Health Care Assistant

To support the practice nursing team in the delivery of nursing services, working as part of the practice multidisciplinary team, delivering care within their scope of practice to the entitled patient population. The healthcare assistant will deliver and assist clinical staff in the provision of treatment, preventative care, health promotion and patient education.

The following are the core responsibilities of the healthcare assistant. There may be on occasion, a requirement to carry out other tasks; this will be dependent upon factors such as workload and staffing levels:

• Undertake new patient health checks

• Referrals to health trainers and other community based services

• Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes

• Review patient data to work with the nursing team, to achieve focused patient healthcare

• Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximeter, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately

• Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly

• Undertake wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required

• Active participation in achieving QOF and Enhanced Services targets via clinics and recall demands

• Delivery of specialist clinics, evidence-based practice for patients with long-term conditions, management and preventative HCA interventions to all patients.

• Carry out BMI checks as directed

• Act as a chaperone as required

• Undertake venepuncture as and when required

• Participate and administer vaccination and immunisation programmes for both Children and Adults

• When trained, carry out ear irrigation under the supervisor of the practice nurse

• Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation

• Provide support during Minor Surgery

• Provide Minor illness clinics

• Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session

• Ensure safe storage and administration of medicines and treatments, according to local and national policy

• Ensure fridges are cleaned routinely in accordance with extant guidance

• Take fridge temperature as per requirement

• Carry out monthly stock take and order stock as and when required

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

· Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

· Ensure appropriate and accurate nursing and medical records are maintained.

· Analyse, prioritise and organise own workload, under supervision

· Demonstrate and maintain ability to perform relevant clinical skills using evidence based practice

· Ensure all professional / clinical practices are in line with NHS England and the Practice’s policies and procedures ie Legionella testing, infection control test

· Liaise with Management regarding new services that HCA’s can be involved with and how this may be implemented

· Conduct Legionella testing and assist with the weekly clearing of clinical waste

· Process tasks received through patchs Access (and/or any other digital consultation format) relevant to their role

· Participate in practice audit as directed by the audit lead

· Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care

· Support and participate in shared learning within the practice

· Attend Practice, Clinical and Nurse/HCA Team meetings (in addition to any others that may be scheduled to cover scope of work undertaken)

This Job Description is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and will be reviewed annually in conjunction with the post-holder at the annual appraisal. The post holder is also required to carry out any duties that may reasonably be requested by the GP Principal or the Practice Manager. All members of staff should be prepared to take on additional duties or relinquish existing duties in order to maintain the effective running of the practice.