PCN Proactive Care Team - Healthcare Assistant

NHS Jobs; Leeds; On-site; GBP 12,000 - 18,000; Full time

Job summary

NHS Jobs is seeking a Health Care Assistant to support frail and housebound patients within the Armley PCN, delivering frontline community care and health promotion. You’ll undertake frailty reviews, assist in care plan formulation, and help patients access services while maintaining accurate records.

The role includes occasional home visits, collaboration with GP practices, and signposting to local resources to reduce isolation and deterioration. Training will be provided where needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum NVQ level 3 in health/social care or equivalent.
• Evidence of continual professional development.
• Experience in healthcare for vulnerable groups, esp. frail/elderly.

Responsibilities

• Holistically support frail patients in the community.
• Undertake frailty reviews for housebound patients by home visit or telephone.
• Refer patients to appropriate local services and signpost to resources.

Skills

Frailty care

Care for elderly

PCN liaison

Data collection

Public health delivery

Education

NVQ level 3 or equivalent health/social care

PCI accredited care co-ordination training

Job description

Main Job Responsibilities

• Holistically support patients with mild to severe frailty within the community
• Undertake frailty reviews of housebound patients for PCN practice sites via home visit, or occasionally via telephone
• Review patient needs and help them access the services and the support they require to understand and manage their own health and wellbeing
• Refer patients to services within the area that are most appropriate for them
• Conduct low level clinical screening such as dementia screening, blood pressure checks and venepuncture as directed by the lead health professional. (Where relevant training has been received)
• Carry out low level falls assessment/screening and provide advice and information on falls prevention, including referral for equipment where necessary
• Assist in the formulation and review of care plans to ensure all care is reflecting the patients needs and wishes
• Visit housebound patients at the request of PCN practices for Healthcare Assistant-appropriate tasks whilst ensuring these do not detract from core frailty work
• Ensure patient records are updated appropriately and consultations recorded using the appropriate template
• Liaise with each practice to maintain frailty registers
• Liaise with each practice to prioritise visits
• Work within the scope of HCA practice
• Identify social isolation and loneliness, being proactive in signposting to relevant resources to empower patients to remain active and engaged within their communities
• Identify and recognise deterioration in an individuals health and act promptly to refer to relevant health professional to minimise risk or where appropriate, avoid hospital admission
• Assist practices in the achievement of targets related to frail and housebound patients
• Develop and maintain knowledge and relationships with our practices and local services
• Work with local statutory, voluntary and independent organisations to ensure referrals are made appropriately and maximise the availability of local resources
• Take all reasonable precautions to ensure the health and safety of service users and self, understanding and following risk assessments as instructed
• To maintain close links with other services in line with Safeguarding procedures and make other appropriate interventions and escalation
• Ensure that GPs, practice nurses, practice pharmacists and other members of the primary care team understand the FCC/HCA role, and which patients may particularly benefit from their input
• Work with the Armley PCN and its leadership team to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of this role

Core Responsibilities:

• Frailty reviews for patients within Armley PCN who are house dependent
• Assisting each practice to maintain up to date frailty registers
• Help to raise awareness of health and wellbeing and how it can be promoted
• Assisting with the collection and collation of data on needs related to health and wellbeing

Additional Responsibilities:

• On occasion, not as a matter of course, for practices within the PCN:
• Phlebotomy
• Blood pressure monitoring
• Chaperoning duties
• Sterilising, cleansing and maintenance of surgical equipment
• Assisting in the assessment and surveillance of patients health and wellbeing

Knowledge, Training and Experience:

• Minimum NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in a health and/or social care setting
• Evidence of continual professional development
• Experience in healthcare provision to a vulnerable group of patients
• Specific interest in supporting frail and elderly patients
• Experience of Primary Care or other organisations supporting a wide range of individuals
• Knowledge of health care service delivery, public health delivery or community engagement
• Knowledge and understanding of the complexities of General Practice provision
• Completed a two day PCI accredited care co-ordination training course or be willing to complete

Other:

• Maintain the highest standards of conduct and integrity within organisation adhering to relevant Codes of Conduct and the NHS Constitution
• Be aware of and adhere to the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work Act and ensure own safety and the safety of colleagues and patients
• Participate in our appraisal system, matching organisational aims with individual objectives
• Comply with all organisational and statutory requirements
• Undertake all mandatory training required for the role
• Be aware of individual responsibilities under the Equal Opportunities and Diversity in Employment Policy and adhere to the provisions of the policy
• Work flexibly as required by the PCN, including working at different GP Practices or community locations in the local area.

This job description is not meant to be exhaustive. It describes the main duties and responsibilities of the post. Staff are expected to undertake any other duties commensurate with the FCC/HCA grade as agreed with their line manager.