Health Care Assistant - Minimum 16 hours (More Hours Available)

NHS; Thame; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 29,000; Part time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in Thame is seeking a part-time Health Care Assistant to join their supportive team. The role offers opportunities to develop new clinical skills while providing patient care. A minimum of NVQ in Health and Social Care is preferred. The position emphasizes teamwork and patient focus, with a salary range of £26,500 to £28,500 pro rata depending on experience.

Benefits

NHS Pension

Free parking

Regular protected training time

Qualifications

• Experience in primary care, ideally in a GP Practice.
• Knowledge of EMIS clinical system is preferable.
• Experience of following procedures and protocols.

Responsibilities

• Provide hands-on patient care and assist with chronic disease management.
• Carry out investigations and treatments as part of evidence-based care plans.
• Liaise with other health professionals in the practice.

Skills

Patient-focused

Good communication skills

Ability to remain calm under pressure

Team collaboration

Education

NVQ in Health and Social Care or Care Certificate

Job description

Health Care Assistant - Minimum 16 hours (More Hours Available)

Part-time Healthcare Assistance (Minimum 16 hours)

More hours available for the right candidate

Due to retirement, we are looking for an enthusiastic, dedicated and compassionate Health Care Assistant to join our supportive team.Our team includes 4 HCAs (and a phlebotomist), 3 nurse practitioners, 5 practice nurses, 10 GPs, and a wide multidisciplinary team including a clinical pharmacist, paramedic, physician associate, and social prescribers.

The successful applicant will:

• Be patient-focused and motivated to go the extra mile to help others.
• Ideally hold an NVQ in Health and Social Care or a Care Certificate.
• Be able to work collaboratively with colleagues and adapt to changing healthcare priorities.
• Use good judgement while maintaining professional boundaries and limitations.
• Be able to remain calm under pressure.
• Ideally have or wish to develop advanced skills such as wound care, diabetic foot assessment, and NHS Health Checks.
• Support enhanced patient access, including occasional Saturday mornings or vaccination clinics (enhanced pay rates apply).

Informal visits prior to application are warmly encouraged.

Main duties of the job

You will play an important role in supporting the clinical team, combining traditional HCA duties with opportunities to develop new clinical skills. You will provide hands‑on patient care, assist in the delivery of chronic disease management, and contribute to the smooth running of the practice.Duties include:

• Injections (according to training and protocol)
• ECGs
• Annual Review (QoF) Checks including BP, Pulse and lifestyle advice
• NHS Health Checks
• Urinalysis
• Ordering supplies
• Chaperoning
• Assisting with procedures such as coil fitting
• Other duties in accordance with protocol and as appropriately trained

We offer welcoming and supportive multidisciplinary team environment, opportunities for professional development and flexible working arrangements to promote work‑life balance.

About us

We are a friendly and growing GP practice with over 13,750 patients. Rated 'Good' by the CQC (Outstanding for families), we use EMIS Web and pride ourselves on delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care.

We describe our ethos as "Excellent Care by Working Together". We have a daily coffee break to foster good working relationships, regular social events and protected whole practice training events to ensure that we develop as a cohesive team.

Benefits also include NHS Pension, free parking and regular protected training time. Above all, we offer applicants the chance to make a meaningful difference in patient care.

Job responsibilities

JOBDESCRIPTION

JOBTITLE: HEALTHCAREASSISTANT

HOURS: Minimum 16 hours per week (up to 36)

Job Summary

Provide appropriate care to patients of all ages, in conjunction with other members of the practice nurse team and medical staff

Carry out investigations and treatments as part of evidence based care plans and in accordance with practice policy and protocols

Maintain a safe and effective practice at all times and bring any deficits in care to the attention of the Nursing Lead so that they can be addressed

Participate in team meetings in order to enhance communication and improve patient care

Working under the supervision of the trained nurses and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, the HCA will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.

Mentorship role for junior HCAs.

Clinical responsibilities:

• Liaise with other health professional in the practice to ensure integrated care
• Ensure comprehensive records of patient contacts are kept and that written and computerised notes are kept up to date
• Participate in delivery of enhanced services as required ensuring that all information is adequately captured according to agreed procedures
• Ensure that current evidence‑based approaches to patient care are standard practice
• Adhere to high standards of infection control measures when collecting and handling laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body fluids spillages and report and treat sharps injuries
• Undertake diagnostic, health screening, health surveillance investigations as requested directed by the medical team or as part of an evidence‑based protocol
• Undertake annual training and demonstrate competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques
• Assisting in the assessment; surveillance and promotion of patients health and wellbeing
• Idea to self‑motivate, organise and prioritise workload

Clinical duties:

• ECG recording
• Chaperoning duties
• HCA QOF reviews
• Blood pressure reviews
• Ambulatory and home blood pressure monitoring includes organising appointments, recording and saving the results
• Assisting coil fits; preparation of equipment /completion of records
• Glucose tolerance tests
• Helicobacter breath tests
• Urinalysis
• Ordering supplies including drugs
• Assisting with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and wellbeing
• Administration of influenza vaccine, pneumo‑vax and vitamin B12 injections
• Dementia screening/ memory clinic
• Learning Disability health checks
• Suture/clip removal

Education and Training

• Todevelop their scope of professional practice in order to develop this role to meet the service requirements in accordance with professional guidelines
• Completion of Care Certificate or NVQ in care; this knowledge needs to be regularly updated
• Completion of mandatory training
• Support the development of the nursing team and the wider practice through participation in regular audits
• Acknowledge own limitations
• Participate in an annual appraisal

Professional responsibilities

• Delegate to others, with appropriate skills, knowledge and competence
• To assist in skill development and sharing best practice as part of initiatives to develop the nursing team and enhance wider service provision in the practice
• To ensure resources are utilized cost effectively. Contribute to identifying alternative, more cost effective resources
• Act as a resource to the general public, patients within the healthcare system and their families, as well as carers.
• Attendance of practice nurse team and other practice meetings
• To comply with all Practice and OCCG protocols, procedures, guidelines and policies
• To wear a uniform and name badge at all times supplied by the Practice
• Participate in the writing of protocols relevant to their role

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.

Health & Safety:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills

Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards

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 recognizes 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

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non‑judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

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

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk

Assess own performance and take accountability for own actions, either directly or under supervision

Contribute to the effectiveness of the team by reflecting on own and team activities and making suggestions on ways to improve and enhance the team's performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Maintain concise accurate records both in written and IT formats

Communication

The HCA 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 the need for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

As well as the nursing and GP teams, there is a need to work closely with reception and administrative staff to ensure the smooth running of the practice, reporting any problems encountered to the relevant person and ensuring that everyone is aware of the different roles within the nursing team

There is also a need to establish and maintain good liaison with other surgeries and healthcare agencies, as well as other organisations that contribute to the care of patients.

Meetings

It will be necessary to attend and contribute to various practice meetings as requested and to cascade information to appropriate team members as necessary, ensuring adequate lines of communication. It is expected that the only reason for not attending will be annual, study or sick leave.

Research

Co‑operate and participate as required in any research projects within the Practice

Changes to Jobs

All staff are expected to undertake reasonable additional duties and responsibilities in order to meet the evolving service needs of the Practice. Changes should be made in consultation with staff. Variations to job descriptions can be a common occurrence and do not in themselves justify a reconsideration of the grading of a post.

Person Specification

Knowledge and skills

• Be an excellent communicator both verbally and in writing.
• Have an understanding of confidentiality is required and the HCA needs to be sensitive when dealing with confidential matters.
• Must have basic computer skills preferably with a knowledge of EMIS clinical system
• Be a good team member and be supportive of colleagues
• Ability to remain calm under pressure and in fraught circumstances
• Needs to apply common sense when dealing with situations out of the norm
• Be able to identify their own learning needs and highlights areas where they need further development
• Must be adaptable and comfortable dealing with changing priorities

Experience

• Must have experience of following procedures, guidelines and protocols and be aware of the professional boundaries
• Experience of working in primary care, ideally in a GP Practice
• Experience of fulfilling wider HCA duties including injections, ECGs and dressings

Qualifications

• Qualified in phlebotomy
• NVQ3 in Health and Social care or Care Certificate or equivalent knowledge and experience

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.

£26,500 to £28,500 a year pro rata depending on experience