Job Title: Health Care Assistant NVQ Level 3

Whiteparish Surgery

Job Description

Job title: Health Care Assistant NVQ Level 3

Salary: £TBA pro rata

HOURS: Approximately 16 -21 hours per week

Monday: 08.15 – 14.15 (6) Tuesday: 13.00 – 19.00 (6) Wednesday: OFF Thursday: 8.15 – 12.15 (4) Friday: 11.30 – 16.30 (possible extra)

Accountable to: The Partners and Practice Manager

Reports to: Nurse Manager

Responsible for: Self

Job summary

Work under the direct supervision of the Nurse Manager and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the Healthcare Assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of programmes of patient care.

Core Principles

 To ensure confidentiality of information (written/oral or electronic) is preserved at all times whether at or away from work  To follow practice procedures to ensure that Caldicott Guardian and Security requirements are met at all times  To follow procedures to ensure compliance with the Data Protection Act 1998  To follow all practice protocols concerned with the maintenance of ethical practice  To support and participate in initiatives to ensure a safe and healthy environment for all practice users. This includes following procedures to ensure the control of potential hazards to health and safety  To respect, support, contribute to and take personal responsibility for implementing commitment to Diversity and Equality of Opportunity including: o Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people’s rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

o Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues o Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non- judgemental and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities and rights  To contribute to a culture of continuous improvement  To deal with complaints promptly and according to organisational protocol  To perform duties to standards required by the practice in accordance with quality assurance  To demonstrate commitment to Continuing Professional Development  To demonstrate computer literacy

Essential Activities

1. Clinical Duties

 Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions  Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted e.g. NHS Health checks, pre-operative assessments, memory assessments, dementia reviews  Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training including: o Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory o Faecal occult blood tests o Pregnancy tests o Injections including influenza, pneumococcal and B12  Measuring and recording: o Blood Pressure o Pulse rate and rhythm o Pulse Oximetry o Temperature o Height and Weight (BMI) o Waist Circumference o Venepuncture o ECG’s o Blood Glucose testing o Inhaler Techniques o Carbon Monoxide levels o Doppler assessments

 Undertake dressing procedures and stitch/clip removal following local recommendations, complying with infection control principles and practice  Support and monitor patients during nebulisation therapy  Assist clinicians in providing minor surgery.

 Plan, develop and implement health promotion activities as appropriate e.g. smoking cessation, diet and exercise programmes.  Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence

2. Administrative/Professional Duties

 Participate in the administrative and professional responsibilities of the practice team  Ensure accurate and legible notes of all consultations and treatments are recorded in the patients records  Ensure the clinical computer system is kept up to date with accurate details recorded  Ensure accurate completion of all necessary documentation associated with patient health care and registration with the practice  Ensure collection and maintenance of statistical information required for regular and ad hoc reports  Attend and participate in practice meetings as required  Assist in formulation of practice philosophy, strategy and policy  Ordering, restocking and maintenance of clinical areas and consulting rooms  To assist in seasonal and special projects as requested e.g. flu campaign  Ordering and display of Health Promotion materials

3. Health and Safety

 Use the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines  Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks  Make effective use of training to update knowledge and skills  Use appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical rooms so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards reporting any potential risks identified, including: o Hand washing o Universal hygiene procedures o Collection and handling of laboratory specimens o Segregation and disposal of waste materials o Decontamination of clinical equipment o Reporting and treatment of sharps injuries o Dealing with blood and body fluid spillages o Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures  Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate  Be aware of statutory child health procedures, and statutory local guidance and referral criteria

 Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining of equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility  Use the computer monitor safely  Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health  Know how to use the personal security system at the practice

4. Recognising emergency situations, problems and difficulties

 This involves taking prompt and appropriate action and includes: o Responding to a patient in an emergency as per practice protocol o Responding appropriately if a patient is aggressive, rude or difficult as per the Zero Tolerance Policy

5. Communication

 Communicate effectively with other team members  Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising their needs for alternative methods of communication  Ensure information that is given to patients and carers, e.g. leaflets, on practice notice boards, is current and up to date

6. Service Improvement

 Be aware of and, if appropriate, assist in current clinical audit  Contribute to the preparation of local guidelines, protocols and standards  Work with colleagues in the team on the development of current and new services and other initiatives  Be aware of current approaches, including research, to the management of patient care within general practice

7. Quality

 Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients  Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems  Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care  Know the cost implications of the work undertaken  Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team and beyond  Ensure stock items under your control are ordered and available in the treatment and consulting rooms  Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation  Know the practice’s policies in this respect, especially the whistle-blowing policy

 Be able to manage your own time effectively

8. Personal/Professional Development

 Take responsibility for own developmental learning and performance  Take responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal development  Work with management on any new training requirements  Demonstrate skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work  Recognise and understand roles and responsibilities of individuals working in the Primary Health Care team  To be familiar with changing structure of health care provision relevant to General Practice

9. Additional hours

 To undertake additional hours when required by the practice for example to provide additional services and/or to cover staff absences

10. Other

 To carry out other duties that are required within the role as it evolves within the development of the organisation

Key skills

 Excellent communication techniques with both patients and colleagues  Ability to deal with distressed and/or irate patients  Ability to adapt to change positively  Ability to learn new skills  Organisation  Able to work under one’s own initiative  Basic computer literacy  Time management and prioritising work load  Understanding and acceptance of own capabilities and awareness of limitations

Qualifications and Experience

 NVQ Level 3 desirable (or ability and willingness to gain qualification)  Good general education  Excellent oral/written/keyboard and communication skills  Three years experience working with the general public  Previous Primary Care experience  Accredited Phlebotomist

Personal Qualities

 Ability to work unsupervised and as part of a team  Professional approach to conduct and smart, tidy appearance  Self-motivated  A willingness to learn  Friendly, patient and polite nature  Sense of humour  Fit to work

Additional information

 Post subject to continuous evaluation and development  Appraisal interval: annual main review, quarterly interim meeting  NHS Pension Scheme Eligibility

Required Training

 Manual handling  Annual CPR updates  Outlook training including email, filing  Training on Software system TPP to fully use the following modules: . Consultation Manager . Appointments . Reporting  Basic medical terminology  Commitment to patient confidentiality and understanding the implications of non- compliance  Information governance  Participate in practice in-house training where appropriate  Read coding

This Job Description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed periodically in conjunction with the post holder. The post holder is required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested by the Partners or management team. .

Please sign and date this document to confirm its accuracy at the present time.

Job holder: ...... Date: ......

On behalf of Employer: ...... Date: ......