Health Care Assistant

**CHURCH LANE MEDICAL CENTRE**
- Job Description_

**Job Specifics**

Job Title

**Health Care Assistant**

Hours per week

**22.5**

Responsible to

**ANP/Practice Manager**

**MAIN PURPOSE OF THE JOB**:
To assist the clinical team in the service and delivery of care to the practice population. The post holder will work under the supervision of the Nurse Practitioners, undertaking tasks and duties delegated by the clinical team. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of the patients, ensuring that practice policies and procedures are followed.

They will also assist the Practice Manager and Clinical Leads with duties related to CQC outcomes, ensuring that compliance is maintained.

JOB RESPONSIBLITIES:
**CLINICAL**
- Undertake new patient health checks and NHS health checks
- Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes
- Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately
- Facilitate routine and 16-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly
- Undertake wound care, dressings, stitch removal and other clinical tasks as required
- Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics
- Carry out BMI checks as directed
- Act as a chaperone as required
- Urinalysis
- Phlebotomy
- Carry out ECGs as requested
- Administer intramuscular injections including B12 and flu
- Respond appropriately in the rare event of an adverse reaction to vaccination, including maintaining skills in basic life support
- Provide support during minor procedures as required
- To carry out Diabetic foot checks, with appropriate training
- Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate
- Assist in minor surgery procedures
- To assist in spillage clearance following the Practice Infection Control & Health & Safety protocols
- Provide cover for the Nurse/HCA colleagues during annual leave and sickness leave
- Any other delegated duties appropriate to the post decided by the Partners and Practice Manager

**ADMINISTRATIVE**
- Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session
- Ensure that clinical areas and consulting rooms are kept in a clean and orderly manner with relevant equipment ready for use by clinicians
- Order supplies as directed ensuring that adequate levels of stock are available in the surgery. Maintain the ‘cold chain’ when drugs are delivered to the surgery.
- Ensure fridges are cleaned routinely in accordance with guidance
- Record the temperature of the drug refrigerators daily. Inform nursing staff of fluctuations in temperature. Monitor the stock of vaccines ensuring they are used within their expiry date and in correct sequence.
- Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the practice IPC policy
- Ensure clinical waste collection runs smoothly, reporting any problems to the Practice/Business Manager
- Maintain and clean clinical equipment according to Infection Control Policy
- Ensure specimens are labelled and bagged ready for collection with the necessary paperwork completed
- Checking anaphylaxis box and updating of all items

**COMMUNICATIONS AND RELATIONSHIPS**
- Demonstrate sensitive communications styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
- Communicate effectively with other all members of the practice team
- Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication
- Provide and receive sensitive information
- To understand and follow the requirements of confidentiality; including GDPR, Data Protection Act and the Freedom of Information Act and to refer on any queries as appropriate
- Participation in practice meetings as appropriate

**TEAM WORKING**
- Understand own role and scope in the organisation
- Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others
- Ensure clear understanding and utilisation of referral mechanisms with the practice
- Accept delegation from other members of the nursing team, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded in own practice
- Participate in team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care

**ORGANISATION/QUALITY**
- To follow practice policies, including Health & Safety, Security, Confidentiality and Information Governance
- To practice in accordance with agreed standards of care
- To ensure that own actions ae consistent with clinical governance systems and bring to the attention of senior staff any specific risk solutions
- To manage own time effectively
- To support and work towards the achievement of national standards e.g. Quality & Outcome Framework, local CCG standards and the Practice Standards
- Review, enter and process data using accurate read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring, financial and audit processes.
- To