General Practice Assistant

The Bridges Medical Practice; Weymouth; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A busy healthcare practice in Weymouth seeks a full-time clinical support worker to assist in patient care and administration tasks. The role involves working alongside clinicians, providing high-quality patient care, and handling routine administrative duties. Ideal candidates will have healthcare experience and relevant qualifications. Flexibility and adaptability are essential as the responsibilities may change over time, contributing to effective clinic management and patient satisfaction.

Benefits

NHS pension scheme

Free on-site parking

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Experience of working in a customer/patient facing environment.
• Experience of taking basic clinical observations.
• Experience of working in health care.

Responsibilities

• Provide assistance to the doctors and other members of the primary healthcare team.
• Assist in and perform routine tasks related to patient care.
• Support the smooth running of clinics by performing routine administration.

Skills

Customer/patient care skills

Ability to work on own initiative

Excellent organization skills

Education

GCSE grade A to C in English, Maths and Science

NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care / Administration

Trained in basic clinical skills such as phlebotomy

Tools

Microsoft Office packages

Clinical systems e.g. SystmOne

Job description

This is a relatively new role within the Practice and therefore provides an exciting opportunity for the candidate to shape it with the team, so that it benefits patients and clinicians as much as possible.

Flexibility is essential as the needs of the practices change regularly and therefore the tasks required will change. The purpose of the role is to see patients routinely but also support other clinicians in their work; this includes seeing patients requiring urgent treatment and administration tasks.

The hours are full time. Training will be provided but NHS experience in a similar role is preferred.

Main duties of the job

Working alongside trained clinicians, this is a patient facing and clinical administration role designed to reduce GP / clinicians workload to free them up to complete more complex clinical tasks. It also helps the running of the practice by having routine booked appointments for phlebotomy, dressings etc.

We expect the role to evolve over time as skills are developed and the needs of the Practice change. The candidate will therefore need to be adaptable and flexible.

The candidate will work independently and part of the team. Initiative and problem solving skills are essential.

About us

The Bridges is a large busy practice in Weymouth located across 2 sites; the main site is in the town centre and the branch site is in Littlemoor, approximately 4 miles away.

We have a range of clinical and admin staff who work as a team and support each other. We strive to provide excellent patient care for a wide demographic including high levels of deprivation.

We aim to continually improve our services and implement new systems where appropriate.

We are part of the NHS pension scheme, there is free on site parking and a cycle to work scheme.

Job responsibilities

Job Summary:

Toprovide and maintain a high standard of care for patients by providingassistance to the doctors and other members of the primary healthcareteam.

Support the smooth runningof clinics by performingthe more routine administration and clinical taskson behalf of the clinical team, freeing up their time tofocus on more complex tasks.

Job Responsibilities:

Assist in and perform routine tasksrelated to patient care, both clinically and administratively. Such tasks mayinclude:

Arranging appointment, referrals, tests and follow up appointments

Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP; taking a briefhistory and basic observations in readiness for the GP appointment.

Completing clinical observations / investigations such as dipping urine,taking blood pressure,ECGs, dressings & phlebotomy

Explaining treatment procedures to patients

Helping GPs liaise with outside agenciese.g. speaking to the bed bureau to ask advice or arrange admission while the clinician cancontinue with their consultation(s)

Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements of someforms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage,benefits agency forms etc

Supportingwith chronic disease management reviews

Runninghealth promotion clinics and completing health checks

Chaperoning

Coordinatingthe completion of QOF related work including reviewing records and recalling patientsfor checks

Assistwith minor ops

Completetraining necessary to expand skills depending on the needs of the practice

Other tasks including:

Maintainingand cleaning equipment

Participationin administrative systems in the Practice

Attendand participate in any Practice meetings when required

Participatein an annual individual performance review

Trackand record evidence against the national competency framework

Anyother delegated duties appropriate to the post

Special Requirements of the Post:

An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality.

Ability to use own judgment, resourcefulness and common sense.

A commitment to maintain a high professional standard of care and keep up to date with all aspects relevant to the post.

A commitment to ensure all Health and Safety requirements and Infection Control measures are met and to report any problems to the Practice Manager

A commitment to the effective use of Practice and NHS resources.

An awareness of own limitations and experience.

Confidentiality:

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect 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 to patients and their carers, Practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation. 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 Practice may only be divulged to authorised persons in accordance with the Practice 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 Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to Practice guidelines

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

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards

Equality and Diversity:

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

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent 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 is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:

Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work

Support others with their training and development needs

To participate in continuing education and maintain a contemporary level of professional knowledge and skills.

Complete mandatory training as directed by the Practice Manager

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, 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 enhance 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 recognise 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

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work

Participate in audit where appropriate

Person Specification

Qualifications

• GCSE grade A to C in English, Maths and Science
• NVQ level 2 in Health and Social Care / Administration or other relevant subject
• Trained in basic clinical skills such as phlebotomy, wound care, ECGs

Experience

• Customer/patient care skills and experience of working in a customer/patient facing environment.
• Competence in Microsoft Office packages (Outlook, Word, Excel).
• Experience of working in health care
• Experience of taking basic clinical observations
• Experience of working with clinical systems e.g. SystmOne

Skills and abilities

• Ability to remain calm when dealing with difficult or distressed people / circumstances.
• Ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
• Able to think ahead and anticipate issues.
• Ability to problem solve.
• Ability to be assertive, but polite and patient.
• Excellent organisation skills required along with ability to prioritise and work to very high standards of performance.
• Commitment to health and safety, equal opportunities and anti-discriminatory practices in employment and service provision.
• Understanding of the needs for confidentiality and compliance with protocols.
• Able to adapt a flexible working approach.
• Willingness to undertake training both in house and externally.
• Awareness of infection control prevention procedures

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

This post is subject to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (Exceptions Order) 1975 and as such it will be necessary for a submission for Disclosure to be made to the Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly known as CRB) to check for any previous criminal convictions.