Job summary
Note to
all prospective candidates - the advert stipulates the location is Truro, which
is where Kernow Health CICs HQ is located. However, Staff Bank shifts can arise
at any of the GP Practices located throughout Cornwall. For the purpose of this
advert, we are inviting applications from those who wish to work in the North
and East of the county, which would include the following areas: Bodmin,
Launceston, Liskeard, Wadebridge, Looe, Fowey, Bude, Callington, Saltash, etc.
Kernow Health CIC proudly hosts the Staff Bank on behalf of
all General Practices in Cornwall, and we are looking for dedicated and
flexible Healthcare Assistants to cover short-term vacancies at GP practices as
and when required. As part of our
flexible workforce, you will help to ensure that practices have sufficient
cover to deliver their services while helping to support patients on their
health and wellbeing journey. Naturally,
this is a busy and challenging role where no two days are the same.
Working via the Staff Bank will offer you the flexibility to
travel within an agreed radius from your home address, on days that suit you,
which enables you to balance your work and home life.
Our only
expectations are that those who are registered with the Staff Bank work at
least 3 shifts within a 6-month period and keep up to date with mandatory
training which we pay you to complete.
Main duties of the job
Should you already be working for a Practice, this is an
opportunity to pick up additional hours within your current PCN or perhaps via
an alternative Practice that is looking for your expertise. You can also join
as a locum worker (self-employed) or a casual worker (zero-hours contract).
Working under the direction of the Nursing team in a GP
Practice, you will undertake a variety of tasks. This may include taking blood, treating
wounds, diabetic foot checks, urinalysis or carrying out ECGs depending on the
requirements of the practice and patients needs.
Health Care Assistants in general practice frequently work
autonomously to support the delivery of multi-disciplinary clinics. You will
hold a minimum of Level 2 in Health and Social Care together with previous experience
of working in a similar role or environment.
Training can be provided for additional competencies where appropriate. You
will be comfortable working across different GP practice settings and locations
and working with different IT systems and processes such as EMIS and/or
SystmOne.
We are looking for caring, compassionate and enthusiastic
Health Care Assistants with an interest in patient care, good communication
skills and a desire to help others.
About us
Kernow Health, a Community Interest Company, supports General Practice and delivers Primary Care Services at scale in Cornwall. Established in May 2011 by a group of Cornwall Practices, we are a GP owned provider organisation and deliver a number of NHS contracts across Cornwall, these include Cornwall 111 Integrated Urgent Care Service, School Immunisation Programme, Childrens Eating Disorder Service and Cornwall Training Hub [formally CEPN].
These contracts support the visions and values of the organisation, and also ensure that we are able to reinvest any profits made back into the company; again with the intention of supporting GP practices across Cornwall.
Kernow Health CIC is also now offering member practices support to regroup and rebuild through the new Excellence in Practice (EiP) programme.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties will vary according to the practice requirements and the individual competencies, but an outline of the duties and responsibilities which may be undertaken is provided below:
- Participates in programmes for the management of long term conditions, e.g. hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes
- Assists patients and where appropriate encourages self-care and self-management of self-limiting conditions through health promotion
- Understands and works within own scope of practice and refers to other healthcare professionals where appropriate
- Works within own competency and relevant practice policies and procedural guidelines e.g. infection control, chaperoning etc.
- Encourages and supports individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social well being
- Early symptom recognition and presentation (including case finding) by the provision of outreach services, signposting to services and self-care opportunities
- Raises awareness among the population of symptoms, services and self-care, self-management of long term conditions
- Undertakes advocacy to support patients to overcome barriers to accessing services and support them to navigate diagnostic and treatment processes where appropriate
- Undertakes liaison with patients GPs
- Represents the interests of individuals and families when they are not able to do so themselves
- Help to process data in connection with QOF recalling patients to attend clinics as and when necessary
- Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff, GPs or other members of the practice team, which may include:
- Chaperoning duties
- BP monitoring
- Health Checks
- Urinalysis as required.
- Wound care including Dopplers and compression therapy and removal of sutures/clips (depending on competency)
- Influenza vaccinations including pneumonia and shingles (depending on competency)
- Administering injections e.g. B12 under PSD (depending on competency)
- Smoking prevention as applicable (depending on competency)
- Diabetic feet (depending on competency)
- Ear Syringing (depending on competency)
- Spirometry and reversibility (depending on competency)
- Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs, Nurses
- Vaccine, cold chain storage, monitoring and recording (depending on competency)
- Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms
- Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GPs during the performance of minor operations depending on competency
- Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly as required and reporting any problems appropriately.
- Preparing medical equipment by ensuring infection and control procedures are adhered to as required.
- Carry out hypertension reviews as required.
- Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being
For more information on key duties and responsibilities please see the attached job description.
Job description
Job responsibilities
The duties will vary according to the practice requirements and the individual competencies, but an outline of the duties and responsibilities which may be undertaken is provided below:
- Participates in programmes for the management of long term conditions, e.g. hypertension, coronary heart disease, diabetes
- Assists patients and where appropriate encourages self-care and self-management of self-limiting conditions through health promotion
- Understands and works within own scope of practice and refers to other healthcare professionals where appropriate
- Works within own competency and relevant practice policies and procedural guidelines e.g. infection control, chaperoning etc.
- Encourages and supports individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social well being
- Early symptom recognition and presentation (including case finding) by the provision of outreach services, signposting to services and self-care opportunities
- Raises awareness among the population of symptoms, services and self-care, self-management of long term conditions
- Undertakes advocacy to support patients to overcome barriers to accessing services and support them to navigate diagnostic and treatment processes where appropriate
- Undertakes liaison with patients GPs
- Represents the interests of individuals and families when they are not able to do so themselves
- Help to process data in connection with QOF recalling patients to attend clinics as and when necessary
- Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care as directed by senior nursing staff, GPs or other members of the practice team, which may include:
- Chaperoning duties
- BP monitoring
- Health Checks
- Urinalysis as required.
- Wound care including Dopplers and compression therapy and removal of sutures/clips (depending on competency)
- Influenza vaccinations including pneumonia and shingles (depending on competency)
- Administering injections e.g. B12 under PSD (depending on competency)
- Smoking prevention as applicable (depending on competency)
- Diabetic feet (depending on competency)
- Ear Syringing (depending on competency)
- Spirometry and reversibility (depending on competency)
- Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs, Nurses
- Vaccine, cold chain storage, monitoring and recording (depending on competency)
- Clearing and re-stocking consulting rooms
- Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GPs during the performance of minor operations depending on competency
- Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly as required and reporting any problems appropriately.
- Preparing medical equipment by ensuring infection and control procedures are adhered to as required.
- Carry out hypertension reviews as required.
- Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being
For more information on key duties and responsibilities please see the attached job description.
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 5 GCSEs Grade 4 or above, or equivalent including English and Maths
- NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent practice experience
- Care Certificate or equivalent
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care
Additional Requirements
Essential
- A criminal record check satisfactory to the organisation.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable
- Self-directive
- Highly motivated
- Maintaining a professional attitude at all times
- Displays understanding and caring attitude
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 12 months previous experience of working as an HCA in a health setting
- Experience in a range of clinical areas for example wound care, ECG, urinalysis, spirometry, injections and diabetic foot checks
- Previous and regular experience of Phlebotomy
- Experience of preparing and processing laboratory samples
- Experience of working autonomously under direction of a Senior Nurse
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in general practice
- Knowledge and experience of computer record systems including SystmOne or Emis
- Experience of administering injections including flu vaccinations and pneumococcal vaccinations
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Ability to manage own time and workload
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to plan and organise
- Able to work under own initiative
Person Specification
Qualifications
Essential
- 5 GCSEs Grade 4 or above, or equivalent including English and Maths
- NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent practice experience
- Care Certificate or equivalent
Desirable
- NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care
Additional Requirements
Essential
- A criminal record check satisfactory to the organisation.
Personal Qualities
Essential
- Flexible and adaptable
- Self-directive
- Highly motivated
- Maintaining a professional attitude at all times
- Displays understanding and caring attitude
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 12 months previous experience of working as an HCA in a health setting
- Experience in a range of clinical areas for example wound care, ECG, urinalysis, spirometry, injections and diabetic foot checks
- Previous and regular experience of Phlebotomy
- Experience of preparing and processing laboratory samples
- Experience of working autonomously under direction of a Senior Nurse
Desirable
- Previous experience of working in general practice
- Knowledge and experience of computer record systems including SystmOne or Emis
- Experience of administering injections including flu vaccinations and pneumococcal vaccinations
Skills and Abilities
Essential
- Excellent communication skills both written and verbal
- Ability to manage own time and workload
- Ability to problem solve
- Ability to plan and organise
- Able to work under own initiative
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.
