PCN General Practice Assistant

NHS; England; On-site; GBP 24,000 - 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading healthcare provider in the UK is seeking a PCN General Practice Assistant to support the smooth running of clinics in Norwich. You will deliver administrative tasks to free up GP time and be part of a structured development program. Candidates should have at least 2 years of healthcare experience and a commitment to patient care. This position offers a salary of £12.34 per hour, with potential involvement in certification programs.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 2 years experience of working with healthcare professionals.
• High level of verbal, written and numerical literacy.
• In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Arrange appointments, referrals, tests and follow-up appointments.
• Complete simple clinical observations as directed.
• Support the GP with immunizations and wound care.

Skills

Excellent interpersonal skills

Ability to communicate complex information

Organizational skills

Ability to work under pressure

Ability to maintain confidentiality

Self-development through continuous professional development

Job description

Job Title: PCN GeneralPractice Assistant

Accountableto: Marriotts MedicalPractices and Norfolk Primary Care

Place of Work: Taverham Surgery, Sandy Lane,Taverham, Norwich, NR8 6JR and Bacon Road Medical Centre, 16 Bacon Road,Norwich, NR2 3QX

Principle Liaisons: Marriotts Medical Practices PracticeManager and NPC PCN Manager

Salary Range: £12.34 per hour (£24,129.17based on full time of 37.5hrs per week)

Main duties of the job

Job Purpose

GeneralPractice Assistants (GPAs), support the smooth running of clinics by performingmore routine administration and tasks on behalf of the GP, freeing up theirtime to focus on the patient.

This rolewill be supported and trained in-practice, with on-job training and developmentled by the practice teams and GPs, in line with the role outline and nationalcompetency framework.

Trainee GPAsmay also complete HEEs accreditation programme, aligned to the competencyframework, equipping them with formal certification of their learning. Thesestaff are supported by a structured development programme (managed by HEE) andgain formal certification after around nine months.

The UK government regulates the ability of employersto recruit non UK residents by issuing licenses to provide Visa Sponsorship.Unfortunately NPC does not hold a license for Visa Sponsorship and so cannotprogress any applications for candidates without the right to work in the UK.

About us

Norfolk Primary Care Ltd is a Community Interest Company. It is established to:

Support and strengthen primary care and to promote and assist practices to improve quality by working with and on behalf of primary care in Norfolk.

Help with challenges identified by practices workload, GP recruitment, sharing best practice.

Recognise the changing nature of primary care and assist to ensure that the right level of service is provided to address the needs of the local population.

Provide benefit to patients of primary care, the clinicians and administrators who work in it and practice organisations in Norfolk.

Work within health systems to provide patient care in innovative and solution-focussed ways.

Job responsibilities

Key Responsibilities

GPAs are expected to deliver a combination of the followingrequirements based on their level of skills and experience:

• Arranging appointments, referrals, tests and follow upappointments of patients.
• Completing simple clinical observations /investigations asdirected locally, such as dipstick urine, taking blood pressure, ECG,phlebotomy.
• Supporting the GP with immunisations/wound care.
• Preparing patients prior to going in to see the GP, taking abrief history and basic readings in readiness for the GP appointment.
• Completing basic (non-opinion) forms and core elements ofsome forms for the GP to approve and sign such as insurance forms, mortgage,benefits agency forms etc.
• Explaining treatment procedures to patients.
• Helping the GP liaise with outside agencies e.g. getting anon-call doctor on the phone to ask advice or arrange admission while the GP cancontinue with their consultation(s).
• Sorting clinical post and prioritising for the GP.Signposting some post to other members of staff.
• Extracting information from clinical letters that needscoding; adding this to patient notes. Supporting with QOF reviews.
• Summarising patient medical records into the clinicalsystem, ensuring key clinical information is accurately coded and accessible.

Further Requirements

GPAs should also:

• Participate in an annual individual performance review.

Track and record evidence of their experience against thenational competency framework.

Inform the lead GP of any concerns regarding their role andrequest professional development as needed.

Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, toensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers,recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcomedifferent levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways ofcommunicating
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take actionioimprove communication
• Maintain effective communication within the organisationalenvironment and with external stakeholders
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (egPALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients,recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate

Delivering a Quality Service

• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a mannerthat maintains and promotes quality
• Participate in quality assurance and safety processes acrossthe organisation and its activities
• Participate in shared learning across NNPC and the widerorganisational environment
• Use a structured framework (e.g. root-cause analysis) tomanage, review and identify learning from patient complaints, clinicalincidents and near-miss events
• Assess the impact of policy implementation on care delivery
• Understand and apply legal issues that support theidentification of vulnerable and abused children and adults, and be aware ofstatutory child/vulnerable patients health procedures and local guidance

Leadership Personal and People Development

• Take responsibility for own learning and performanceincluding participating in coaching/supervision and acting as a positive rolemode
• Support staff development in order to maximise potential
• Actively promote the workplace as a learning environment,encouraging everyone to learn from each other and from external good practice
• Encourage others to make realistic self-assessment of theirapplication of knowledge and skills, challenging any complacency or actionsthat are not in the interest of the public and/or users of services
• Critically evaluate and review innovations and developmentsthat are relevant to the area of work
• Enlist support and influence stakeholders anddecision-makers in order to bring about new developments in the provision ofservices
• Contribute to planning and implementing changes within thearea of care and responsibility
• Contribute to the development of local guidelines, protocolsand standards

Team Working

• Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supportingothers and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working
• Delegate clearly and appropriately, adopting the principlesof safe practice and assessment of competence
• Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need
• Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-managementstrategies are embedded within the culture of the team
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values,direction and policies impacting upon care delivery
• Discuss, highlight and work with the team to createopportunities to improve patient care
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identifiedservices or projects as agreed with the practice management team
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success

Management of Risk

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility,ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe andfree from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation,policies, procedures and guidelines
• Ensure appropriate supervision of safe storage, rotation anddisposal of vaccines and drugs.
• Participate in mandatory and statutory training requirements
• Apply infection-control measures within the practiceaccording to local and national guidelines
• Interpret national strategies and policies into localimplementation strategies that are aligned to the values and culture of generalpractice

Managing Information

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid tomanagement in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting andcommunicating information
• Review and process data using accurate Read codes in orderto ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and auditprocesses
• Manage information searches using the internet and locallibrary databases
• Monitor and confirm that the nursing team are receiving andprocessing data and information in an agreed format
• Collate, analyse and present clinical data and informationto the team

Learning and Development

• Undertake mentorship for team members
• Disseminate learning and information gained to other teammembers in order to share good practice and inform others about current andfuture developments (eg courses and conferences)
• Assess own learning needs and undertake learning asappropriate
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, familiesand colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning

Equality and Diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and take action toovercome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity
• Enable others to promote equality and diversity in anon-discriminatory culture
• Support people who need assistance in exercising theirrights
• Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies
• Act as a role model in the observance of equality anddiversity good practice
• Accept the rights of individuals to choose their careproviders, participate in care and refuse care
• Assist patients from marginalised groups to access qualitycare

Person Specification

Experience

• Minimum of 2 years experience of working with healthcare professionals and or previous experience in the NHS or social care or relevant field.
• An appreciation of the nature of GPs and general practice. An appreciation of the nature of primary care prescribing.
• Experience and an awareness of common acute and long-term conditions that are likely to be seen in general practice.
• In-depth therapeutic and clinical knowledge and understanding of the principles of evidence-based healthcare.
• An appreciation of the new NHS landscape including the relationship between individual providers, PCNs and commissioners.
• Understanding of the implications of national priorities for the team and service.

Qualifications

• High level of verbal, written and numerical literacy.
• Self-development through continuous professional development activity.

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to communicate complex and sensitive information effectively with people at all levels by telephone, email and face to face.
• Ability to follow legal, ethical, professional and organisational policies/procedures and codes of conduct.
• Excellent interpersonal, influencing and negotiation skills organisation skills with the ability to constructively challenge the view and practices of managers and clinicians.
• Ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Ability to use own initiative, discretion and sensitivity.
• Full driving license

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.