Dermatology Support Practitioner

The Methodist Church in Britain; Greater London; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust is seeking a Healthcare Assistant to join the dermatology department on a fixed-term 12-month post. You will work alongside nurse specialists and consultants, providing clinic support, minor procedures, and care for skin cancer patients, with autonomous working once competency is demonstrated.

Responsibilities include screening tests, topical treatments, phototherapy, patch testing, and off-site clinics at Newton Hospital.

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care or equivalent experience.
• Previous experience as a healthcare assistant.
• Direct patient care experience in dermatology settings.

Responsibilities

• Assist in general dermatology clinics alongside nurse specialists and consultants.
• Assist with minor surgery, dressing changes, and post-operative care.

Skills

IT skills

Communication

Teamwork

Flexible

Autonomy

Education

NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care

Job description

A fixed 12-month post in the dermatology department of Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, working alongside nurse specialists and consultants. The work covers clinic support, minor surgery, screening tests and topical treatments, with autonomous working once deemed competent. Duties span skin cancer care, phototherapy, patch testing and off-site clinics at Newton Hospital. Applicants need an NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent, and prior healthcare assistant experience.

What the job involves

• Assist nurse specialists, staff and the medical team in general dermatology clinics, and support consultants in running clinics
• Assist with minor surgery, scrubbing in for surgeons, applying basic dressings and educating patients on post-operative care, including urgent and 2WW skin cancer patients and off-site clinics
• Support the skin cancer service: give emotional support, monitor the helpline, record telephone consultations and help with health promotion events
• Carry out screening investigations, including swabs, pregnancy tests, blood pressure, urinalysis, weight, INR, nail clippings, fungal scrapings and phlebotomy
• Run the urticaria recovery area, monitoring observations for signs of anaphylaxis and alerting staff when needed
• Assist with phototherapy and hand and foot PUVA, and prepare biologic clinics
• Assist the consultant in patch test clinics, removing and marking patch tests and preparing patients for readings
• Apply prescribed topical treatments, non-compression leg ulcer dressings and specialised bandaging, including in paediatric clinics
• Remove sutures and carry out basic post-operative wound dressings, including in the suture removal clinic, working unsupervised where appropriate
• Review patients returning for specified follow-up using guidelines and protocols, and educate them to self-manage their conditions
• Support research and data entry, including the Somerset database and BADBIR
• Maintain dermatology admin packs and leaflets, support the minor ops clerk with appointment booking, and support colleagues with their workload

Qualifications

• NVQ Level 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent experience

Experience

• Previous experience working as a healthcare assistant
• Previous experience in providing direct patient care
• Demonstrable experience in specialised dermatology clinics
• Basic knowledge of eczema, psoriasis, skin cancer, phototherapy and patch testing
• Commitment to the promotion of health
• Knowledge of child protection procedures and who to contact with concerns

Skills & knowledge

• IT skills
• Effective communication, good interpersonal skills and team working
• Flexible, adaptable and reliable, able to work off site in dermatology clinics
• Positive, supportive, non-judgemental and motivated attitude
• Own initiative, efficient use of resources and good housekeeping
• Ability to work alone, unsupervised and autonomously where appropriate

Other

• Alignment with the Trust values of being kind, open and inclusive

Nice to have

• Experience of history taking and conducting consultations, such as assessing wounds
• Venepuncture experience