Healthcare Assistant

Job summary

We are looking for a dedicated and dynamic HCA with a strongteam ethos to join our team to further enhance our nursing. complement.

In Sunderland, we have a vision to develop healthcare thatsfit for the future. Sunderland GPAlliance, a non-for-profit organisation owned by the citys GPs andrepresenting over 250,000 patients, is part of that vision. Over the last few years, we have strived toimprove services for patients and staff, developing and implementing ambulatoryECG, the management of post-bariatric services in the community, decisionmaking and referral support software for GPs, a clinical pharmacy service forthirteen member practices, and post discharge clinics that reduce theadministration burden on surgeries.

Main duties of the job

To work in a supported learning environment to develop the skills andknowledge required for a Healthcare role in General Practice.

To develop skills to assist medical and nursing staff in the care ofpractice patients to include treatment, preventive care, screening and patienteducation. The post will include administrative duties as part of the role.

Working under the indirect supervision of a qualified nurse and strictlyin accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, undertake tasksand duties delegated by the General Practitioner or qualified nurse.

To provide nursing treatments to patients independently or inparticipation with nurse colleagues and general practitioners with reference toagreed protocols and guidelines.

To provide general and specific health screenings to the practicepatients (within agreed protocols and guidelines) with referral to generalpractitioners or other health professionals as necessary

About us

Sunderland GP Alliance began in 2015 and as a limited company we have grown to over 200 employees today. We are innovative in responding to the changing needs of a 21st century health care system. With a not-for-profit ethos people are at the heart of everything we do. Whether it is a patient being seen at one of our GP practices or out of hours service, or the people at the heart of the Alliance who make it a great friendly place to work. We want people to realise their potential inside and outside of work which is why we support your development and offer 33 days holiday plus bank holidays.

Sunderland GP Alliance Medical Practice is one Practice which operates over 4 sites (Galleries, Barmston, Silksworth and South Hylton). We pride ourselves in providing a supportive and motivating environment for our staff and believe that getting our work-life balance right, creates a happy, healthy and creative team.

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

To work in a supported learning environment todevelop the skills and knowledge required for a Healthcare role in GeneralPractice.

To develop skills to assist medical and nursingstaff in the care of practice patients to include treatment, preventive care,screening and patient education. Thepost will include administrative duties as part of the role.

Working under the indirect supervision of aqualified nurse and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelinesand protocols, undertake tasks and duties delegated by the General Practitioneror qualified nurse.

To attend the relevant courses and study daysrequired to fulfil the role.

To gain knowledge and skills whilst workingalongside an experienced nurse mentor

To provide nursing treatments to patientsindependently or in participation with nurse colleagues and generalpractitioners with reference to agreed protocols and guidelines.

To provide general and specific health screenings to the practicepatients (within agreed protocols and guidelines) with referral to generalpractitioners or other health professionals as necessary

Clinical Practice

To provide phlebotomy as required in accordance to training and procedure

To take ear, throat andskin swabs as directed by the practice nurse or GP

To take physiologicalmeasurements for patients including blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm,temperature, height and weight (body mass index), visual acuity, urinalysis andECG in the surgery and or at home (if required)

Undertake new patienthealth checks, peak flow measurement, spirometry, suture and clip removal (asper practice policy) change simple dressings and carry out other tasks forwhich you have received appropriate training.

To fit 24 hours BP machineas directed and in accordance with training and procedure

To provide adultimmunisations such as Flu Pneumonia Vit B12 in accordance to training andprocedure

Assist as per practicepolicy GPs undertaking minor surgery

Prepare and maintainenvironments and equipment before,during and after patient interventions

Clearing and restocking ofconsulting/treatment rooms, including timely order of stock items under yourcontrol

Assist in raisingawareness of health and well-being by participating in patient health promotion

Give accurate and appropriate information within own competence

Ensure that anomalies are reported to a senior member ofthe clinical team

Notify the practice nurseor GP of any significant patient issues

Communication

Demonstrate sensitive communication styles toensure patients are fully informed, understand and consent to treatment andintervention

Communicate sensitively and support patients whohave received bad news

Communicate effectively with patients and carers,recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcomedifferent levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways ofcommunicating

Anticipate barriers to communication and takeaction to improve communication

Establish and maintain effective and timelycommunication with individuals and groups within the practice environment andwith external stakeholders

Act as an advocate when representing patients andcolleagues

Delivering a Quality Service

Recognise and work within own competence

Prioritise,organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotesquality

Work withthe team to deliver care according to NICE guidelines, evidence-based care andlocal policy

Assesseffectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, shared learningand formal evaluation including annual appraisal and revalidation

Be awareof NHS policies and initiatives relevant to areas of practice and work with thepractice team to respond to these and develop patient services

Engage inthe use of the audit cycle and patient feedback mechanisms as a means ofevaluating the quality of the work of self and the team

Understandresponsibilities and legal requirements relating to confidentiality and dataprotection; these are outlined in the practice policy on confidentiality and mustbe adhered to at all times

Be awareof Duty of Candour and appropriate behaviours regarding this within thepractice

Understandand apply policies that support the identification of vulnerable children andadults, being aware of statutory child/vulnerable adult health procedures andlocal guidance on Safeguarding

Workwithin policies regarding domestic violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuseand addictive behaviour

Manage andassess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures arein place to protect staff and patients

Monitorwork areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards andconform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures andguidelines

Leadership, Development and Training

Takeresponsibility for own development and performance; assessing own learningneeds and undertake learning as appropriate

Makeeffective use of learning opportunities within and outside the workplace,evaluating their effectiveness and feeding back relevant information to thewider practice team

Participatein planning and implementing changes within the areas of care andresponsibility

Provide aneducational role to patients, carers and families

Ensureawareness of sources of support and guidance and provide information in anacceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referringwhere appropriate.

Undertakemandatory and statutory training requirements

Promotethe role of the HCA in the provision of care

Team Working

Understandown role and scope, and identify how this may develop over time

Work as aneffective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring themechanisms to develop new ways of working

Ensureclear referral mechanisms are in place to meet patient need

Participatein team activities that create opportunities to improve patient care

Participatein and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team

Utilising Information and IT Systems

Usetechnology as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring,presenting and communicating information (EMISWEB, NHS Mail and local intranetsystem)

Review andprocess data using accurate Read codes and local templates to ensure easy andaccurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes

Manageinformation searches using the internet and local library databases, forexample, the retrieval of relevant information for patients on their condition

Understandthe responsibility of self and others regarding the Data Protection Act andconfidentiality

Equality and Diversity

Promote equality and diversity in anon-discriminatory culture

Support people who need assistance in exercisingtheir rights

Accept the rights of individuals to choose theircare providers, participate in care and refuse care

Assist patients from marginalised groups to accessquality care

Confidentiality

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. 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 Alliance may only be divulged to authorized persons in accordance with the Alliances policies and procedures relating to confidentiality, and the protection of personal and sensitive data.

Health & Safety

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

Identifying the risk involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.

Ensuring that all accidents or dangerous accidents are reported and investigated and follow up action taken where necessary.

Quality

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

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk.

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

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhanced the teams performance.

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs.

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

Communicate effectively with other team members.

Communicate effectively with patients and carers.

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

NVQ 2 in Healthcare or Health associated equivalent qualification Literacy and Numeracy Grade C or above Relevant qualification in venepuncture

Desirable

NVQ 3 in Healthcare Care Certificate Immunisations certificate NHS Health Check Training Ear Irrigation Training Smoking Cessation Training

Experience

Essential

Experience of working in a healthcare setting Excellent written and oral communication skills with the ability to maintain clear, concise records IT skills Microsoft based

Desirable

Experience of working as a HCA in a primary care environment Working with EMIS

Motivation and Skills

Essential

Effective time management Reliable Ability to work as part of a team and autonomously Ability to follow clinical policies and procedures Caring and compassionate approach to patient care Ability to work flexibly

Other

Essential

Disclosure Barring Service Check

Desirable

Car driver with appropriate license

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