Health care assistant

NHS; London; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 32,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player in healthcare is seeking a dedicated Health Care Assistant to join their friendly practice. In this role, you will provide essential support to patients, conducting health checks, phlebotomy, and managing laboratory samples. Collaborating closely with a team of Nurses and GPs, you will ensure high-quality care and contribute to the efficient operation of the practice. This position offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on patient health while working in a supportive environment that values teamwork and professional development. If you are passionate about healthcare and eager to help others, this role is perfect for you.

Qualifications

• Minimum of two years' experience in a healthcare setting required.
• Qualified in phlebotomy and experience in patient health checks.

Responsibilities

• Provide planned care under supervision, assisting patients with health checks.
• Participate in practice development and audit processes.

Skills

Patient Care

Phlebotomy

Basic Wound Care

ECGs

Communication Skills

Data Entry

Education

NHS Experience

Primary Care Experience

HCA Qualifications

Tools

EMIS Web

Job description

We are currently looking to employ an experienced Health Care Assistant with a minimum of two years' experience to join our friendly practice. The Health Care Assistant will provide planned care with proximal supervision from a registered practitioner to deliver a seamless service to patients.

The ideal candidate will carry out a variety of procedures whilst supporting patients to live a healthier life including patient health checks, phlebotomy, processing and management of laboratory samples, blood pressure readings, basic wound care, NHS Health Checks, lifestyle monitoring, and ECGs. A full description of the role is attached.

Main duties of the job

As part of the Practice Nurse Team, the post holder, along with their other nursing colleagues, has delegated responsibility for the efficient provision of all aspects of nursing care to the patients of the practice. They will work in close liaison with the Nurses and GPs to ensure consistency of clinical care and to meet the nationally agreed targets for health as agreed in the new GMS contract. They will also work alongside members of the advocacy, administration, and reception teams. They will liaise with Community Nursing colleagues as appropriate. The post also includes a range of administrative tasks to support the clinical functions of the post.

All practice personnel are expected to project a positive image of the practice to patients, clients, etc.

About us

To assist the GPs and Practice Nurse Team in the service delivery and care management of the practice population.

Job responsibilities

CORE TASKS AND FUNCTIONS

This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties, but an overview of the post holder's principal areas of responsibility within the practice. Duties will change in line with developments within the NHS and more particularly within this General Practice.

1. Practice Operation and Development
   • Actively participate in practice and team development meetings.
   • Collect, collate, and provide data as part of the clinical/organisational audit process.
   • Audit personal service provision as required as part of work performance review.
   • Where requested, participate in the development of new services, including the documentation of new/revised processes (e.g., drafting/amending protocols).
   • Be committed to participation in training and education (including clinical supervision).
   • Participate in practice procedures for performance review and appraisal.
2. Risk Management
   • Be aware of practice policies on risk management/Health & Safety, and operate appropriate procedures for minimising risk.
   • Maintain/monitor personal Hep B status as per practice protocol.
   • Be aware of the practice policy on fire safety procedures, and operate appropriate procedures for minimising risk.
   • Be aware of and work to appropriate infection control standards.
   • Understand and apply the principles of cold chain.
   • Be aware of Child Protection Protocol and ensure any concerns are promptly and appropriately reported.
   • Assist in the identification of potential risks in the work environment.
   • Assist as required in the handling of blood and body fluid spillages.
   • Participate in practice Significant Event Audits (SEAs) and ensure that events known to you are documented and referred to the appropriate person.
   • Ensure that all duties are undertaken with due regard for patient confidentiality.
   • Ensure patient consent is provided where appropriate - as required under current data protection legislation.
   • Where the poor performance of peers is adversely affecting the team/practice, ensure that this is brought to the attention of either line or senior management.
   • Ensure all work tasks are fully documented to ensure adequate cover arrangements can be implemented as part of any contingency planning process.
3. Partnership Issues
   • Participate in the support of GPs and locums to ensure they are able to appropriately utilise the support services available to them.
4. Patient and Community Services
   • Disseminate information about the practice as required.
   • Ensure patients are adequately informed of variations to service provision.
   • Enter all clinical contact data onto EMIS Web system using agreed codes, templates, and protocols as appropriate.
   • When appropriate, make patient appointments according to practice protocols using the EMIS Web system.
   • Provide appropriate and accurate information to callers.
   • Ensure fully familiar with Practice Complaints Procedure and alert line manager to any potential patient complaints; participate in the review of patient complaints.
   • Have special responsibility for specific areas of nursing (e.g., phlebotomy, diabetic foot checks, etc.).
   • Have special responsibility for specific areas of the nurse team administration, e.g., Maternity, recalls, etc.
   • Provide cover for colleagues as required.
   • Ensure that all duties are undertaken with due regard for patient confidentiality.
5. Finance
   • Actively contribute to achievement of QoF, LES and DES targets.
6. Human Resources
   • Attend and actively participate in Team, Primary Health Care Team and Practice Meetings.
   • Carry out work according to agreed rotas/timetables and report any problems to line or senior management.
   • Participate in the induction and training of new and/or junior staff.
   • Actively participate in personal supervision sessions.
   • Actively participate in the annual personal appraisal process.
   • Ensure that all duties and interactions are carried out in accordance with practice personnel protocols (e.g., Bullying and Harassment Policy, etc.).
7. Premises and Equipment
   • Where requested by line or senior management, participate in stock control procedures relating to stationery and/or clinical supplies.
   • Report any equipment operating problems to line management.
   • Report any premises/maintenance problems to line management.
   • Contribute to ensuring premises security.
   • Maintain appropriate infection control standards.
   • Where appropriate, carry out/ensure regular equipment checks (including calibration as appropriate).
8. Information and Management Technology
   • Ensure appropriate clinical and administrative data is recorded in manual and/or computerised records.
   • Retrieve information as required.
   • Comply with all systems for data security and protection (including when required backup procedures for personal and system data).
   • Promptly report all computer problems to the Practice Administrator (this includes hardware, peripheral, software and system problems).
9. Population Care
   • Provide data as requested to support the provision/review of clinical care.
   • Be aware of service performance indicators as they relate to the work of the Nurse Team and prioritise workload in the light of agreed performance targets.
   • Participate in patient recall processes.
   • Provide appropriate and accurate information to patients including care plans where clinically indicated.
   • Carry out a full range of tasks appropriate to the grade of the HCA post.
   • Carry out specific health promotion and lifestyle advice activities appropriate to the grade of the HCA post.
   • Together with nursing colleagues, ensure that there are a range of disease management clinics appropriate to the current needs of the patient population and the requirements of the practice.
   • Liaise with community nursing colleagues regarding the provision of equitable nursing care provision to housebound patients.
   • Where requested, assist GPs in the provision of clinical services (e.g., minor surgery, etc.).

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Computer Literate
• Understanding of the importance of Patient Confidentiality
• Ability to prioritise personal work
• Understanding of Equal Opportunities
• Professional manner and appearance
• Able to work flexible hours as required
• NHS experience
• Primary Care (General Practice) experience
• Working knowledge of EMIS computer system
• Knowledge of General Practice Procedures
• Previous HCA experience and/or qualifications
• Experience of working in a multi-cultural environment
• Qualified in Phlebotomy

Experience

• Experience of working with the general public/healthcare settings
• Experience of working in a GP practice
• Knowledge of EMIS web or clinical system
• Experience within nursing team
• Experience of dealing with vulnerable patients
• Blood tests and phlebotomy
• Long term condition reviews where appropriate
• Dressings and wound-care
• Diabetic checks
• ECGs
• ABPMs
• Patient education and promotion of health and well-being
• Gathering lifestyle data from patients
• Infection control and equipment management
• Vaccination management and clinical stock control
• Experience of working in primary care
• New patient health checks and other health screening
• Urinalysis and preparation of specimens

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.