Health Care Assistant

Job summary

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join Moorlands Surgery as a Health Care Assistant, working as part of our multi-disciplinary team. If you are a dynamic Health Care Assistant, interested in developing a career in primary care then we would love to hear from you

The successful candidate will be part of the primary health care team providing high quality and forward thinking nursing care to meet the holistic healthcare needs of the practice population.

This role will provide the right candidate with a brilliant opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills.

Main duties of the job

To be part of the primary healthcare team providing high quality and forward thinking nursing care to meet the holistic healthcare needs of the practice population.

To assist the GPs / Nurse Practitioners / Practice Nurses and members of the Multi-disciplinary Team, to deliver high quality, practice based healthcare.

To work to agreed practice standards and protocols.

This includes the general organisation of the clinical area and associated clinical, administration and general duties, which ensure an efficient service to the patient and the Practice at all times.

About us

Are you looking to join a dynamic group of progressive and proactive individuals to support meaningful progression and health outcomes? If so, then Moorlands Surgery is the next step for you.

Moorlands Surgery provides support and care for over 13500 patients within Darlington. Our list is open all year round and we welcome new patients living in the area.

Our last CQC Inspection achieved a 'Good' rating with an 'Outstanding' for leadership.

The Partners at Moorlands Surgery remain committed to the ethos of continuous improvement across all areas, reflected by the development of services to improve patient care achieved by investment in our staff and systems

Job description

Job responsibilities

Clinical

The Health Care Assistant works under indirect supervision of the Nurse Team Manager and is accountable to her for her actions in undertaking delegated work. This is guided by standard operating procedures and requires the Health Care Assistant to use a degree of initiative. The Health Care Assistant also provides support for other members of the primary healthcare team and contributes towards the co-ordination of team activities.

Duties will involve (this is not an exhaustive list);

To perform height, weight, body mass index and blood pressure measurements. Urine tests (excluding pregnancy tests), phlebotomy, capillary blood glucose tests; glucose tolerance tests; assisting in minor surgery; supporting patients who are anxious or distressed; diabetic foot checks; hypertension reviews recording the obtained information accurately in the patient records and reporting abnormal findings accordingly to the Nurse Team Manager or GP.

To administer B12 injections and Flu Vaccines as per Practice guidelines.

To participate in programmes for the management of long-term conditions basic annual diabetic review, coronary heart disease, asthma and other relevant clinics.

To chaperone patients as required.

Performs duties with sensitivity to individual patient needs taking account of cultural background, language requirements, disability etc.

Assist patients and, where appropriate, encourage self-care and self-management of self-limiting conditions through health care promotion.

Encourage and support individuals, families and groups to address issues which affect their health and social well-being.

Represent the interests of individuals and families when they are not able to do so themselves.

Develop and maintain the health promotion material within the Practice, including displays for the Waiting Room.

Obtain specimens as required and store them in the appropriate place for collection, document all relevant information as required.

Work within all relevant Practice policies and procedural guidelines Infection Control and Chaperoning.

Organise and circulate patient leaflets within the Practice and to patients

Team / Organisational (this is not an exhaustive list):

Ensure that the clinical areas are clean and tidy at all times and take responsibility for the ongoing hygiene of all Consulting Rooms including the cleaning of spilt body fluids in accordance with the Practices Infection Control Policy.

To ensure that equipment is regularly checked and tested according to the manufacturers guidelines.

Check and record fridge temperatures daily reporting any discrepancy to the Nurse Team Manager.

Check vaccine stock levels and expiry dates.

To ensure vaccines are received, signed for, stored and rotated correctly, maintaining cold chain at all times.

Replace depleted forms and stock in the Consulting Rooms.

Check expiry dates of emergency drugs in pack and cupboard weekly and restock as necessary.

Participate actively to multi-disciplinary Practice Meetings as requested giving information as required.

Contribute to the development, monitoring and evaluation of care delivery by the primary healthcare team.

Promote effective communication and relationships within the team.

Work collaboratively as a team member to achieve the objectives of QOF and aspirations of the team.

Partake in clinical supervision for own development.

Develops own knowledge and practice to meet objectives / changes in service.

Make effective use of IT system by ensuring consistent and accurate entering of data and use of Read codes.

Professional / Management (this is not an exhaustive list):

To be aware of the Infection Control Policy within the Practice, and ensure that clinical waste is disposed of correctly, sharps bins are not overfilled and to be aware of the Spills Policy. To dispose of all out of date material promptly and appropriately.

To work according to the Practices and other agencies child protection and adult protection guidelines at all times.

To work with the Nurse Team Manager to develop an annual personal / professional development plan, undertaking training relevant to the post.

To ensure that there are no breaches of confidentiality as a result of your actions.

Make recommendations to raise standards of practice and service delivery.

Contribute to the Practices or Teams audit and research activities as required.

Effort (this is not an exhaustive list):

The job involves coping with frequent exposure to unpleasant working conditions on a regular (daily) basis bodily fluids including sputum, vomit, urine and occasional exposure to verbal and physical aggression.

The job involves frequent use of computers.

Terms and Conditions

All terms will be agreed by the Practice and may be amended from time to time.

Communications and Working Relationships

The post holder should recognise the importance of effective communication and be able to communicate with other team members, clinical staff, patients and carers and be able to recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication.

The post holder is responsible for maintaining excellent working relationships and should offer guidance and assistance where required to inexperienced members of staff.

Health & Safety

It is the responsibility of the individual to work in compliance with all current Health and Safety legislation and the Practice Health and Safety Policy and to attend any training requirements both statutory and mandatory in line with the Practices legal responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

Infection Control

It is the responsibility of all individuals to comply with infection control policies and to attend any appropriate training requirements in line with the Practices responsibility to comply with Government Directives.

Data Security

Staff have a legal duty of confidence to patients. Breaching patient confidence can be a serious disciplinary offence.

As an employee the post holder is required to preserve the confidentiality of any information regarding patients, staff (in connection with their employment), and the business. This obligation shall continue indefinitely.

Any breach of these requirements will be treated as a serious disciplinary offence which could lead to dismissal and civil action for damages.

Person Specification

Practical & Intellectual Skills

Essential

Demonstrates self-awareness, strengths and weaknesses, personal qualities and skills Able to communicate routine information that requires tact and persuasive skills, or where there may be barriers to understanding Standard keyboard skills

Disposition / Personal

Essential

Demonstrates motivation, reliability and commitment to team working and the development of others Flexibility, commitment and adaptability Demonstrates an ability to value the opinion of others

Qualifications

Essential

General education ( GCSEs) to Grade C or above NVQ trained to Level 2 and willing to work towards Level 3 Willingness to undergo education/training for both practice and service needs Willingness to work towards professional and performance objectives

Informed Judgement

Essential

Able to organise own time and workload and cope with occasional last-minute changes

---