GP Health Care Assistant (HCA)

Integrated Care System; Hitchin; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 27,000; Full time

Job summary

A dynamic health care organization is seeking a Health Care Assistant to support the needs of frail patients in Hitchin area. This role involves working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to deliver patient-centric care, focusing on clinical assessments, support, and personalized care plans. Join a forward-thinking environment dedicated to improving health and wellbeing of our patients in need.

Qualifications

• Experience working as a Health Care Assistant or Support Worker.
• Flexible to work outside core office hours.
• Clean driving license and access to own vehicle.

Responsibilities

• Provide face-to-face appointments in patients' homes and surgeries.
• Undertake and record clinical observations accurately.
• Manage a consolidated caseload of frail housebound patients.

Skills

Communication

Problem Solving

Empathy

Teamwork

Education

Care Certificate

Clinical Healthcare Support Qualification

Job description

Frailty is a condition affecting older people in which their bodys ability to cope with events, such as infection, medication or environmental changes, is impaired and they are vulnerable to falls, disability and admission to hospital. Patients with frailty may also have other long term medical conditions. Housebound frail patients in particular can struggle to access pro-active health care. Personalised care planning is aimed at improving their health and wellbeing and preventing adverse outcomes.

This post is part of the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme (ARRS) for Primary Care Networks (PCNs).

Main duties of the job

The GP Health Care Assistant will play a key role working with our Frailty Specialist Clinical Practitioner (FSP) and the wider the multi-disciplinary team, delivering excellent, patient-facing care. You will visit frail, housebound patients in their own homes, returning to a GP practice for debriefing, team-working and administrative purposes. You may also spend some time undertaking work within the Hitchin & Whitwell practices, providing services for their diabetic patients and general patient cohort.

With support from the patients registered GP and other colleagues, you will work with the FSP to undertake holistic reviews, including taking and recording clinical observations, the completion of local care planning documents, appropriate elements of long term condition reviews, evidenced based intervention, practical advice and emotional support to the frail patient and, where appropriate, their carer. You will be aware of local support services and be able to signpost into these as appropriate. You will work collaboratively with the health and social care team to meet the needs of the patients, supporting the delivery of appropriate care. You may be expected to undertake similar work within Hitchin and Whitwell practices for a more general patient cohort.

About us

H&W Health Ltd is a company providing services for Hitchin and Whitwell Primary Care Network (HWPCN). HWPCN was the Hertfordshire and West Essex PCN of the Year in 2024.

PCNs build on existing primary care services and enable new and innovative approaches to improve patient care and access to services. HWPCN covers approximately 47,000 patients from four local GP surgeries. We are a dynamic and forward-thinking PCN, with a team of ARRS including clinical pharmacists, physiotherapists, social prescribing link workers, health & wellbeing coaches and care coordinators, supported by an operations manager, a business manager and a clinical director. We facilitate our PCN staff to integrate into practice teams and pride ourselves on providing a friendly and supportive working environment.

Hitchin is a market town in Hertfordshire with excellent schools and transport links.

Job responsibilities

The following are the core responsibilities of the Health Care Support Worker:

• Work clinical sessions providing face to face appointments in the patients home and surgery and telephone follow up where appropriate
• Be able to undertake and record clinical observations such as blood pressure, pulse and temperature accurately
• Be able to undertake other clinical assessments, including but not limited to: diabetic foot checks, Rockwood scoring, FRAT assessment
• Be aware of the importance of continence issue and pressure areas including a basic assessment of these
• Meet the multiple and often complex needs of frail people through assessment of health and wellbeing, helping to develop a personalised advanced care plan using shared decision making
• Utilise a range of effective evidence based interventions to promote health, wellbeing and self-management
• Provide appropriate preventative health care and advice
• Understand the needs of frail patients and be aware of local services which are available to support them
• Manage a cross-practice consolidated caseload of frail housebound patients, including helping to prioritise their reviews and plan the visiting schedule
• Act on alerts (e.g. QOF, local enhanced services etc.) and reminders during a consultation
• Be able to undertake phlebotomy
• Give immunisations as required under a PSD
• Liaise with other clinical colleagues regarding onward investigation, treatment and referral where appropriate
• Be confident and compassionate in raising awareness of advanced care planning
• Have excellent consultation skills to enable shared patient and practitioner decision-making
• Participate in multi-disciplinary team meetings
• Recognise your limitations and seek senior support where appropriate
• Record clear and contemporaneous IT based consultation notes to agreed standards
• Collect data for audit purposes

In addition to the primary responsibilities, the Health Care Support Worker may be requested to:

• Participate in practice audits as requested by the audit lead
• Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
• Participate in the review of significant and near-miss events applying a structured approach i.e. root cause analysis (RCA)

This list is not exhaustive and there may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload, staffing levels and the needs of the business.

Confidentiality

All staff are required to respect the confidentiality of all H&W Health, HWPCN and Practice business and the business of the staff, residents, patients and general public which they may learn in the execution of their duties.

Data Protection

All staff are expected to adhere to the current laws regarding data protection.

Health and Safety

All staff are expected:

To carry out the duties placed on employees by the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, , Environmental Protection Act 1990, Environment Act 1995, Fire Precautions (workplace) Regulations 1999 and other statutory legislation.

To take reasonable care for the Health and Safety of themselves and of other persons who may be affected by their acts or omissions at work.

To co-operate with their employer as far as is necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation.

Not to intentionally or recklessly interfere with or misuse anything provided in the interest of health, safety or welfare in the pursuance of any relevant statutory provision.

Equality and Diversity

You must uphold the PCN commitment that all people will be valued regardless of their economic circumstances, disability, race, age, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief, transgender status, pregnancy, maternity, partnership or marital status.

All staff are expected:

To have a commitment to identifying and minimising risk, report all incidents and any risks which need to be assessed.

To always comply with the Practices/PCNs/Companys Health and Safety policies. To follow agreed safe working practices and report any incidents or concerns to the practice manager, PCN director and senior clinic pharmacist.

Professional Registration

All qualified/professional staff are required to keep professionally registered and updated in accordance with the requirements of the relevant Code of Practice and to follow guidance issued by their professional body.

Policies and Procedures

The post holder is expected to comply with all relevant PCN policies, procedures and guidelines.

Quality & Continuous Improvement (CI)

All staff are expected to strive for continuous improvement and to raise ideas and concerns with their line manager

Learning and Development

All staff will be required to partake and complete a company induction and mandatory training, as well as participating in PCN training activities.

All staff are expected:

To recognise the significance of collaborative working.

To communicate in a manner which enables the sharing of information appropriately and professionally.

Professional Conduct

Staff are required to dress appropriately for their role

Leave

Staff are encouraged to use all of their annual leave entitlement.

Person Specification

Skills

• Excellent communication skills (written and oral)
• Clear, polite telephone manner
• Competent in the use of Office and Outlook
• Effective time management (Planning & Organising)
• Ability to work as a team member and autonomously
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Problem solving & analytical skills
• Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure
• Experience with audit and able to lead audit programmes
• Experience with clinical risk management

Personal Qualities

• Polite and confident
• Flexible and cooperative
• Motivated, forward thinker
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Ability to work under pressure / in stressful situations
• Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort

Qualifications

• Care Certificate, Clinical Healthcare Support Qualification or equivalent
• Recent employment as a Health Care Assistant or Health Care Support worker

Experience

• Experience of working in a primary care environment
• Experience of continued professional development
• Experience of providing hands-on patient care
• Experience of working in multi-disciplinary teams
• Experience of working in palliative care

Clinical Knowledge & Skills

• Excellent level of clinical knowledge and skills including basic observations such as height, weight, temperature, blood pressure, pulse
• Ability to perform diabetic foot check
• Competent to perform phlebotomy
• Competent to perform ear syringing

Other requirements

• Flexibility to work outside of core office hours
• Clean current driving licence and access to own vehicle
• Occupational Health Clearance
• Project lead as required

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.