Health Care Assistant

The Roseland Surgeries is looked for a qualified health care assistant to work within our existing nursing team. LOCUM SESSIONS CONSIDERED as well as offering a fixed term or permanent position. (Please note that the salary shown is reflective of a full time position - we are seeking a part time HCA).
- Working under the direct supervision of the senior practice nurse, the post-holder will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of the patients in accordance with the policies, procedures and guidelines of the practice.
- The postholder will demonstrate flexibility, good communication skills and an ability to work as a team member.
- Postholders will have HCA experience and ideally an NVQ3 in Health and Social Care or an equivalent qualification.
- Our healthcare assistant will work alongside the clinicians at each of our three sites to improve the overall health and wellbeing of our patients.

**Duties and responsibilities**:The postholder will have experience of the following:

- Ø Phlebotomy

Ø blood pressure monitoring and basic observations (temperature/pulse/height/weight etc)

Ø ECGs

Ø Urine testing

Ø chaperoning GPs

Ø general health checks/NHS health checks

Ø clinical records keeping

Ø basic wound care

Ø clearing and re-stocking of consulting rooms

The following would be desirable, but training will be provided while in post:
Ø ear syringing

Ø provision of influenza vaccinations

Ø pre-operative checks (to include swabs, i.e. MRSA)

Ø 24 hr BP/24 hr ECG recording

Ø provision of B12 injections

Ø use of the ICE Desktop pathology system (labelling specimens for identification purposes and ensuring appropriate recording on both GP and ICE system for tracking results)

This is not an exhaustive list of expected duties. Full training and competencies will be given to ensure that the postholder has the appropriate skills to undertake the above. This list can be amended at a yearly appraisal review in keeping with service development and changing roles expected of the Healthcare Assistant.

**Confidentiality**: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**: The post-holder will implement and lead on a full range of promotion and management of 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
- 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 esc