Health Care Assistant

Valentine Health Partnership; Woolwich; On-site; GBP 17,000 - 21,000; Full time

Job summary

Valentine Health Partnership is seeking a Health Care Assistant to join our patient-centred GP team. You will support health checks, phlebotomy, vaccinations, and long-term condition management while working with a multidisciplinary team.

We value compassionate, proactive staff who can manage responsibilities across clinic and community settings, maintain records, and promote health and wellbeing in our diverse local community.

Qualifications

• Health Care Assistant role requires patient care and teamwork.
• Acknowledge adherence to practice guidelines and protocols.
• Commitment to ongoing learning and personal development.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct patient care and support delivery of primary healthcare services.
• Assist with health checks, vaccinations, phlebotomy and wound care.
• Support long-term condition management and health promotion activities.
• Maintain accurate patient records and contribute to clinic operations.
• Collaborate with nursing and wider community teams.

Skills

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Organisational skills

Teamwork

Independent working

Adaptability

Confidentiality

Initiative

Calm under pressure

Flexibility

Education

Care Certificate

NVQ Level 3 or equivalent

Good General Education

Tools

EMIS

DOCMAN

Job description

Join Valentine Health Partnership and become part of a dedicated, patient-centred team committed to delivering outstanding primary care across our diverse local community. As a Health Care Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting patients to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing through health checks, phlebotomy, long-term condition management, vaccinations, wound care and health promotion activities.

This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and compassionate individual who enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team while also taking initiative in a patient-facing role. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for training, development and career progression, allowing you to expand your clinical skills and make a real difference to patients' lives. If you are passionate about high-quality care, value teamwork and want to be part of an innovative and forward-thinking GP practice, we would love to hear from you.

Why work for us?

• Be part of a supportive and experienced clinical team.
• Opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.
• Make a meaningful impact on patient health and wellbeing.
• Work across a varied and rewarding role in primary care.
• Join an organisation committed to quality, innovation and excellent patient care.

Main duties of the job

As a Health Care Assistant, you will provide direct patient care and support the delivery of high-quality primary healthcare services. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will assist patients with a range of clinical and preventative health interventions, support long-term condition management, promote health and wellbeing, and contribute to improving patient outcomes. The role offers a varied workload, combining patient-facing clinical responsibilities with collaborative working across the practice and wider community healthcare services.

About us

Valentine Health Partnership is a forward-thinking, patient-centred GP practice committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare to our diverse local community. We pride ourselves on providing excellent clinical care while fostering a supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment for our staff.

Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, administrative and support staff who work closely together to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. We value teamwork, professionalism, continuous learning and innovation, ensuring that every member of staff feels supported and empowered to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Working at Valentine Health Partnership offers the opportunity to be part of a welcoming and dedicated team, contribute to meaningful improvements in patient care, and access ongoing training and development opportunities within a dynamic primary care setting. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and wellbeing, creating a workplace where every individual is respected, valued and encouraged to succeed.

Job responsibilities

Supported by the nursing team within the practice, theHealth Care Assistant (HCA) will deliver care within the boundaries of theirrole and in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols.

Responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating criticalthinking and skills in clinical decision making within the parameters of theirqualifications and role requirements.

They will focus upon supporting patients to be healthy byassessing their needs, providing HCA care, health education advice, screeningactivities, implementing care at the surgery, community or other settings,maintaining clinically accurate records and running clinics.

They will work collaboratively with the general practiceteam to meet the needs of patients and support the delivery of policy andprocedures, and providing HCA guidance as required.

Participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes foradults.

Review patient data to work with the nursing team, toachieve focused patient healthcare

Active participation in achieving QOF and EnhancedServices targets and recall demands

Able to perform the essential functions of the role safelyand effectively and will be required to undertake moving and handlingprocedures with patients when carrying out clinical duties.

Flexibility to work at different premises when requested isrequired as part of this role & the post holder may need to travel topatients homes for patients who are housebound.

Full-time post holders will work a 37.5 hour week betweenthe hours of 8.00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and from 09:00-17:00 Saturdays

3. MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice:

The post holder will make professionally decisions,providing safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care.

Health Checks

Referrals to weight lossservices, health trainers, Live Well Greenwich and other community basedservices

Undertake phlebotomy clinicsin accordance with practice protocols and infection prevention and controlprocedures.

Record and process blood samples accuratelyand ensure their safe transportation to the laboratory.

Ensure samples are correctly labelledand ready for collection at designated time.

Undertake urinalysis and documentaccording in patients notes if clinically indicated, raising clinical concernsif necessary following agreed practice protocols

Health and Well-being

Assess, plan, develop,implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and preventadverse effects on health and well-being

Support patients to adopthealth promotion strategies and encourage principles of self-care

Offer holistic service topatients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan ofcare/support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care

Weight Management & Advice

Chronic Disease management

Undertake appropriateinvestigation, clinical observations and interventions following agreedguidelines for patients with chronic diseases CHD, Pre-Diabetes, Hypertension,asthma and COPD.

Emergency Care

Prioritise health problems andintervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergencysituations, including initiation of effective emergency care.

Removal of stitches and clips

Meet the needs of patientspresenting for wound care and use dressing formulary

Mental health, adult and child safeguarding

Undertake annual health checksfor patient on the SMI register/

Recognise patients presenting with mental health needs inaccordance with the National Framework (NSF) for Mental Health. Raise relevantinformation with the duty GP.

Recognise adult and childsafeguarding situations and act appropriately.

Provide vaccination andimmunisation programmes for Adults in accordance with agreed protocols

Review patient data to workwith the nursing team, to achieve focused patient healthcare

Active participation inachieving QOF and Enhanced Services targets and recall demands Contribution tothe implementation of Services

Deliver HighQuality Service

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality withinthe Practice, and will;

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Reflect on own and team activities to identify risks,enhance performance and improve quality of patient care

Work within own competence

Produce accurate, specific and complete records ofpatient consultation

Deliver care according to the NSF and the NICEguidelines and evidence based care.

Understand and apply statutory procedure and localguidance regarding the identification of vulnerable adults and children,domestic violence, substance abuse and addictive behaviour

This list of clinical skills is not exhaustive and thepost holder will be given help to develop the required clinical skills fortheir particular role.

Communication

The post-holder should recognise the importance ofeffective communication and will strive to;

Communicate effectively with patients and carers toensure they are fully informed and consent to treatment

Utilise effective communication skills to supportpatients

Provide support, guidance and information in a formatthat meets the needs of the patients

Communicate effectively with other team members andexternal stakeholders

Act as an advocate when representing the patients andcolleagues viewpoints to others

Fully participate with team meetings, team activitiesand delivering the nursing agenda

Equality and Diversity

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

Acting in a way that recognises the importance ofpeoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with

Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs ofpatients, carers and colleagues

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming, non-judgmentaland respects circumstances, feelings priorities and rights

Identify patterns of discrimination, take action toovercome this and promote diversity and quality of opportunity

The post-holder will participate in any mandatory andstatutory training programme implemented by the Practice as part of thisemployment. Actively participating in ongoing learning and development toinclude;

An annual individual performance review, includingtaking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and / orprofessional development

Taking responsibility for own development, learning andperformance

Understand own responsibilities and accountability inthe delivery of HCA services to patients

Disseminate learning and information to other teammembers in order to share good practice

Provide educational role to patients, carers, familiesand colleagues to facilitate learning

Team Working

The post-holder will work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new waysof working. To include;

Work effectively with others to clearly define values,direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.

Ensure clear understanding and utilisation of referralmechanisms within the practice

Accept delegation from other clinicians, prioritise ownworkload and ensure effective time-management

Participate in and support local projects as agreedwith the practice management team

Management of Risk

Monitor work areas and practices to ensure that theyare safe, free from hazards and conform to health, safety and securitylegislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.

Apply infection control measures within the practiceaccording to local and national guidelines

Utilising and applying Information

The post-holder will work effectively to accurately applyand utilise information including;

Review and process data using accurate Read codes aboutpatients in order to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring andaudit processes.

Understand own and others responsibility to theindividual organisation regarding the Freedom of Information Act.

Apply patient / clinical data searches to achieveclinical goals

Confidentiality

The post holder will work effectively to ensureconfidentiality at all. To include consideration of;

In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust uswith, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their healthand other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect thatstaff will respect their privacy and act appropriately

In the performance of the duties outlined in this JobDescription, the post-holder may have access to confidential informationrelating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcareworkers. They may also have access to information relating to the Practice as abusiness organisation. All such information from any source is to be regardedas strictly confidential

Information relating to patients, carers, colleagues,other healthcare workers or the business of the Practice may only be divulgedto authorised persons in accordance with the Practice policies and proceduresrelating to confidentiality and the protection of personal and sensitive data

Health &Safety

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintainingtheir own and others health, safety and security as defined in the

Practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systems within the workplaceaccording to Practice guidelines Identifying the risks involved in work activities andundertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks Making effective use of training to update knowledgeand skills Using appropriate infection control procedures,maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards Reporting potential risks identified

Person Specification

Qualifications

• Good General Education
• Care Certificate
• Ability to provide quality care
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good team working skills
• Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions
• Adaptable to change
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure and remain calm
• Flexible and adaptable
• Aware of own limitations
• Basic IT Skills
• Qualified to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
• Experience in GP Practice
• Knowledge in EMIS and DOCMAN clinical systems
• Skills in Wound Care, Patient Health Checks, Blood Pressure,
• Management of Long Term Conditions, Phlebotomy
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Health and safety awareness

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.