HCA

NHS Jobs; Birmingham; On-site; GBP 21,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

Baldwins Lane Surgery in Hall Green, Birmingham, is seeking a proactive Healthcare Assistant to support the clinical team in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care. You will perform clinical and administrative tasks under supervision, contribute to NHS Health Checks and health promotion, and assist with chronic disease monitoring and robust documentation.

The role emphasizes patient safety, confidentiality and teamwork within a busy general practice setting in Birmingham.

Responsibilities

• Undertake venepuncture (blood taking) in accordance with practice protocols.
• Record and document patient observations, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, height, weight and BMI.
• Undertake electrocardiograms (ECGs) and ensure recordings are appropriately processed.
• Perform urinalysis and other routine clinical investigations.
• Undertake NHS Health Checks, including relevant measurements, lifestyle assessments and cardiovascular risk assessments.
• Support the identification and monitoring of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Undertake smoking cessation assessments and provide lifestyle advice and ongoing support to patients wishing to stop smoking.
• Support chronic disease monitoring and reviews, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other long-term conditions, within agreed competencies.
• Undertake wound care, dressings and removal of sutures where trained and assessed as competent.
• Collect, label, store and process clinical specimens in accordance with infection prevention and control procedures.
• Assist with immunisation programmes where appropriately trained and competent.
• Provide health promotion advice and encourage patients to adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Recognise and report abnormal clinical observations or concerns promptly to the appropriate clinician.
• Support clinicians during examinations and procedures when required.
• Identify and invite eligible patients for NHS Health Checks.
• Complete relevant assessments and clinical measurements.
• Record findings accurately within the clinical system.
• Provide appropriate lifestyle advice relating to smoking, diet, physical activity, alcohol and weight management.
• Identify patients requiring onward referral or further clinical assessment.
• Support practice health promotion and preventative care initiatives.
• Support the nursing team with routine monitoring and reviews for patients with long-term conditions.
• Undertake relevant clinical measurements and investigations.
• Identify patients overdue for monitoring and support recall programmes.
• Ensure results and observations are accurately recorded and brought to the attention of the appropriate clinician.
• Support patient education and self-management where appropriate.
• Prepare clinical rooms before consultations and ensure they are appropriately equipped.
• Maintain cleanliness and tidiness of clinical rooms and equipment.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures at all times.
• Ensure clinical equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored appropriately.
• Monitor clinical stock levels and report requirements for replenishment.
• Check expiry dates of clinical supplies and equipment.
• Dispose of clinical waste and sharps safely in accordance with practice procedures.
• Report any equipment faults, health and safety concerns or incidents.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records using the practice clinical system.
• Ensure all clinical activity, observations and procedures are appropriately coded and documented.
• Support patient recalls, screening programmes and chronic disease monitoring.
• Assist with identifying patients who are overdue for investigations or reviews.
• Process clinical specimens and associated documentation.
• Ensure patient information is handled confidentially and in accordance with GDPR and information governance requirements.
• Communicate relevant clinical findings and concerns to the appropriate member of the clinical team.
• Work collaboratively with GPs, Practice Nurses, healthcare professionals and administrative colleagues.
• Communicate effectively and compassionately with patients and carers.
• Maintain professional boundaries and treat all patients with dignity, respect and sensitivity.
• Recognise limitations of competence and seek advice or assistance when required.
• Escalate clinical concerns, abnormal results and safeguarding concerns promptly.
• Participate in practice meetings, training and development activities as required.
• Support the wider practice team during periods of increased demand.
• The postholder will: Maintain strict patient confidentiality at all times.

Job description

Baldwins Lane SurgeryHall Green, Birmingham

Job Purpose

To support the clinical team in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care by undertaking a range of clinical and administrative duties within the practice. The Healthcare Assistant will work under the supervision and direction of the Practice Nurse and wider clinical team, undertaking delegated clinical tasks in accordance with their training, competencies, practice policies and agreed protocols. The postholder will contribute to the delivery of preventative healthcare, long-term condition monitoring, health promotion and routine clinical services.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Clinical Responsibilities

• Undertake venepuncture (blood taking) in accordance with practice protocols.
• Record and document patient observations, including blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation, height, weight and BMI.
• Undertake electrocardiograms (ECGs) and ensure recordings are appropriately processed.
• Perform urinalysis and other routine clinical investigations.
• Undertake NHS Health Checks, including relevant measurements, lifestyle assessments and cardiovascular risk assessments.
• Support the identification and monitoring of patients at risk of cardiovascular disease.
• Undertake smoking cessation assessments and provide lifestyle advice and ongoing support to patients wishing to stop smoking.
• Support chronic disease monitoring and reviews, including diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other long-term conditions, within agreed competencies.
• Undertake wound care, dressings and removal of sutures where trained and assessed as competent.
• Collect, label, store and process clinical specimens in accordance with infection prevention and control procedures.
• Assist with immunisation programmes where appropriately trained and competent.
• Provide health promotion advice and encourage patients to adopt healthier lifestyles.
• Recognise and report abnormal clinical observations or concerns promptly to the appropriate clinician.
• Support clinicians during examinations and procedures when required.

2. NHS Health Checks and Health Promotion

• Identify and invite eligible patients for NHS Health Checks.
• Complete relevant assessments and clinical measurements.
• Record findings accurately within the clinical system.
• Provide appropriate lifestyle advice relating to smoking, diet, physical activity, alcohol and weight management.
• Identify patients requiring onward referral or further clinical assessment.
• Support practice health promotion and preventative care initiatives.

3. Long-Term Condition Management

• Support the nursing team with routine monitoring and reviews for patients with long-term conditions.
• Undertake relevant clinical measurements and investigations.
• Identify patients overdue for monitoring and support recall programmes.
• Ensure results and observations are accurately recorded and brought to the attention of the appropriate clinician.
• Support patient education and self-management where appropriate.

4. Infection Prevention and Clinical Room Management

• Prepare clinical rooms before consultations and ensure they are appropriately equipped.
• Maintain cleanliness and tidiness of clinical rooms and equipment.
• Follow infection prevention and control procedures at all times.
• Ensure clinical equipment is cleaned, maintained and stored appropriately.
• Monitor clinical stock levels and report requirements for replenishment.
• Check expiry dates of clinical supplies and equipment.
• Dispose of clinical waste and sharps safely in accordance with practice procedures.
• Report any equipment faults, health and safety concerns or incidents.

5. Administration and Clinical Records

• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records using the practice clinical system.
• Ensure all clinical activity, observations and procedures are appropriately coded and documented.
• Support patient recalls, screening programmes and chronic disease monitoring.
• Assist with identifying patients who are overdue for investigations or reviews.
• Process clinical specimens and associated documentation.
• Ensure patient information is handled confidentially and in accordance with GDPR and information governance requirements.
• Communicate relevant clinical findings and concerns to the appropriate member of the clinical team.

6. Teamworking and Communication

• Work collaboratively with GPs, Practice Nurses, healthcare professionals and administrative colleagues.
• Communicate effectively and compassionately with patients and carers.
• Maintain professional boundaries and treat all patients with dignity, respect and sensitivity.
• Recognise limitations of competence and seek advice or assistance when required.
• Escalate clinical concerns, abnormal results and safeguarding concerns promptly.
• Participate in practice meetings, training and development activities as required.
• Support the wider practice team during periods of increased demand.

General Responsibilities

The postholder will:

• Maintain strict patient confidentiality at all times.
• Comply with practice policies, procedures and protocols.
• Adhere to health and safety, infection prevention and control and safeguarding requirements.
• Maintain mandatory training and undertake relevant clinical training and competency assessments.
• Work within the limits of their training and professional competence.
• Participate in supervision, appraisal and performance development.
• Maintain accurate records of training and clinical competencies.
• Report accidents, incidents, near misses and significant concerns in accordance with practice procedures.
• Undertake other reasonable duties appropriate to the role and level of competence as required by the Practice Manager or clinical lead.

Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS foundation Trust