Healthcare Assistant

Lancaster Medical Practice; Lancaster; On-site; GBP 18,000 - 24,000; Full time

Job summary

A local healthcare provider in Lancaster seeks a Healthcare Assistant to support nursing teams by performing phlebotomy, managing laboratory samples, and assisting in general nursing duties. The ideal candidate will have relevant healthcare qualifications, experience in a clinical environment, and strong interpersonal skills. Applicants must be committed to patient care and the Practice's core values. Training and development opportunities will be provided. This is a full-time position offering a chance to develop your skills within a supportive team.

Qualifications

• Previous experience that demonstrates good attention to detail.
• Experience of working in a healthcare setting.
• Experience in a confidential environment.

Responsibilities

• Assist in general nursing duties such as urine testing and blood pressure measurements.
• Document patient consultations.
• Provide phlebotomy services for patients.

Skills

Experience of wound care

Experience of delivering ECGs

Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Good general computer skills

Good interpersonal skills

Education

Healthcare qualification (level 3 or 4)

Care certificate

Tools

Microsoft Office

EMIS Web

Job description

The postholder will offer general assistance to the Nursing Team, liaising closely with the Practice Nurses. The post holder will be expected to abide by and promote the Practice vision and corevalues.

The HCA will be involved primarily in the provision of phlebotomy service, the management of laboratory samples for the practice patients, components of the new patient check, urinalysis, ECG recording, chaperoning patients, cleaning and sterilising of instruments, maintenance of equipment, ordering of stock and re-stocking GPs and Nurses treatment rooms.

The HCA will also be responsible for documenting his/her patient consultations on the information systems in General Practice and maintaining appropriate records to ensure continuity and quality of care for patients.

The HCA will maintain their skills and competencies and undertake such training and development as may from time-to-time be required to maintain personal competency.

The HCA will participate in all activities required by CQC registration.

The HCA will have flexibility with regard to rotas and working patterns across all Lancaster Medical Practice.

Main duties of the job

To assist in general nursing duties, under the supervision of the Practice Nursing Team, i.e. Urine testing, weight/height, blood pressure measurements, ECG recording, phlebotomy, and the delivery of flu vaccinations (with appropriate training).

To be responsible for the correct maintenance and cleaning of surgical equipment,

To be responsible for the processing and management of laboratory samples requested by the GP/ Practice Nurses with specific responsibility to ensure that the samples are correctly labelled, sent to the laboratory promptly and that data is entered onto the patients computer records.

Demonstrate sensitive communication styles to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.

To provide a phlebotomy service for patients.

To act in such a manner as to support the patient at all times and be mindful of the need to reduce anxiety for the client/patient.

Apply infection control measures within the Practice according to local and national guidelines.

To act as a chaperone as required to GPs and Practice Nurses.

To receive and document telephone messages as and when necessary and communicate to other members of the clinical team as appropriate.

Participate in the completion and review of significant events and identify learning points.

Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and that sharps bins are replaced in accordance with the practice policy.

About us

Lancaster Medical Practice is a large, at-scale, GP provider delivering General Medical Services to around 68,000 patients in Lancaster and surrounding villages. Formed in April 2017 from our successful, legacy practices, Lancaster Medical Practice has continued to evolve to become the strong, high performing Practice it is today, receiving a rating of Outstanding by the Care Quality Commission in August 2018.

We deliver our services from seven locations throughout the city of Lancaster and its surrounding area and are continuing to develop ourselves to improve what we do for our patients, staff and the local community.

LMP is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. All successful candidates will be subject to a criminal records check with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). All staff are therefore expected to behave in such a way that supports this commitment and will be responsible for safeguarding the interests of children and adults who they come into contact during their work.

Please be aware that in the event that we receive a high number of applications, we reserve the right to close the post before the closing date.

Please note, we are unable to support candidates requiring a skilled worker visa for this post as the Practice is only able to support clinical posts at this time.

Job responsibilities

The job description and person specification are an outline of the main tasks, responsibilities and requirements of the role. The post holder will carry out any other duties as may reasonably be required by their line manager commensurate with the band of the post. The job description and person specification may be reviewed on an on-going basis in accordance with the changing needs of the LMP.

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

Act as Chaperone when requested by clinician and in accordance with the Chaperone policy.

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 recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with the Practice policies and procedures, and current legislation.

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues.

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to 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 their own personal and/or professional development.

Taking responsibility for their 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.

Communication:

The post-holder 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 peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Infection Control:

Adhere to the Practice's infection control policies.

Undertake regular infection control training, as required.

Raise any infection control concerns to the infection control lead.

Participate in any infection control audits, as required.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

Apply Practice policies, standards and guidance.

Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.

Participate in audit where appropriate.

Person Specification

Experience

• Previous experience that demonstrates good attention to detail.
• Experience of working in a confidential environment
• Previous experience of working in General Practice, NHS or Healthcare setting.

Qualifications

• Healthcare qualification (level 3 or 4) or working towards gaining equivalent level
• Care certificate

Skills

• Experience of wound care
• Experience of delivering ECGs
• Experience of new patient medicals
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes
• An excellent standard of grammar and spelling in the English language
• Good general computer skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office, email and the internet
• Good interpersonal skills
• Experience of spirometry
• Familiarity with EMIS Web

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.