Healthcare Assistant or Phlebotomist

Castlehead Medical Centre; Keswick; On-site; GBP 20,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A GP surgery in the Lake District is seeking a Healthcare Assistant to join their multi-skilled nursing team. This role involves supporting high-quality patient care, performing clinical tasks like phlebotomy, and assisting with various patient assessments. Ideal candidates should possess strong communication skills and a commitment to patient care. Flexibility is required as this position includes evening and weekend rotation. Training will be provided as necessary.

Qualifications

• Experience of working in an NHS Healthcare setting.
• Experience of working in a primary care environment.

Responsibilities

• Support the delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Perform clinical tasks including phlebotomy and patient assessments.
• Act as a key link between patients, doctors, and nurses.
• Assist with vaccine/cold chain storage and patient examinations.

Skills

IT Skills (including Microsoft Office Suite)

Excellent communication skills (Written and Oral)

Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplined team

Blood pressure monitoring

Ability to record accurate clinical notes

Knowledge of EMIS Web clinical system

Knowledge of patient recall system

ECG

Flu Vaccinations/B12 Injections

Education

GCSE Grade 4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)

Job description

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join our friendly practice in the heart of the Lake District as a Healthcare Assistant,

We are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our patient focused and multi skilled nursing team.

Main duties of the job

Working as part of the nursing and wider clinical team, and in accordance with established practice guidelines and protocols, you will support the delivery of high-quality patient care. Whether joining us as a Healthcare Assistant or Phlebotomist, you will contribute to a range of clinical tasks appropriate to your training and competency level. Responsibilities may include undertaking phlebotomy, assisting with clinical assessments, supporting long-term condition reviews, and preparing patients for examinations or treatments.

You will also play an important role in communication, acting as a key link between patients, doctors, nurses, and other members of the primary care team to ensure a smooth, supportive, and efficient patient experience. Full training will be provided as required.

About us

Castlehead Medical Centre is a well-established GP surgery located in the heart of Keswick, Cumbria. We are a friendly, patient-focused practice committed to providing high-quality primary care services to our local community. Our dedicated team of clinicians and support staff work collaboratively to deliver safe, efficient, and compassionate healthcare. As part of the NHS, we strive to continuously improve our services and support the development and wellbeing of our staff.

Job responsibilities

Working Hours

24 hours per week, ideally worked over three 8-hour days.

Flexibility is preferred to support service delivery.

The post-holder will be expected to contribute to Enhanced Access cover, which includes:

Tuesday evenings (6:30pm8:00pm)

Saturdays (9:00am4:00pm)

This will be on a rota basis, not every week, and will apply for the duration of the Extended Access contract with the Primary Care Network (PCN).

Clinical Responsibilities

Depending on training, skills, and competency, duties may include:

Performing New Patient and NHS Health Checks (HCA-trained staff)

ECG recording (training provided if required)

Acting as a chaperone when required

Managing and preparing laboratory samples for transportation to hospital laboratories

Assisting with vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring, and recording in the absence of nurses

Equipment restocking and stock rotation in all consulting rooms and at KCH for family planning and minor surgery

Preparing and maintaining your own working environment and equipment before, during and after patient care

Assisting GPs during minor operations and family planning clinics (HCA-specific)

Supporting the assessment and surveillance of patients health and wellbeing

Assisting with the collection and collation of data related to population health and wellbeing

Undertaking delegated clinical activities for named patients, such as Flu vaccinations and B12 injections (HCAtrained only; training can be provided)

Recording blood pressure readings and alerting clinicians to any results outside normal range

Performing INR tests and recording them via INR Star

Infection prevention and control activities

Completing NEQAS External Quality Control process for INR Star (training provided)

Job description

Job responsibilities

Working Hours

• 24 hours per week, ideally worked over three 8-hour days.

• Flexibility is preferred to support service delivery.

• The post-holder will be expected to contribute to Enhanced Access cover, which includes:

  • Tuesday evenings (6:30pm8:00pm)

  • Saturdays (9:00am4:00pm)

This will be on a rota basis, not every week, and will apply for the duration of the Extended Access contract with the Primary Care Network (PCN).

Clinical Responsibilities

• Depending on training, skills, and competency, duties may include:

  • Performing New Patient and NHS Health Checks (HCA-trained staff)

  • ECG recording (training provided if required)

  • Phlebotomy - venepuncture

  • Acting as a chaperone when required

  • Managing and preparing laboratory samples for transportation to hospital laboratories

  • Assisting with vaccine/cold chain storage, monitoring, and recording in the absence of nurses

  • Equipment restocking and stock rotation in all consulting rooms and at KCH for family planning and minor surgery

  • Preparing and maintaining your own working environment and equipment before, during and after patient care

  • Assisting GPs during minor operations and family planning clinics (HCA-specific)

  • Supporting the assessment and surveillance of patients health and wellbeing

  • Assisting with the collection and collation of data related to population health and wellbeing

  • Undertaking delegated clinical activities for named patients, such as Flu vaccinations and B12 injections (HCAtrained only; training can be provided)

  • Recording blood pressure readings and alerting clinicians to any results outside normal range

  • Performing INR tests and recording them via INR Star

  • Infection prevention and control activities

  • Completing NEQAS External Quality Control process for INR Star (training provided)

Administrative and Professional Responsibilities

• Participate in the administrative and professional duties of the practice team

• Input accurate and coded consultation details into the patient electronic health record

• Ensure all QOF/QIS pop-ups are actioned accurately within Onetemplate, reporting issues to the Operational Manager

• Prepare and maintain statistical information for regular and ad hoc reports

• Attend and participate in practice meetings as required

• Create and send recall letters for clinics via secure email/text messaging

• Assist with seasonal and special projects as required

• Update all SOPs related to your role annually

• Complete mandatory training relevant to the post

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 be responsible for the management of their own and others health and safety. Be responsible for Infection Control as defined in the practice Health & Safety policy, the practice Health & Safety manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include (but will not be limited to):

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines
• Awareness of national standards of infection control and cleanliness and regulatory / contractual / professional requirements, and good practice guidelines
• Responsible for the correct and safe management of the specimens process, including collection, labelling, handling, use of correct and clean containers, storage and transport arrangements
• Management and maintenance of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the practice, including provision, and ordering.
• Responsible for hand hygiene.
• Adhere to infection control and clinically based patient care protocols, and be involved with the implementation of those protocols across the practice
• Monitoring practice facilities and equipment in relation to infection control, ensuring that provision of hand cleansing facilities, wipes etc are sufficient to ensure a good clinical working environment. Lack of facilities to be escalated as appropriate.
• Safe management of sharps procedures including training, use, storage and disposal
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy, clean and sterile, and safe way, free from hazards. Initiation of remedial / corrective action where needed or escalation to responsible management
• Actively identifying, reporting, and correction of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised
• Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, sterile, identifying issues and hazards / risks in relation to other work areas within the business.
• Undertaking periodic infection control training
• Waste management including collection, handling, segregation, container management, storage and collection
• Spillage control procedures
• Decontamination control procedures, management and training, and equipment maintenance

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 that 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 teams performance

• Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.

Communication

The post-holder should recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with other team members
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers
• Recognize peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

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.

Training

Training can be provided for the right candidate, whether joining as a Healthcare Assistant developing phlebotomy skills, or as a Phlebotomist wishing to expand into broader HCA duties.

Person Specification

Personal attributes

• Caring and Compassionate
• Able to work under pressure in an ever changing environment
• Ability to work without supervision and determine own workload
• To be able to confidentially, discreetly and directly deal with patients infected with potentially hazardous and possibly life threatening bodily fluids and/or with other hazardous infestations and infections as part of your working practice

Experience

• Experience of working in a NHS Healthcare setting
• Experience of working in a primary care environment

Qualifications

• GCSE Grade 4 or above in Maths and English (or equivalent)

Knowledge and Skills

• IT Skills (including Microsoft Office Suite)
• Excellent communication skills (Written and Oral)
• Ability to work as part of a multi-disciplined team or as an individual
• Ability to follow clinical policy, procedures and guidance
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Ability to record accurate clinical notes in accordance to the Good Medical Practice Guide
• Problem solving and analytical skills
• Good interpersonal skills
• Knowledge of EMIS Web clinical system
• Knowledge of patient recall system
• ECG
• Flu Vaccinations/B12 Injections

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.