Health Care Assistant

Job summaryWe are looking for a HCA to join our fast moving and positive Practice team based in Three Bridges, Crawley, West Sussex.The role of the HCA is to support the nursing and doctorteams in delivering patient care and maintaining a safe, effective treatmentenvironment.
Responsibilities include clinical support, patient care, infectioncontrol, stock rotation, and various routine health monitoring activities.
TheHCA contributes to quality and efficiency by adhering to established protocolsand maintaining competence in all delegated tasks.
The role strictly adheres tothe boundaries of practice defined within this job description, withsupervision sought for any tasks outside established competencies.
Main duties of the job DUTIES ANDRESPONSIBILITIESPatient CareThe HCA will undertake the following patient care duties,under the delegation and guidance of the clinical team:- Conducting new patient health checks and NHS HealthChecks.- Performing venepuncture and ensuring prompt dispatch oflaboratory specimens, including blood, urine, and swabs, adhering to designatedcollection times.blood pressure checks, includingambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24-hour).Setting up and conducting ECGs a- Measuring height and weight,Advising on generallifestyle improvements.- Providing smoking cessation advice, CHD reviews,hypertension reviews, and general health promotion.- Assisting with diabetic foot checks, performing simplewound care, suture and clip removal, and basic wound care.- Undertaking ear irrigation, suture/clip removal, INRmonitoring, peak flow recording, and wound swabs.- Administering flu, pneumonia, and B12 injections undersupervision and after adequate training.Assisting GPs with minorprocedures, including joint injections, dressing changes, IUD and Implanoninsertions, coil fittings, and other clinics.NHS Health ChecksWell Person Checks.- Conducting patient education on lifestyle improvementssuch as diet, exercise, smoking cessation, and preventative health caremeasures.Tasks involving immunisations, such as shingles,pneumococcal, and flu vaccines, will be performed under a Patient SpecificDirection with authorised supervision.
About us Bridge Medical Centre comprises 3 GP Partners, an ACP, Paramedic Practitioner and a nursing team of 6 and a vast supportive administrative team.
The Practice is part of the Crawley Care Collaborative PCN who are each members of the Alliance for Better Care Federation.Our clinicians work independently as well as part of a team collaborating with our own clinical and administrative team whilst also working closely with the Additional Roles from the PCN.
These roles comprise Clinical Pharmacists, Dieticians, First Contact Physiotherapists, Mental Health Practitioners, Care Co-ordinators and Social Prescribers.We are a sociable Practice and like to socialise and celebrate our success.
Job description Job responsibilities JOB DESCRIPTION PRACTICE NURSEThe content of this job description is designed to be inclusive of a broad range of tasks which may be performed by a Practice Nurse (PN).
Practices should take note that they should seek guidance from their medical defence organisation about the responsibilities which can be delegated to a Practice Nurse at this grade for which the defence organisation will provide cover.
The job description should then be edited accordingly and full training and assessment of competence undertaken and documented with the staff member.RESPONSIBLE TOThe Lead PN is responsible in the first instance to the Partners and Practice Manager .PURPOSE OF JOBThe purpose of the post is to provide nursing services to the patients of the practice.SCOPE OF JOBThe PN will perform tasks prescribed and delegated by the GP Partners, working unsupervised to Patient Group Directions, agreed protocols, within an evidence base and within defined competencies.The PN will assess patients and plan, implement and review treatment programmes.The PN will have shared responsibility for supervision of lower grade members of the nursing team and the delegation of duties according to training and competence.KEY RELATIONSHIPS/CONTACTSInternal:Lead Practice NursePractice Nursing Team and Healthcare AssistantsGPsDoctors in TrainingPractice Manager/Office ManagerAdministration and Reception TeamSecretarial TeamExternal:Patients, carers and relativesPractice suppliers (equipment, supplies and services)Community nursing teamPCNCCGSocial servicesThe Practice Nurse will be responsible to the Partners on clinical matters and to the Practice Manager on non-clinical matters.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESPatient careNew patient health checks and NHS health checksUrine testing/analysisBlood pressure measurement/monitoringECGHeight, weight measurementSpirometryOral glucose tolerance testingRemoval of suturesTake pathology samples from patients for analysis (blood, sputum, urine etc)Travel clinic (vaccination, medication, malaria prophylaxis and avoidance, safe sex, food hygiene, health insurance)Assessment, management and treatment of conditions within competence and as delegatedWound care/dressings/tissue viabilityUlcer care including Doppler assessmentScalds and burns managementMinor injuries (sprains, bruising, cuts etc)Management of skin disordersRoutine immunisationsPertussis immunisation for pregnant womenFlu immunisationPneumococcal immunisationVitamin B injectionsNebuliser use and careAsthma/COPD (chronic disease management)CHD (chronic disease management)Hypertension (chronic disease management)Diabetes (chronic disease management)Other chronic disease management/QOF activitiesWomens health/lifestyle advice and appropriate referralsMens health/lifestyle advice and appropriate referralsSupport and advice for patients in managing their own diseaseContraception advice, safe sex adviceMedicalsChaperoningSet up for and assist with:Minor surgery procedures including joint injectionsIUD insertion and removalImplanon insertion and removalThe PN will refer to a supervising member of the clinical team/GP if deviation from the protocol is required, if unsure in any way, or where clinical judgement is required before proceeding.Drugs will be administered only on the basis of written and signed medical authorisation.Record keeping and administrationMake accurate and contemporaneous records of all patient encounters in accordance with practice records protocols and coding protocolsAccurately label and document patient samples and submit for collection and analysis.Contribute to nursing team record keeping (clinical, administrative, Health and Safety related records).Maintain skills in using patient appointment system.Maintaining a safe clinical environmentGeneral:The Practice Nurse will be aware of and comply with the practices Health and Safety Policy.
This will include:Minimising risk to self and others in the workplace.Identifying and reporting hazards/risks and contributing to control measures.Adhering to all relevant policies including infection control and management of the cold chainContributing to keeping the working area and patient areas tidy and free from hazards.Using protective equipment and clothing provided and in accordance with the practices policy.Handling specimens and clinical waste/sharps in accordance with practice policy.Applying correctly spill control and decontamination policiesEnsuring sufficient supplies of all cleansing and infection control materials.Attending regular health and safety training.Specific:Record fridge temperatures, clean fridges, promptly report temperature variations from standard.Rotate stock according to date, maintain appropriate records and discard out of date stock in accordance with practice protocol.Prepare clinical areas between patients in accordance with infection control procedures including cleaning surfaces and equipment.Dispose of all clinical waste/sharps in accordance with practices infection control protocol.Clean/maintain all equipment in accordance with infection control and equipment maintenance policies.Take action to manage spills or decontaminate affected areas.Supplies managementCheck stock in all clinical rooms.Order replacement stock and restock clinical rooms.Order vaccines to maintain stock levels and store according to practice cold chain and storage policies.Submit monthly return to the Prescribing Pricing Authority (PPA)Maintain accurate stock records, including liaison with Practice Manager by providing order confirmations for invoice checking.Order most economic supplies available and use supplies with economy.Order and maintain stock of health information leaflets and keep displays up to date.Equipment maintenance and calibrationContribute to care and maintenance of equipment.Organise repair and regular maintenance and calibration of equipment, including equipment maintenance/checking/calibration log.QualityProvide services to the practices patient population to the highest possible standard.Work to agreed standards, monitor and maintain the standard of care offered.Take action if standards are not met (self or others).Contribute to clinical governance activities/clinical audit to ensure continual improvement of service delivery.Contribute to complaints responses/reviews, significant event, peer review and other shared learning activities.Support and mentor staff in training.Support the performance of team members including giving and receiving effective feedback.CommunicationAdvise patients of the Practice Nurse role, its extent and limits.Appropriately advise and refer on patients if they require the services of a GP or other clinical team member.Communicate effectively, promptly and appropriately with patients and team members.Modify method of communication with patients to suit the situation, recognise problems/barriers and take action or seek help at an early stage when they arise.Communicate risk to patients and ensure proper consent gained where appropriate.Contribute to practice and nursing team meetings.Personal developmentThe Practice Nurse will:Comply with NMC Code of Conduct and keep registration up to date, documented and checked in the practice on an annual basis.Participate in revalidationUndertake training needed to ensure competencies for delivering all responsibilities.Maintain awareness of current evidence-based approaches to patient care and update practice accordingly and in consultation with the teamAttend and contribute to in-house training events.Take responsibility for own development including maintenance of a Personal Development Plan and record of learning, clinical supervision, staff appraisals, giving and receiving feedback, performance .management with the support and supervision of qualified staffUndertake regular mandatory training (child protection, vulnerable adults, basic life support, moving and handling etc).ConfidentialityIn the course of their duties, the Practice Nurse will have access to confidential information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice.
They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business.
All such information from any source whatsoever will be treated as strictly confidential.Information relating to patients, their carers and relatives and colleagues within and outside the practice and in relation to the practice as a business will only be shared in accordance with the practices Confidentiality Policy, the Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act and in such a way that personal and sensitive patient-identifiable data is protectedEquality and DiversityThe Practice Nurse will comply with the practices Equality and Diversity Policy, including:Recognising the rights of patients, carers, relatives and colleagues and respecting their needs, beliefs, privacy and dignityNot discriminating against patients, carers, relatives or colleagues on the grounds of any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 (or its amendments or later legislation) Person Specification Qualifications Essential NMC Registered Practice Nurse Desirable NMC Experience of working in general Practice Experience of QOF