Healthcare Assistant

Job summary

We are looking for a pro-active, dedicated and flexible Health Care Assistant to join our highly professional clinical team. Thisrole will be based at the new Lincoln Clinical Diagnostic Centre (CDC) where youwill be expected to support the nursing and administrative teams in thedelivery of clinical and administrative services.

Thisrole will be working with and supported by the Heart of Lincoln Medical GroupPrimary care multi-disciplinary team, in delivering care within their scope ofpractice to the patient population where necessary.

The Healthcare Assistantwill deliver and assist primarily in Clinical Diagnostic tests - namely,Phlebotomy, Blood pressure Monitoring or 24hr BP, ECG taking and when trainedspirometry investigations.

Main duties of the job

Thepost holder will demonstrate critical thinking with a caring,compassionate and committed attitude, a HCA who, acting within their professionalboundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient as appropriate.

Key responsibilities -primarily physiological diagnostic tests - namely, Phlebotomy, Blood pressure Monitoring or24hr BP, ECG Taking and where trained spirometry investigations.

About us

The Heart of Lincoln Medical Group (HLMG) and Lincoln Healthcare Partnership Primary Care Network (LHP PCN) are collaborating with the United Lincolnshire Hospital Trust in creating an integrated workforce for the new Lincoln Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC). The service is being further developed to extend appointments to the wider population for neighbouring PCN's delivering diagnostic services to approximately 250,000 patients.

The candidatewill be employed by Heart of Lincoln Medical Group (HLMG) who are responsiblefor the delivery of physiological diagnostic tests within the CDC on behalf of LincolnHealthcare Partnership Primary Care Network (PCN)

Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) provide a broad range of elective diagnostic services, away from the main acute hospitals, providing easier access to tests and greater convenience to patients. There are currentlyCDCs operational in Grantham and Skegness

The Lincoln CDCis the latest to become operational. Currently based on the temporary site thereare MRI and CT mobile scanning units along with the portacabin from where thephysiological diagnostic testing are carried out. The permanent building is currentlyunder construction and is due to open in November/December 2024.

Address: Lincoln Science and Innovation Park, Poplar Avenue, Lincoln LN6 7GZ

Job description

Job responsibilities

This role will be working with andsupported by the Heart of Lincoln Medical Group Primary care multi-disciplinaryteam, in delivering care within their scope of practice to the patientpopulation where necessary.

The Healthcare Assistant will deliverand assist primarily in Clinical Diagnostic tests - namely, Phlebotomy, Bloodpressure Monitoring or 24hr BP, ECG taking and when trained spirometryinvestigations. The post holder will demonstrate critical thinking with a caring,compassionate and committed attitude, a HCA who, acting within theirprofessional boundaries, will provide care for the presenting patient asappropriate. They willcommunicate and work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet theneeds of patients, supporting the delivery of policy and

Communication

Utilise and demonstrate sensitivecommunication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent totreatment

Communicate effectively with patientsand carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication toovercome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferredways of communicating

Anticipate barriers to communicationand take action to improve communication

Maintain effective communicationwithin the practice environment and with external stakeholders

Act as an advocate for patients andcolleagues

Ensure awareness of sources ofsupport and guidance ( PALS) and provide information in an acceptableformat to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring whereappropriate

Delivering a quality service

Recognise and work within owncompetence at all times

Produce accurate, contemporaneous andcomplete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policiesand procedures

Prioritise, organise and manage ownworkload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality

Deliver care according to NSF, NICEguidelines and evidence-based care

Assess effectiveness of care deliverythrough self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation

Initiate and participate in themaintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisationand its activities

In partnership with other clinicalteams, collaborate on improving the quality of health care responding to localand national policies and initiatives as appropriate

Evaluate patients response to healthcare provision and the effectiveness of care

Support and participate in sharedlearning across the practice and wider organisation

Use a structured framework (root-cause analysis) to manage, review and identify learning from patientcomplaints, clinical incidents and near-miss events

Assess the impact of policyimplementation on care delivery

Working with the management teams tomonitor and develop the service

Contribute to the appraisal of theperformance of the team, providing feedback as appropriate

Understand and apply legal issuesthat support the identification of vulnerable and abused children and adults,and be aware of statutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and localguidance

Leadership personal and peopledevelopment:

Take responsibility for own learningand Support staff development in order to maximise potential

Actively promote the workplace as alearning environment, encouraging everyone to learn from each other and fromexternal good practice

Encourage others to make realisticself-assessment of their application of knowledge and skills, challenging anycomplacency or actions that are not in the interest of the public and/or usersof services

Critically evaluate and reviewinnovations and developments that are relevant to the area of work

Enlist support and influencestakeholders and decision-makers in order to bring about new developments inthe provision of services

Contribute to the development oflocal guidelines, protocols and standards

Promote the role of the HCA in generalpractice

Team working

Understand own role and scope andidentify how this may develop over time

Work as an effective and responsibleteam member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new waysof working

Prioritise own workload and ensureeffective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of theteam

Work effectively with others toclearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery

Discuss, highlight and work with theteam to create opportunities to improve patient care

Agree plans and outcomes by which tomeasure success

Management of risk

Manage and assess risk within theareas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protectstaff and patients

Monitor work areas and practices toensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety andsecurity legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines

Apply infection-control measureswithin the practice according to local and national guidelines

Advocate for policies that reduceenvironmental health risks, are culturally sensitive and increase access tohealth care for all

Managing information

Use technology and appropriatesoftware as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring ofcare, presenting and communicating information

Review and process data usingaccurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrievalfor monitoring and audit processes

Understand responsibility of self andothers to the practice and primary care trust regarding the Freedom ofInformation Act

Learning and development

Undertake mentorship for more juniorstaff, assessing competence against set standards

Disseminate learning and informationgained to other team members in order to share good practice and inform othersabout current and future developments ( courses and conferences)

Assess own learning needs andundertake learning as appropriate

Provide an educational role topatients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitateslearning

Equality and diversity

Identify patterns of discriminationand take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality ofopportunity

Enable others to promote equality anddiversity in a non-discriminatory culture

Support people who need assistance inexercising their rights

Monitor and evaluate adherence tolocal chaperoning policies

Act as a role model in the observanceof equality and diversity good practice

Accept the rights of individuals tochoose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care

Assist patients from marginalisedgroups to access quality care

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

Clean Full Driving Licence Phlebotomy BP Reading

Desirable

Spirometry

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a Nursing Team

Desirable

Experience of working in Primary Care/GP Surgery

Personal Qualities

Essential

Highly motivated Flexibility Enthusiasm Team player Ability to work across boundaries Basic IT Skills

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