Diagnosing and treating patients Triage and treat patients wishing to see a health care professional, making any necessary referrals to other members of the primary health care team Ensure clinical practice is safe and effective and remains within boundaries of competence, and to acknowledge limitations. Advise patients on general health care and minor ailments, with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary Providing assessment, screening treatment services and health education: Comprehensive clinical history-taking including telephone consultation Physical assessment including: chest auscultation, abdominal examination etc Dietary advice Blood pressure checks Urinalysis Health screening Contraception Minor injuries/illness Long Term Conditions Delegation of duties to other members of the practice team as appropriate Provide general and specific health screenings to the practice patients (within agreed protocols) with referral to other members of the primary and secondary health care team as necessary Pathological specimens and investigatory procedures Arrange the collection of pathological specimens including intravenous blood samples, swabs etc. Perform investigatory procedures as required. Review results of any pathological investigations requested Administration and professional responsibilities Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team Provide leadership and administrative support to nursing team. Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients notes Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date, with accurate details recorded and amended Ensure appropriate items of service claims are made accurately, reporting any problems to the practice administrator Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports and audit Attend and participate in practice meetings as required Training and personal development Training requirements will be monitored by yearly appraisal and will be in accordance with practice requirements (Completion of PG Dip/MSc pathway). Personal development will be encouraged and supported by the practice. It is the individuals responsibility to remain up to date with recent developments. Participate in the education and training of students of all disciplines and the introduction of all members of the practice staff where appropriate Maintain continued education by attendance at courses and study days as deemed useful or necessary for professional development, ensuring Revalidation requirements are met. If it is necessary to expand the role to include additional responsibilities, full training will be given. Develop and maintain a Personal Learning Plan As well as the nursing/clinical team, there is a need to work closely with reception, office staff to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring everyone is aware of the different roles within the nursing team. There is also the need to establish and maintain good liaison with other agencies, including secondary care It will be necessary to attend and contribute to various practice meetings as requested. The only reason for not attending will be annual, study or sick leave. Supervise, co-ordinate and guide the wider nursing / clinical team To provide leadership to the clinical team in participation with the Director of Quality & Governance, ensuring relevant information is disseminated to and from the clinical team Ensure agreed practice audits are carried out Ensure the Director of Quality & Governance is aware of any matters arising or problems / potential problems 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 Health & safety: Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines Responsible for correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements Management and maintenance of own Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Active observation of current working practices across the practice in relation to infection control, cleanliness and related activities, ensuring that procedures are followed and weaknesses / training needs are identified, escalating issues as appropriate Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills, and initiate and manage the training of others across the full range of infection control and patient processes Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand-cleansing facilities, wipes etc. are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate. Safe management of sharps procedures, including training, use, storage and disposal Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business, and assuming responsibility in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness across the business in consultation (where appropriate) with other sector managers Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually) Routine management of own clinical areas, and maintenance of work space standards Waste management, including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection Spillage control procedures, management and training Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance Maintenance of sterile environments Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and adults. Equality and diversity: 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 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 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