Health Care Assistant

Integrated Care System; Guildford; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Guildford is looking for an experienced Health Care Assistant to support patient care and work closely with the nursing team. Responsibilities include performing blood tests, health checks, and supporting health promotion initiatives. Ideal candidates are enthusiastic and adaptable with a commitment to high-quality patient care. The role offers competitive salary, benefits, and continuous professional development.

Benefits

Competitive salary and conditions

Friendly practice team

Free on-site parking

33 days holiday a year

Continuous training and development

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a Healthcare Assistant in a primary care or clinical setting.
• Experience in wound care, ECG recording, injections, and diabetic foot checks.
• Full UK driving licence is required.

Responsibilities

• Providing administrative and clinical support to the clinical team.
• Carrying out blood tests and health checks.
• Supporting health campaigns and promoting positive lifestyle choices.

Skills

Excellent communication skills

Problem solving

Team player

Blood Pressure Management

Time Management

Education

Phlebotomy/Venepuncture certificate

NVQ level2/3 in Health & Social Care

Good standard of general education A to C in English and Maths

Tools

EMIS

DOCMAN

AccuRX

Job description

Merrow Park Surgery is a forward-thinking, busy and welcoming GP practice in Guildford, providing high-quality care to approximately 12,500 patients in the local community. We are seeking an experienced and dedicated Health Care Assistant to join our Nursing Team.

The ideal candidate will be enthusiastic, adaptable, and committed to delivering excellent patient care, working closely with our multidisciplinary team which includes GPs, nurses, physician associates and other healthcare professionals.

Main duties of the job

Carrying out clinical tasks such as blood tests, new patient and NHS health checks, ECGs, spirometry, smoking cessation support, blood pressure monitoring, ambulatory BP measurements (ABPMs), ear irrigation, HRT and diabetes (part 1) reviews, and vaccinations.

Providing chaperone support during patient consultations and procedures.

Ensuring equipment is cleansed, maintained, and fit for purpose.

Managing vaccine and cold chain storage, including monitoring and recording.

Restocking clinical supplies and maintaining effective stock rotation.

Preparing and maintaining consultation rooms and equipment before, during, and after patient care activities.

Supporting the assessment and monitoring of patients health and wellbeing.

Undertaking delegated clinical activities for named patients, as agreed and trained for.

Promoting health awareness and supporting patients in making positive lifestyle choices.

About us

Our team is made up of a range of clinicians and healthcare professionals. In addition to GPs and Nurses and Health & Wellbeaing Coach we work closely with our local Primary Care Network (PCN) to deliver enhanced services such as in-house mental health support and first contact physiotherapy. We take pride in working collaboratively to provide patient-centred care in a friendly and supportive environment.

Job responsibilities

The post holder will be responsible for providing administrative and clinical support to the whole clinical team, and the nursing team in particular, to promote and maintain the highest standard of care for patients. The post holder will carry out agreed duties supervised by the Lead Nurse, ensuring that they do not carry out any duty or task for which they not possess the necessary knowledge and or skill.

Main duties of the job

• Phlebotomy performing blood draws for diagnostic testing.
• NHS Health Checks Conducting routine health assessments to evaluate patient well-being.
• Health Promotion discussing lifestyle factors, raising awareness of well-being, and supporting initiatives such as Smoking Cessation and Weight Management.
• Basic Observations Recording blood pressure, height, weight, temperature, and pulse.
• Long-Term Condition Monitoring Carrying out disease management checks and escalating concerns as needed.
• Vaccinations & Injections administering flu jabs, B12 injections, etc.
• Wound Care Assisting with basic wound care, suture removal, and clip removal under nurse supervision.
• Diagnostic Tests Performing ECGs and Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM).
• Chaperoning providing support during examinations and procedures.
• Sample Management Processing and handling laboratory samples requested by GPs/nurses.
• Clinical Preparation Ensuring equipment and environments are ready before and after patient care.
• Health Campaigns Supporting flu clinics and other initiatives in collaboration with the Lead Nurse.
• Appointment Coordination contacting eligible patients to schedule routine smears, immunisations, and NHS Health Checks.
• Data Collection Assisting in gathering and organising health-related data.
• Stock Management Ordering clinical supplies and maintaining inventory control.
• Highly motivated and passionate about patient care
• Polite, calm and approachable
• Able to deal with difficult situations
• Team player

We offer:

• Competitive salary and conditions
• Indemnity scheme
• Friendly practice team
• Free on-site parking
• 33 days holiday a year (including bank holidays) for full-time staff
• Annual pay review for all staff
• Continuous training and development
• Weekly clinical team meetings & 4 Annual Practice Learning Events.
• A range of other exciting employee benefits such as employee well-being services

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

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 recognises 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
• The post-holder will participate in any training programme implemented by the practice as part of this employment, with 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

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.

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

*Please note that we hold the right to close this vacancy early if a suitable candidate is appointed. This position is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Please note, you need to be authorised to work in the UK as we unfortunately cannot provide sponsorship.*

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good standard of general education A to C in English and Maths
• Phlebotomy/Venepuncture certificate of competency
• Vaccination certification - B12, Flu, pneumococcal, shingles and covid vaccinations etc.
• Previous experience as a Healthcare Assistant in a primary care or clinical setting
• NVQ level2/3 in Health & Social Care Certificate or equivalent

Other requirements

• Full UK driving licence
• Occupational Health clearance
• Maintains confidentiality at all times
• Flexible approach to working hours, willingness to work anti-social hours, shifts, cover etc

Personal Qualities

• Committed to providing a high quality of patient care
• Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations
• Willingness to learn and assume responsibility
• Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required
• Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations
• Able to communicate effectively and understand the needs of the patient
• Commitment to ongoing professional development
• Punctual and committed to supporting the team effort
• High levels of integrity and loyalty
• Motivated
• Able to recognise own limitations, identify learning needs and act on them appropriately

Experience

• Previous experience of dealing with public/patients both face to face and over the telephone
• Experience in wound care, ECG recording, injections and diabetic foot checks
• Practical experience of working as a HCA in CommunityPrimary Health care
• Competent in the use of patient record management systems: EMIS / DOCMAN / AccuRX
• Experience of previously working in a GP practice
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• Experience in INR Monitoring
• Experience of Pre- diabetes and diet/lifestyle advice

Knowledge and Skills

• Excellent communication skills (Written and Verbal)
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Able to explain procedures to patients carefully and methodically
• Time Management and the ability to work to deadlines
• Problem solving
• Good Interpersonal skills
• Blood Pressure Management
• An understanding of EMIS Web computer system
• An understanding of Primary Care Practice/Data Protection Act/Confidentiality and Caldicott principles

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.