Healthcare Assistant

Job summary The Healthcare Assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provision of patient care.
This is a clinical role working under the supervision of the practice nurse and in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols.
Main duties of the job Job responsibilities may include:BP monitoring phlebotomy weight monitoring other care according to training restocking/maintenance of equipment restocking of clinical areas preparing and maintaining environments and equipment before, during and after patient care assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients' health and well-being helping to raise awareness of and promote health and well-being assisting with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and well-being any other delegated duties appropriate to the post About us Castle Medical Centre is a well-established practice looking to recruit a Healthcare Assistant to join our friendly multidisciplinary team.
We provide care to 12,500 patients in Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Job description Job responsibilities THE CASTLE MEDICAL CENTREJob Title: Healthcare AssistantMain Purpose of Post:To provide clinical and administrative support to the nursing teamResponsible To: Lead Practice Nurse; Practice ManagersMain duties and responsibilities of the post:Working under the direct supervision of the practice nurses and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the Healthcare Assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.Duties and responsibilities:New patient health checks: Ensuring accurate recording of past medical history and family history Referring patients on to appropriate professionals in the practice team Provide relevant health promotion literature for patients To run a daily phlebotomy service To carry out routine urine checks To carry out routine checks for height and weight To carry out routine blood pressure checks To carry out ECGs and report back to referring clinician To carry out simple dressings as instructed by nursing team 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 Assist clinicians in emergency management of patients Undertaking hypertension reviews Removal of sutures Approved vaccinations under PSD Responsibility for logging fridge temperatures on a daily basis To maintain adequate stock levels in all treatment and consulting rooms To co-ordinate the ordering and rotation of clinical stock To act as a chaperone when required To co-ordinate maintenance of clinical equipment and keep accurate records To assist nursing team with administrative duties To ensure all patient information is entered accurately into computer system Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reportSpecial Requirements The post holder must hold a current Care Certificate The post holder must be qualified as a phlebotomist or willing to undertake the necessary training The post holder must liaise closely with the nurses on duty Excellent communication skills Ability to work effectively in a team Ability to interact with patients and colleagues in a professional mannerConfidentialityIn 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 dataHealth & SafetyThe 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):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 the 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 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice, including provision, ordering, availability and ongoing correct usage by staff Responsible for hand hygiene across the practice Ownership of infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and implementation of those protocols across the practice 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 team / team 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 vulnerable adultsEquality and diversityThe post holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people's 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 developmentThe 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 workQualityThe 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 supervisionContribute 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 resourcesCommunication: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 accordinglyContribution 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 Person Specification Experience Desirable Experience of working in primary care Qualifications Essential Level 2 HCA qualification OR current Care Certificate Desirable Qualified in Phlebotomy Previous experience and competencies in General Practice Knowledge and skills Essential Effective verbal communication skills Accurate written communication skills Competent in use of Microsoft Windows Able to read and implement instructions Driving Essential Current UK driving licence, access to a vehicle and willingness to undertake domiciliary visits