Healthcare Assistant

West Suffolk Clinical Commissioning Group; Ipswich; Hybrid; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

Barrack Lane Medical Centre in Ipswich is seeking an experienced health care assistant to support the GP practice in a patient-facing role with clinical and administrative duties. The position is available on a full-time or part-time basis, with total hours negotiable and Friday work required.

Key duties include baseline observations, wound care, venepuncture, ECGs and vaccines, as well as updating records and assisting with minor operations.

Qualifications

• Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or equivalent.
• Experience of working within a GP practice.

Responsibilities

• Carry out baseline observations including BP, height, weight, BMI, urinalysis and record findings.
• Provide wound care, venepuncture/phlebotomy, ECG recording and administer vaccines.
• Support investigations and interventions per guidelines for long-term conditions.
• Ensure clinical rooms are stocked and prepared for sessions.
• Update patient health records.
• Ensure medical supplies are in stock.
• Act as a chaperone where required.
• Assist GP during minor operations.
• Communicate with patients, relatives and carers including health promotion and education.

Job description

About the Role

Barrack Lane Medical Centre is looking for an experienced health care assistant (HCA) to join the practice in this vital patient-facing role with both clinical and administrative responsibilities. The role is offered on both a full time and part-time basis. The total number of hours is negotiable but you will be required to work on Fridays.

Main purpose of the role is to provide HCA services to the practice population.

Main duties include:

• Carry out base-line observations such asBlood Pressure, Height, Weight, BMI, urinalysis and record findings accurately.
• Wound care, venepuncture, phlebotomy checks, ECG recording, and administering of vaccines.
• Undertake appropriate investigation, clinical observations and interventions following agreed guidelines for patients with long term conditions.
• Ensure that all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session.
• Update patient health records.
• Ensure that medical supplies are in stock.
• Act as a chaperone where required.
• Assist GP during the performance of minor operations.
• Communicate with patients, relatives, and carers including providing valuable health promotion and education.

The role will offer you the opportunity to build on your experience, skills and competence, requiring you to work effectively within a multidisciplinary healthcare team.

Please see full job description attached.

About the Candidate

The health care assistant role within general practice can be very different to the role within other settings and as such we are only looking for applications from those with previous primary care experience.

All applicants should have the following skills and qualifications:

• Level 3 Diploma in Health and Social Care, or equivalent.
• Experience of working within a GP practice.

Essential knowledge, skills and experience:

• Strong clinical skills including venepuncture/phlebotomy.
• Excellent patient-facing communication and interpersonal skills.
• Confidential manner with a compassionate and respectful approach, placing a high value on the dignity of patients, relatives, carers and colleagues.
• Ability to work independently, determining own workload priorities, as well as working as part of a multi-disciplinary team.
• Strong organisational and time management skills.

About Us

Barrack Lane is a busy practice in the town centre of Ipswich, Suffolk. We have a practice population of over 20,000 patients. The practice is based on two sites, the main surgery in the centre of the town, and a branch surgery at Stoke Park.

Our Clinical Team is made up of GP partners, salaried GPs, advanced nurse practitioners, advanced care practitioners, dietician, paramedics, physicians associate, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and a practice nursing team and HCAs. This team is supported by a strong administrative, coding and care-navigating team.

Barrack Lane is part of a PCN (Primary Care Network) with Ivry Street Medical Centre, in Ipswich, and the two practices cover a population of 32,000 patients. The PCN allows the practices to share resources and offer an enhanced service to our patients. The PCN employs care co-ordinators and social prescribers to work with patients, especially our vulnerable patients, to help them to access the best care.

Disclosure and Barring Service Check

Please note 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 to check for any previous criminal convictions.