General Practice Health Care Assistant

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT - THIS ROLE IS BASED IN A MEDICAL SETTING (GP SURGERY) APPLICANTS WITHOUT MEDICAL HCA EXPERIENCE (PHLEBOTOMY AND COMPLEX DRESSINGS/WOUND CARE ESSENTIAL) NEED NOT APPLY

Location; Oak Tree Surgery, Clemo Road Liskeard and Pensilva Health Centre, School Road, Pensilva.

Managerially Accountable to; Practice Manager

Professionally Accountable to; Nurse Lead

Contract; Permanent

Working pattern; 27-36 hours per week (3 or 4 days 8am-6pm Monday - Friday, work pattern not yet confirmed).

Salary/Rate of pay; Competitive, negotiable depending on experience

Oak Tree Surgery and Pensilva Health Centre are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Health Care Assistant to join our friendly and dynamic team.

Background:

Our aim is to provide high quality healthcare for all. We are a large innovative practice operating from two sites situated in South East Cornwall with a great mix of rural and market town patients. We are within easy distance of the picturesque south coast and the stunning north coast with rugged moorland in between, fantastic for an outdoor lifestyle whilst still within a reasonable visiting distance of cities like Truro and Plymouth.

The Surgery:

• Fun, friendly, and highly motivated team of individuals who all work together in a welcoming and supportive environment
• We strive to be leaders in the health and wellbeing of our staff and patients
• Stable and long established large practice operating from two modern purpose built buildings (both dispensing sites)
• 17,100 patient list size
• Clinical team consists of GPs and trainees, Large ANP team, Nursing Team, Physiotherapists, Social Prescriber, Clinical Pharmacists
• Excellent IT support systems
• In house Dispensary and Pharmacy staffed by a Superintendent Pharmacist
• Teaching and Training Practice
• Remote triage practice using the latest technology to deliver virtual consultations
• In house dedicated clinical research unit receiving the top level of funding available
• EMIS Web clinical system

POST SPECIFICATION:

Academic/Vocational Qualifications:

Essential; Good General Education, Qualified in Phlebotomy, Complex dressings/advanced wound care training

Desirable; Qualified to NVQ level 3

Experience:

Essential; Experience within a health care setting (GP or Secondary Care)

Desirable; Experience in GP Practice

Knowledge/Skills:

Essential; ability to provide quality care, good interpersonal and communication skills, good organisational skills, good team working skills, effective time management skills, ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions, adaptable to change, computer literate, phlebotomy and complex dressings/advanced wound care; basic IT Skills

Desirable; ,knowledge in EMIS and ICE clinical systems, ECGs, blood pressures, basic first aid knowledge, health and safety awareness, awareness of blood borne viruses

Qualities/Attributes:

Essential; an understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality, able to work on own initiative, able to work under pressure and remain calm, flexible and adaptable, aware of own limitations, keen to develop

JOB DESCRIPTION

Purpose; To assist the GPs and practice nurse team in the service and delivery of the care management of the practice population. Responsible to - Nurse Lead, Practice Manager and, ultimately, the GP Partners.

Job summary; The post holder works under indirect supervision of the practice nurse team leader and undertakes task and duties delegated by the practice nurse team leader or a suitably qualified regulated professional. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients, following policy and procedures while providing supervision to more junior staff.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Communication

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication

Personal and People Development:

• Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance, including participating in supervision
• Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development
• Work with management on any new training requirements
• To recognise and understand the roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the primary health care team
• Be aware of the legal issues pertinent to the role of a HCA

Health, Safety and Security

• Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks

• Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting of any potential risks identified, including:

• hand washing

• universal hygiene procedures

• collection and handling of laboratory specimens

• segregation and disposal of waste materials

• decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment

• reporting and treatment of sharps injuries

• dealing with blood and body fluid spillages

• Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures

• Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain

• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility
• Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures and statutory local guidance and referral criteria
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility
• Use the computer monitor safely
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health

Service Improvement

• Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit
• Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives
• Deal with requests from patients and clinical staff for health information leaflets

Quality

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
• Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team
• Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation
• Know the practice's policies, especially the whistle-blowing policy, available in the practice staff handbook
• Be able to manage your own time effectively

Equality and Diversity

• Act in ways that recognise the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with procedures
• Respect the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients and carers
• Understand basic legal and communication issues regarding child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse and addictive behavior
• Act as a chaperone

Clinical Skills – Health and Well-Being

• Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training:
• Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratories

• Measuring and recording following physiological measurements in routine presentations, and for pre medical checks:

• Blood Pressure

• Pulse Rate And Rhythm

• Temperature

• Height And Weight - Body Mass Index

• Assisting with minor Ops

• Venepuncture

• Ecg

• New patient checks

• Ambulatory Monitors

• Complex Dressings

• B12 Injections

• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations

• Frailty Reports

• Health Checks

• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions

• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence

Information Processes

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate
• Maintain confidentiality or information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information

Job Type: Permanent

Benefits:

• Company events
• Company pension
• Cycle to work scheme
• Free flu jabs
• Free parking
• On-site parking
• Sick pay

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Liskeard PL14 3XA: reliably commute or plan to relocate before starting work (required)

Application question(s):

• Do you have complex dressing/advanced wound care skills?

Experience:

• Phlebotomy: 1 year (required)

Work Location: In person

Application deadline: 28/11/2025