Job summary
:
Working under the direct supervision of the Lead Practice Nurse and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the healthcare assistant (HCA) will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.
Duties and responsibilities:
New patient health checks
ECG recording
Phlebotomy
Chaperoning duties
Processing and management of laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses
Vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring and recording
Equipment and vaccine re-stocking and stock rotation
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
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
Assisting with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and well-being
Confidentiality
1. 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
2. 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
3. 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
The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management their own and others health and safety and infection control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):
4. Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
5. Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
6. Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
7. Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice, including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff
8. Responsible for hand hygiene across the practice
9. Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols across the practice
10. 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
11. Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks across clinical and patient process
12. 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
13. 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.
14. Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
15. 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
16. Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
17. 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
18. Undertaking periodic infection control training (minimum twice annually)
19. Routine management of own team / team areas, and maintenance of work space standards
20. Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
21. Spillage control procedures, management and training
22. Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance
23. Maintenance of sterile environments
24. Demonstrate due regard for safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children.
Equality and diversity
The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
25. 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
26. Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues
27. 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:
28. Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
29. 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:
30. Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk
31. Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision
32. 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
33. Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
34. 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:
35. Communicate effectively with other team members
36. Communicate effectively with patients and carers
37. Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly
Contribution to the Implementation of Services:
The post-holder will:
38. Apply practice policies, standards and guidance
39. Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work
40. Participate in audit where appropriate
41. Be required to travel between Newport Health Centre Surgery Sites to carry out the duties of the role
Please note: Newport Health Centre reserves the right to amend this Job Description at any time, as reasonably required to meet the Healthcare Needs of our Registered Patients.
Person Specification
Personal Attributes and Qualities
Essential
42. Ability to listen, empathise with people and provide person centred support in a non-judgemental way
43. Able to get along with people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity
44. Adaptable to change
45. Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people in all communities
46. Able to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential
47. Able to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, community groups, partner agencies and stakeholders.
48. Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals
49. Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues
50. Demonstrates personal accountability, emotional resilience and works well under pressure
51. Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines
52. High level of written and oral communication skills
53. Ability to work flexibly within a team or on own initiative
Desirable
54. Full UK Driving license and own transport
Qualifications
Desirable
55. NVQ Level 2 in Health and Social Care or equivalent
56. Phlebotomy accredited
57. Immunisation and Vaccination accredited
Experience
Essential
58. Experience of working directly in a healthcare assistant role, adult health and social care, learning support or public health/health improvement (including unpaid work)
59. Health and Safety Awareness
60. Basic first aid knowledge
Desirable
61. Experience working within a GP Practice
62. Demonstrates an understanding of Clinical Governance skill
63. Basic knowledge about Blood Borne Diseases
Skills & Knowledge
Essential
64. Great communication skills
65. Customer Service skills/ Patient focussed
66. Ability to work as part of a team
67. Computer skills
68. Organisational skills
69. Effective time management skills
70. Confident around other Health Professionals
71. Great communication skills
72. Knowledge of IT systems, including ability to use word processing skills, emails and the internet to create simple plans and reports