Healthcare Assistant in Sunderland

To work in a supported learning environment to develop the skills and knowledge required for a Healthcare role in General Practice. To develop skills to assist medical and nursing staff in the care of practice patients, including treatment, preventive care, screening, and patient education. The post will include administrative duties as part of the role. Working under the indirect supervision of a qualified nurse and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols, undertake tasks and duties delegated by the General Practitioner or qualified nurse. To attend the relevant courses and study days required to fulfil the role. To gain knowledge and skills whilst working alongside an experienced nurse mentor.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Clinical Practice
• To provide phlebotomy as required in accordance with training and procedure.
• To take ear, throat, and skin swabs as directed by the practice nurse or GP.
• To take physiological measurements for patients including blood pressure, pulse rate and rhythm, temperature, height and weight (body mass index), visual acuity, urinalysis, and ECG in the surgery and/or at home (if required).
• Undertake new patient health checks, peak flow measurement, spirometry, suture and clip removal (as per practice policy), change simple dressings, and carry out other tasks for which you have received appropriate training.
• To fit 24 hours BP machine as directed and in accordance with training and procedure.
• To provide adult immunisations such as Flu, Pneumonia, and Vit B12 in accordance with training and procedure.
• Assist GPs undertaking minor surgery as per practice policy.
• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during, and after patient interventions.
• Clearing and restocking of consulting/treatment rooms, including timely order of stock items under your control.
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being by participating in patient health promotion.
• Give accurate and appropriate information within own competence.
• Ensure that anomalies are reported to a senior member of the clinical team.
• Notify the practice nurse or GP of any significant patient issues.
• Training & Development
• Fully participates in training and development.
• Engages in a programme of ongoing support and feedback to maximise the benefit of the training and development plan.
• Confidentiality
• In the course of seeking treatment, patients entrust us with sensitive information regarding their health. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. 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
• Assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others' health, safety, and security as defined in the Practice Health & Safety Policy.
• Identifying the risk involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Ensuring that all accidents or dangerous incidents are reported and investigated, and follow-up action taken where necessary.
• Maintain training in line with local policies.
• Equality and Diversity
• The post-holder will support the quality, diversity, and rights of patients, carers, and colleagues.
• Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way consistent with current legislation.
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs, and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to individuals, is non-judgemental, and respects their circumstances, feelings, priorities, and rights.
• Quality
• Alert the Executive GP or 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
• Communicate effectively with other team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

The employer is Sunderland GP Alliance and the post-holder is expected to comply with the Alliance's employment policies and procedures.