General Practice Assistant

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Marlborough; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 26,000; Full time

Job summary

East Kennet Primary Care Network Ltd is seeking a motivated General Practice Assistant to work primarily at Old School House Surgery, Great Bedwyn. The role combines admin duties with delegated clinical tasks to support GPs and the practice team, aiming to reduce clinician workload and improve patient flow.

The post holder will be employed by East Kennet PCN Ltd and will work 37.5 hours per week, with training, supervision and competency assessment provided in line with the role requirements.

Qualifications

• GCSEs, NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualifications or demonstrable knowledge and experience.
• Good written English, numeracy and digital literacy.
• Willingness to complete the General Practice Assistant training pathway and competency assessments.
• Experience of working in a general practice, primary care, NHS or health setting.

Responsibilities

• Review clinical correspondence and record information in the patient record.
• Support clinical coding, patient recalls, registers and follow-ups.
• Complete routine factual sections of forms for GP review and signature.
• Assist clinicians with patient admin and communications.
• Undertake basic clinical observations and phlebotomy once trained.
• Maintain accurate, confidential patient records and data handling.
• Liaise with patients, carers and multidisciplinary teams.

Skills

Organised

Attention to detail

Communication

Teamwork

Digital literacy

Education

GCSEs or equivalent

NVQ Level 2 or equivalent

Level 3 healthcare qualification

Care Certificate

General Practice Assistant training

Tools

SystmOne

Job description

We are looking to recruit a motivated, organised and patient-focused General Practice Assistant to join East Kennet Primary Care Network (PCN) and work primarily at Old School House Surgery in Great Bedwyn. This varied role combines administrative responsibilities with appropriately delegated clinical tasks. You will work closely with GPs and the wider practice team, helping to reduce avoidable workload, support the smooth running of clinics and ensure patients receive timely, well-coordinated care. Old School House Surgery is a small rural practice where colleagues work closely together and individual contributions are noticed and valued. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in accurate work and wants to develop within a supportive primary care environment. Training, supervision and competency assessment will be provided in line with the requirements of the role. This is a full-time post of 37.5 hours per week, primarily based at Old School House Surgery, Great Bedwyn.

Main duties of the job

• Reviewing clinical correspondence and accurately recording and coding relevant information within the patient record
• Preparing routine factual information and completing non-opinion sections of forms for GP review and approval
• Supporting GPs and other clinicians with patient administration, follow-up actions and agreed communications
• Undertaking basic clinical observations and procedures, such as blood pressure measurement, urine testing, ECG recording and phlebotomy, following training and competency assessment
• Supporting the practice with long-term condition review preparation, patient recalls, questionnaires, observations and follow-up work
• Maintaining accurate patient records, registers and recall systems
• Liaising with patients, carers, multidisciplinary teams and other healthcare services
• Recognising when information or clinical findings require escalation to an appropriate clinician
• Contributing to the effective day-to-day running of the practice and supporting colleagues during periods of increased demand

All duties will be undertaken within the postholders training, assessed competence and supervision arrangements. The General Practice Assistant will support GPs and the wider practice team by undertaking a combination of routine administrative and appropriately delegated clinical tasks. The role is designed to reduce avoidable workload for clinicians, improve the flow of day-to-day work and help ensure patients receive timely, accurate and well-coordinated care. The postholder will be employed by East Kennet Primary Care Network (PCN) and will work primarily at Old School House Surgery, Great Bedwyn. The full scope of the role is set out in the attached Job Description and Person Specification, which applicants should read carefully before applying.

Main responsibilities

• Reviewing clinical correspondence and recording relevant information accurately within the patient record
• Supporting clinical coding, patient recalls, registers and follow-up processes
• Completing routine factual sections of forms for GP review and signature
• Assisting clinicians with patient-related administrative tasks and agreed communications
• Supporting long-term condition review preparation and follow-up activity
• Undertaking basic clinical observations and procedures, such as blood pressure measurement, urine testing, ECG recording and phlebotomy, once trained and assessed as competent
• Liaising with patients, carers, healthcare professionals and other services
• Maintaining accurate, timely and confidential patient records
• Recognising when a matter requires clinical judgement and escalating it to the appropriate clinician

Working within the role

• Work within agreed practice policies, protocols and professional boundaries
• Undertake only those clinical duties for which they have received appropriate training and competency assessment
• Seek advice or escape concerns where information is unclear or falls outside the scope of the role
• Participate in supervision, training, appraisal and ongoing professional development
• Manage their workload effectively and communicate competing priorities
• Work collaboratively and supportively with colleagues across the practice and East Kennet PCN

Confidentiality and data protection

• UK data protection legislation
• NHS information governance requirements
• Practice and PCN confidentiality policies
• Relevant records management and data-sharing procedures

Safeguarding, equality and health and safety

• Support the safeguarding of children, young people and adults at risk
• Complete a Disclosure and Barring Service check appropriate to the role
• Promote equality, diversity, dignity and respect
• Treat patients, carers and colleagues fairly and without discrimination
• Follow health and safety, infection prevention and incident-reporting procedures
• Report concerns, risks or hazards promptly to the appropriate manager

Quality and professional development

• Taking responsibility for the accuracy and quality of their own work
• Raising concerns about quality, safety or risk
• Participating in relevant training and competency assessments
• Contributing to team discussions, service improvement and shared learning
• Reflecting on their performance through supervision and appraisal
  GCSEs, NVQ Level 2 or equivalent qualifications, or demonstrable equivalent knowledge and experience
• A good standard of written English, numeracy and digital literacy
• Willingness to complete the recognised General Practice Assistant training pathway and required competency assessments
• Willingness to undertake role-specific clinical training and demonstrate competence before carrying out delegated clinical duties, Completed or currently working towards an accredited General Practice Assistant qualification or training programme
• Relevant Level 3 qualification in healthcare, business administration, customer service or a related subject
• Care Certificate or equivalent healthcare training
• Training or competency in phlebotomy, ECG recording, blood pressure measurement, NHS Health Checks or other relevant clinical skills, Experience of working in an administrative, customer-facing or patient-facing role
• Experience of communicating effectively and building positive working relationships with a range of people
• Experience of maintaining accurate records, entering information and handling confidential or sensitive information
• Ability to organise and prioritise a varied workload while maintaining attention to detail
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team and provide practical support to colleagues
• Ability to follow agreed procedures, recognise the boundaries of the role and identify when clinical advice or escalation is required
• Demonstrable commitment to learning and ongoing professional development, Experience of working in general practice, primary care, the NHS or another health or care setting
• Experience of using a clinical system, particularly SystmOne
• Experience of clinical coding, patient recalls, workflow management or processing clinical correspondence
• Experience of supporting long-term condition review preparation
• Experience of undertaking basic clinical observations or procedures, such as blood pressure measurement, urine testing, ECG recording or phlebotomy

East Kennet Primary Care Network consists of four GP practices serving approximately 38,000 patients across rural Wiltshire:

• Kennet and Avon Medical Partnership
• Ramsbury and Wanborough Surgery
• Old School House Surgery, Great Bedwyn
• Burbage Surgery

The successful candidate will be employed by East Kennet PCN Ltd and primarily based at Old School House Surgery. Our practices work collaboratively while retaining their individual character and strong links with their local communities. At Old School House Surgery, you will join an approachable and experienced team where communication is open, colleagues work flexibly together and new staff are supported to develop confidence in their role. You will also benefit from being part of the wider East Kennet PCN team, with access to broader multidisciplinary working, shared learning and opportunities to contribute to the continued development of local primary care services.