Health Care Assistant HCA

NHS; Ryton; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a Health Care Assistant to join their team on a full-time basis. The role involves conducting clinical tasks, patient management, and administrative duties, alongside a commitment to providing high-quality patient care. Candidates must have experience as a Health Care Assistant and relevant qualifications. This position offers a chance to work across multiple sites and engage in community health initiatives.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience working as a Health Care Assistant.
• Experience in a primary care, GP surgery, or community health setting.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team (MDT).

Responsibilities

• Assist in preparing patients for examinations and treatments.
• Monitor vital signs and perform basic clinical tasks.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date patient records.

Skills

Experience conducting clinical observations

Understanding of protocols and clinical guidelines

Ability to support patients to change lifestyle

IT Proficiency with EMIS

Training in infection control

Education

NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care

Job description

We are looking to recruit a Health Care Assistant, on a full-time basis of 37.5 hours per week. We are open toapplications from both trainee and experienced HCAs.

Crawcrook Medical Centre is our main site, we have branch sites at Rowlands Gill Medical Centre, Grange Road Medical Practice and Blaydon GP Led Practice.

Main duties of the job

The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) is crucial in supporting thedelivery of high-quality patient care under the supervision of the PracticeLead Nurse. This role involves assisting with clinical tasks, patientmanagement, and general administrative duties within the practice. The HCAcontributes to the efficiency of the practice by performing a range ofprocedural and supportive tasks that facilitate improved patient experiencesand health outcomes.

The HCA will engage directly with patients, providing carethat includes taking vital signs, conducting health checks, and supporting thenursing and medical staff with procedures. This role requires a compassionateapproach to patient interactions and a commitment to maintaining the higheststandards of care and confidentiality.

Please note that if we receive sufficient number ofapplications before the closing date, we may close the advert early.

Main duties of the job

Clinical Support:

Vital Signs Monitoring

Sample Collection

Health Checks

Chronic Disease Management

General: administer vaccines under PSDs and provide woundcare

Administrative Tasks:

Record Keeping

Appointment Scheduling

Stock Management

Cold chain

Supportive Care

Infection Control

Health Promotion:

Educational Support

Community Engagement

Quality Improvement:

Feedback Collection

Audit Support

About us

Gateshead Healthcare is part of The Fuller and Forbes Partnership, a primary care provider with practices currently in Gateshead, Leeds, Burnley, Devon and Plymouth.

Gateshead Healthcare has approximately 20,500 patients and a multidisciplinary team comprising GPs, ANPs, Nurses, Healthcare Assistants as well as wider PCN team Physiotherapists, Pharmacists, Health and Well Being Coach and Community Psychiatric Nurse.

Job responsibilities

DUTIES AND KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Support:

Patient Preparation: Assist in preparing patients forexaminations and treatments, always ensuring their comfort and privacy.

Vital Signs Monitoring: Perform basic clinical tasks such asmeasuring patients' blood pressure, temperature, heart rate, and oxygensaturation.

Sample Collection: Assist with the collection of specimenslike blood, urine, and swabs for laboratory testing.

Health Checks: Conduct basic health checks and screeningsunder the supervision of registered nurses or doctors.

Chronic Disease Management: consult with patients and carryout diagnostics.

General: administer vaccines under PSDs and provide woundcare.

Other clinical tasks as may be required.

Administrative Tasks:

Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date patientrecords using practice software systems, ensuring confidentiality andcompliance with data protection regulations.

Appointment Scheduling: Manage appointment bookings andpatient recalls, coordinating with the front desk and nursing staff to optimiseclinic workflow.

Stock Management: Keep track of clinical supplies and ensurethat stock levels are maintained, reordering supplies as necessary.

Cold chain: ensure all fridges are monitored and temperaturerecorded.

Patient Interaction: Provide assistance and support topatients during their visit, helping to explain procedures and answeringnon-medical questions.

Supportive Care: Aid in the delivery of care plans set outby nurses and doctors, including assisting with wound care, medicationadministration, and other direct patient care tasks.

Infection Control: Adhere to strict infection controlprotocols, including the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and handhygiene practices.

Health Promotion:

Educational Support: Assist in the delivery of healtheducation materials and presentations under the guidance of healthcareprofessionals.

Community Engagement: Participate in community healthinitiatives to promote public health and preventive care measures.

Quality Improvement:

Feedback Collection: Help gather patient feedback toidentify areas for improvement in service delivery.

Audit Support: Participate in clinical audits, providingdata and support to registered nurses and healthcare managers.

The Practice recognises that the role of a HealthcareAssistant is wide and varied is evolving in nature. Therefore, this jobdescription is not intended to be exhaustive and there will be other tasks andduties that the post holder will be expected to perform within what isordinarily expected of this role.

Person Specification

Experience

• Experience conducting clinical observations and holistic assessments
• Understanding of protocols and clinical guidelines
• Ability to support patients to change lifestyle
• Minimum of 2 years experience working as a Health Care Assistant
• Experience in a primary care, GP surgery, or community health setting
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team (MDT)
• IT Proficiency: Familiarity with EMIS for recording and accessing patient information
• Specialist Skills: Training in infection control
• Experience in supporting chronic disease management programs and health promotion initiatives

Qualifications

• Previous experience as a HCA.
• Completion of a Healthcare Assistant course certified by a recognised body / NVQ Level 2 or 3 in Health and Social Care, or equivalent qualification.
• To work across all four of our sites when 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.