Healthcare Assistant

Job summary:Workingunder the direct supervision of the practice nurses and strictly in accordancewith specific practice guidelines and protocols, the healthcare assistant willassist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribedprogrammes of patient care.Duties and responsibilities: Health checks Urine sampling Blood Pressures ECG recording Phlebotomy Wound care/removal of sutures Spirometry Administration of B12 Flu vaccinations Surgical equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation Preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions including assisting GPs during the performance of minor operations Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and well-being Undertaking specific clinical activities for named patients that have been delegated and taught specifically in relation to that individual Helping to raise awareness of health and well-being and how it can be promoted Assistingwith the collection and collation of data on needs related to health andwell-being PRINCIPAL DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIESHealth & safety:The post-holder will assist in promotingand maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined inthe practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safetymanual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures.This will 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 keeping them free from hazards Actively reporting health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum annually) Reporting potential risks identified Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.Production of performance and qualityinformation Toensure that documentation (electronic and paper-based) exists to supportperformance standards across the full range of performance-based activity QOF, Enhanced Services etc.
Toassist in the production of information for clinical audit.
Toundertake ad-hoc work related to the performance of the practice under theguidance of the practice manager.Data quality Towork within the clinical computer system to improve data quality, using theexpertise of other data staff where appropriate.
Equality and diversityThepost-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carersand colleagues, to include: 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 that is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.Personal/Professional developmentThepost-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by thepractice 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.This role is considered to be adevelopmental position and the jobholder will be encouraged to develop personaland business skills.
QualityThepost-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:Thepost-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication withinthe team and will: Communicate effectively with other team members.
Communicate effectively with patients and carers Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.Most instruction and communication ofactivity will be via the practice manager.External communication will be withpatients, Clinical Commissioning Groups and other NHS bodies, and other GPpractices and service providers.Contribution to the implementation ofservices:Thepost-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.
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.Notes Thisis not intended to be an exhaustive list of responsibilities, and it is expectedthat the successful applicant will participate in a wide range of activities.
Person Specification Experience Essential Experience of working within a nursing team Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients Desirable Experience of working in primary care Experience of working in a GP practice Qualifications Essential Qualified to NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care Desirable Qualified in Phlebotomy