Healthcare Assistant

Job summary

Are you passionate about making a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry while being part of a supportive and collaborative team? Mount Pleasant Health Centre is seeking a dedicated and compassionate Healthcare Assistant to join our nursing team on a part-time basis, working hours per week across Monday, Thursday, and Friday. In this role, you will collaborate closely with our experienced practice nurses and a multidisciplinary team (MDT) to provide high-quality care to our this pivotal role, you will assist with a variety of clinical duties, contribute to the efficient operation of daily practice activities, and play a key role in delivering outstanding patient care. Your responsibilities will include supporting practice nurses, managing patient interactions, and helping ensure that all aspects of the practice run smoothly. We pride ourselves on providing a supportive and nurturing work environment where continuous learning and professional development are highly valued. This role offers an excellent opportunity for individuals looking to advance their careers in healthcare while working in a collaborative and dedicated team setting. If you are a compassionate, proactive individual with a genuine passion for improving patient outcomes and making a positive impact, we invite you to apply and become a valued member of our team, committed to delivering exceptional care and support to our patients.

Main duties of the job

As a Healthcare Assistant, your primary responsibility will be to assist in patient care and perform practice-related duties under the guidance and supervision of a registered healthcare professional. You will work closely with the general practice team, ensuring that patient needs are met effectively and efficiently while adhering to established policies and procedures. Your role will involve supporting various aspects of patient care, including managing clinical tasks, facilitating smooth practice operations, and contributing to a positive patient experience. This role offers the opportunity to collaborate with a dedicated team in a supportive environment that values your contributions and promotes professional development.

About us

Mount Pleasant Health Centre is one of thelargest training practices in Exeter, serving over 17,000 patients in apurpose-built premises. We are a SystmOne Practice. We pride ourselves onbeing a friendly and caring place to work, with an open-door policy and dailyteam meetings where there is no such thing as a stupid question. As aresult, the majority of our GP team is made up of doctors who were oncetrainees at the practice and enjoyed it so much they decided to stay.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Theduties and responsibilities to be undertaken by Health Care Assistant mayinclude any or all of the items in the following list:

Annual Health Checks for patients

Measuring and recording: Bloodpressure, pulse rate, height and weight, body mass index, temperature etc.

Act as a chaperone as and when required.

Wound care/dressings within sphereof competence.

Vaccine/cold chain storage,monitoring and recording.

Preparing and maintainingenvironments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions.

Assisting in the assessment andsurveillance of patients health and well-being.

Ensure consultation rooms areclean and well stocked.

Checking calibration and cleaningof equipment.

Give accurate and appropriateinformation to patients and groups within own competence.

Remove sutures and clips.

Flu, Pneumonia and COVID-19 injections (training provided if necessary).

Support the Practice Nurse withmanagement of chronic disease clinics.

Processing and management oflaboratory samples requested by GPs/Nurses.

Vaccine/cold chain storage,monitoring and recording.

Ensure clinical waste is removedfrom clinical areas and left at collection point in accordance with practicepolicies.

Helping to raise awareness ofhealth and well-being and how it can be promoted.

Assisting with the collection andcollation of data on needs related to health and well-being.

BP monitoring.

Urinalysis as required.

Wound care andcompression therapy and removal of sutures/clips.

Smoking prevention as applicable.

Ear Syringing.

Confidentiality

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, orallow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and othermatters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff willrespect 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 topatients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. Theymay also have access to information relating to the practice as a businessorganisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded asstrictly confidential.

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues, otherhealthcare workers or the business of the practice may only be divulged toauthorised persons in accordance with the practice policies and proceduresrelating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their ownand others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health &Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systemswithin the workplace according to practice guidelines.

Identifying the risks involved inwork activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages thoserisks.

Making effective use of trainingto update knowledge and skills.

Using appropriate infectioncontrol procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free fromhazards.

Reporting potential risksidentified.

Equality and Diversity

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights ofpatients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Acting in a way that recognisesthe importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that isconsistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity,needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behaving in a manner which iswelcoming, non-judgmental.

Personal/Professional Development

The post-holder will participate in any training programmeimplemented by the practice as part of this employment, such training toinclude:

Completing all mandatory trainingon eLearning/Bluestream, ensuring that it is always up to date.

Participation in an annualindividual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaininga record of own personal and/or professional development.

Taking responsibility for owndevelopment, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activitiesto others who are undertaking similar work.

Quality

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within thepractice, and will:

Alert other team members to issuesof quality and risk.

Assess own performance and takeaccountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision.

Contribute to the effectiveness ofthe team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions onways to improve and enhance the teams performance.

Work effectively with otherprofessionals / teams to meet patients needs.

Effectively manage own time,workload and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effectivecommunication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with otherteam members.

Communicate effectively withpatients and carers in a positive friendly manner.

Recognise peoples needs foralternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Person Specification

Experience

Essential

1 Year Experience in General Practice. Experience of dealing with patients whose circumstances may make them vulnerable. Experience in delivering quality outcomes of people's care and treatment, especially among older people; people living with long-term or chronic conditions, including people living with a Learning Disability, people in the last 12 months of life and people experiencing poor mental health. Knowledge and understanding of current national developments and trends in health care, quality assurance and practice development. Computer literate. Effective time management skills. Excellent communication skills.

Desirable

Experience of SystmOne or other clinical systems. Familiarity with local area and NHS services.

Qualifications

Essential

General education (, GCSEs) to grade C or above. Phlebotomy certification. NVQ Level 3 Health and Social Care.

Desirable

HCA Diploma or equivalent.

Skills and knowledge

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

Desirable

Basic IT skills Experience of SystmOne computer system Skills in ECGs, patient health checks, BP and Basic first aid knowledge Health and safety awareness Wound care, tissue viability and ear irrigation

Personal Qualities and Attributes

Essential

Good interpersonal and communication skills. Good organisational skills. Good team working skills. Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions. Adaptable to change. Ability to ensure patients are treated with dignity and respect. An understanding of requirements of confidentiality. Able to work on own initiative. Ability to work as part of an integrated team. Able to work under pressure and remain calm. Flexible and adaptable. Aware of own limitations. Ability to demonstrate enthusiasm to develop healthcare nursing skills within sphere of responsibility.

Other requirements

Essential

Meets DBS reference standards and has a clear criminal record, in line with the law on spent convictions Willingness to work flexible hours when required to meet work demands Champion of equality and valuing diversity Operates at all times in line with Confidentiality and Data Protection Act

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