practice Assistant
Accountable
to: Marriotts Medical
Practices and Norfolk Primary Care
Place of Work: Taverham Surgery, Sandy Lane,
Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6JR and Bacon Road Medical Centre, 16 Bacon Road,
Norwich, NR2 3QX
Principle Liaisons: Marriotts Medical Practices Practice
Manager and NPC PCN Manager
Salary Range: £12.34 per hour (£24,129.17
based on full time of 37.5hrs per week)
Main duties of the job
Job Purpose
General
Practice Assistants (GPAs), support the smooth running of clinics by performing
more routine administration and tasks on behalf of the GP, freeing up their
time to focus on the patient.
This role
will be supported and trained in-practice, with on-job training and development
led by the practice teams and GPs, in line with the role outline and national
competency framework.
Trainee GPAs
may also complete HEEs accreditation programme, aligned to the competency
framework, equipping them with formal certification of their learning. These
staff are supported by a structured development programme (managed by HEE) and
gain formal certification after around nine months.
About us
Norfolk Primary Care Ltd is a Community Interest Company. It is established to:
Support and strengthen primary care and to promote and assist practices to improve quality by working with and on behalf of primary care in Norfolk.
Help with challenges identified by practices workload, GP recruitment, sharing best practice.
Recognise the changing nature of primary care and assist to ensure that the right level of service is provided to address the needs of the local population.
Provide benefit to patients of primary care, the clinicians and administrators who work in it and practice organisations in Norfolk.
Work within health systems to provide patient care in innovative and solution-focussed ways.
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
GPAs are expected to deliver a combination of the following
requirements based on their level of skills and experience:
- Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up
appointments of patients.
- Completing simple clinical observations /investigations as
directed locally, such as dipstick urine, taking blood pressure, ECG,
phlebotomy.
- Supporting the GP with immunisations/wound care.
- Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a
brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
- 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.
- 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).
- Sorting clinical post and prioritising for the GP.
Signposting some post to other members of staff.
- Extracting information from clinical letters that needs
coding; adding this to patient notes. Supporting with QOF reviews.
- Summarising patient medical records into the clinical
system, ensuring key clinical information is accurately coded and accessible.
Further Requirements
GPAs should also:
Communication
- 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 organisational
environment and with external stakeholders
- Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
- Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg
PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients,
recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate
Delivering a Quality Service
- Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner
that maintains and promotes quality
- Participate in quality assurance and safety processes across
the organisation and its activities
- Participate in shared learning across NNPC and the wider
organisational environment
- Use a structured framework (e.g. root-cause analysis) to
manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical
incidents and near-miss events
- Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
- Understand and apply legal issues that support the
identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of
statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance
Leadership Personal and People Development
- Take responsibility for own learning and performance
including participating in coaching/supervision and acting as a positive role
mode
- Support staff development in order to maximise potential
- 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
- Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments
that are relevant to the area of work
- Enlist support and influence stakeholders and
decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of
services
- Contribute to planning and implementing changes within the
area of care and responsibility
- Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols
and standards
Team Working
- Understand own role and scope and identify how this may
develop over time
- 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
- Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
- Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management
strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
- Work effectively with others to clearly define values,
direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
- Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create
opportunities to improve patient care
- Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified
services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
- Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success
Management of Risk
- Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility,
ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
- Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and
free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation,
policies, procedures and guidelines
- Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and
disposal of vaccines and drugs.
- Participate in mandatory and statutory training requirements
- Apply infection-control measures within the practice
according to local and national guidelines
- Interpret national strategies and policies into local
implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general
practice
Managing Information
- Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to
management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and
communicating information
- Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order
to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit
processes
- Manage information searches using the internet and local
library databases
- Monitor and confirm that the nursing team are receiving and
processing data and information in an agreed format
- Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information
to the team
Learning and Development
- Undertake mentorship for team members
- Disseminate learning and information gained to other team
members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and
future developments (eg courses and conferences)
- Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as
appropriate
- Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families
and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning
Equality and Diversity
- Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to
overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
- Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a
non-discriminatory culture
- Support people who need assistance in exercising their
rights
- Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
- Act as a role model in the observance of equality and
diversity good practice
- Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care
providers, participate in care and refuse care
- Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality
care
Job description
Job responsibilities
Key Responsibilities
GPAs are expected to deliver a combination of the following
requirements based on their level of skills and experience:
- Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow up
appointments of patients.
- Completing simple clinical observations /investigations as
directed locally, such as dipstick urine, taking blood pressure, ECG,
phlebotomy.
- Supporting the GP with immunisations/wound care.
- Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking a
brief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
- 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.
- 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).
- Sorting clinical post and prioritising for the GP.
Signposting some post to other members of staff.
- Extracting information from clinical letters that needs
coding; adding this to patient notes. Supporting with QOF reviews.
- Summarising patient medical records into the clinical
system, ensuring key clinical information is accurately coded and accessible.
Further Requirements
GPAs should also:
Communication
- 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 organisational
environment and with external stakeholders
- Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
- Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg
PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients,
recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate
Delivering a Quality Service
- Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner
that maintains and promotes quality
- Participate in quality assurance and safety processes across
the organisation and its activities
- Participate in shared learning across NNPC and the wider
organisational environment
- Use a structured framework (e.g. root-cause analysis) to
manage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinical
incidents and near-miss events
- Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
- Understand and apply legal issues that support the
identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware of
statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance
Leadership Personal and People Development
- Take responsibility for own learning and performance
including participating in coaching/supervision and acting as a positive role
mode
- Support staff development in order to maximise potential
- 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
- Critically evaluate and review innovations and developments
that are relevant to the area of work
- Enlist support and influence stakeholders and
decision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision of
services
- Contribute to planning and implementing changes within the
area of care and responsibility
- Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocols
and standards
Team Working
- Understand own role and scope and identify how this may
develop over time
- 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
- Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
- Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management
strategies are embedded within the culture of the team
- Work effectively with others to clearly define values,
direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
- Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create
opportunities to improve patient care
- Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified
services or projects as agreed with the practice management team
- Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success
Management of Risk
- Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility,
ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
- Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and
free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation,
policies, procedures and guidelines
- Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation and
disposal of vaccines and drugs.
- Participate in mandatory and statutory training requirements
- Apply infection-control measures within the practice
according to local and national guidelines
- Interpret national strategies and policies into local
implementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of general
practice
Managing Information
- Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to
management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and
communicating information
- Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order
to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit
processes
- Manage information searches using the internet and local
library databases
- Monitor and confirm that the nursing team are receiving and
processing data and information in an agreed format
- Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information
to the team
Learning and Development
- Undertake mentorship for team members
- Disseminate learning and information gained to other team
members in order to share good practice and inform others about current and
future developments (eg courses and conferences)
- Assess own learning needs and undertake learning as
appropriate
- Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families
and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning
Equality and Diversity
- Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to
overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
- Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a
non-discriminatory culture
- Support people who need assistance in exercising their
rights
- Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
- Act as a role model in the observance of equality and
diversity good practice
- Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care
providers, participate in care and refuse care
- Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality
care
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience of working with healthcare professionals and or previous experience in the NHS or social care or relevant field.
- An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice. An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing.
- Experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
Desirable
- In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare.
- An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual providers, PCNs and commissioners.
- Understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and service.
Qualifications
Essential
- High level of verbal, written and numerical literacy.
- Self-development through continuous professional development activity.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
- Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians.
- Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
- Good IT skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
Desirable
Person Specification
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 2 years experience of working with healthcare professionals and or previous experience in the NHS or social care or relevant field.
- An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice. An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing.
- Experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
Desirable
- In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare.
- An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual providers, PCNs and commissioners.
- Understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and service.
Qualifications
Essential
- High level of verbal, written and numerical literacy.
- Self-development through continuous professional development activity.
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
- Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
- Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians.
- Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
- Good IT skills.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality.
- Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
Desirable
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.
