PCN Healthcare Assistant in Leeds

We are looking for a compassionate, dedicated, reliable and patient focused individual who enjoys meeting new people to join us as a PCN Healthcare Assistant. At Armley PCN, we have a friendly, supportive and nurturing management style, and you will fit into the team well if you have a committed work ethic, enjoy working collaboratively and can work at pace. The Healthcare Assistant (HCA) will play a key role within Primary Care, delivering high-quality, person-centred care to patients across Armleys Primary Care Network (PCN). The post-holder will provide support to the clinical teams in delivering high-quality patient care. The role would be working across multiple sites, e.g. different practices each day.

About us: Armley Primary Care Network is a forward-thinking group of GP practices working together to enhance the health and wellbeing of the Armley population of over 30,000 patients. As a network, our vision is to collaborate, to integrate care and to work better together to meet the needs of our population. Our key priorities as a PCN are prevention, mental health and physical/mental frailty. The successful applicant will work alongside practice teams on a day to day basis, and will benefit from being networked with the wider Frailty Team within our PCN.

Job Responsibilities

• Clinical Practice: Deliver high-quality, compassionate care to patients in their homes, and across our 3 GP Practices. Support registered clinicians (GPs, Nurses, AHPs) in the delivery of clinical care. Undertake delegated clinical tasks within scope of practice, such as monitoring vital signs (blood pressure, pulse, temperature, oxygen saturation), phlebotomy (if trained), ECG recording, urinalysis and simple diagnostic procedures. Assist with personal care where required, promoting dignity and independence. Observe and report changes in patients’ conditions, escalating concerns appropriately. Support infection prevention and control measures in all care environments.
• Care Planning and Coordination: Support the delivery of individualised care plans developed by registered clinicians. Assist in carrying out basic patient assessments (within competency). Contribute to the monitoring of patients with long‑term conditions. Support proactive care initiatives, including regular monitoring of care home residents. Work with the multidisciplinary team (MDT) to ensure coordinated and continuous care.
• Communication and Collaborative Working: Work independently and in partnership with GPs and the wider MDT. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and carers. Work as part of a wider multidisciplinary team including GPs, nurses, pharmacists, and allied health professionals. Build positive working relationships with colleagues across GP practices and care homes. Share relevant information with team members to support safe, coordinated care. Advocate for patients’ needs and preferences where appropriate. Contribute to MDT meetings where required.
• Health Promotion and Patient Support: Support patients to maintain independence, dignity, and wellbeing. Promote healthy lifestyles and provide basic health advice (hydration, nutrition, mobility). Assist in supporting vaccination and screening programmes where appropriate. Provide reassurance and emotional support to patients and carers.
• Service Delivery and Development: Work flexibly across GP practices and care homes within the PCN. Support proactive care teams in delivering high‑quality patient services. Assist with quality improvement initiatives, audits, and data collection. Contribute to maintaining accurate patient records and service outcomes. Support the achievement of local and national healthcare targets.
• Administration and Governance: Maintain accurate and up‑to‑date patient records using clinical systems such as EMIS and SystmOne. Ensure compliance with relevant policies including infection prevention and control, safeguarding, and health and safety. Follow safe working practices and escalate risks appropriately. Support effective communication within the PCN and across partner organisations.
• Professional Development: Maintain high standards of personal and professional conduct. Participate in regular supervision and appraisal processes. Undertake mandatory training and continuing professional development (CPD). Work within defined competencies and seek support when required. Engage in reflective practice and ongoing learning.

General Responsibilities: Attend and contribute to team, practice, and PCN meetings. Work within all organisational policies, procedures, and NHS standards. Maintain confidentiality in line with data protection and information governance requirements. Carry out any other duties commensurate with the role.

Key Working Relationships: PCN Clinical Director, Proactive Care Team, PCN Clinical Leads, GPs, Practice Managers, nurses and other practice staff, PCN teams: Leadership, Clinical Pharmacists, Social Prescribers, Dietician, Health and Wellbeing Coaches, Providers of care including acute trusts, independent sector, and community services (geriatricians, community matrons, community mental health services), Local Care Partnerships linked to the PCN.

Policy and Governance Responsibilities: Confidentiality: Ensure that confidentiality is adhered to in terms of patient information and the protection of personal and sensitive data. Health and Safety: Identify risks involved in work activities and undertake activities in a way that manages risks. Actively report health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately when recognised. Maintain general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the role. Equality and Diversity: Act in a way that recognises the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with PCN practice procedures and policies, and current legislation. Safeguarding: Be familiar with and adhere to PCN practice safeguarding policies, procedures and guidelines for both children and adults at risk of abuse or neglect in conjunction with Multi‑agency Safeguarding Children and Safeguarding Adults at risk of abuse and/or neglect policy, protocols, and guidelines.

Person Specification:

• Meets a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) reference standards and criminal record checks.
• Access to own transport and ability to travel across the PCN on a regular basis.
• Knowledge & Skills: Understanding of personalised care and the comprehensive model of personalised care. Understanding of the wider determinants of health. Promotes diversity and equality and leads by example. Strong organisational skills, including planning, prioritising, time management and record keeping. Knowledge of how the NHS works, including primary care and PCNs. Knowledge of and ability to work to policies and procedures including confidentiality, safeguarding and health and safety. Ability to recognise/work within limits of competence, seeking advice if needed. Understanding of the needs of older people / adults with disabilities / long term conditions particularly in relation to promoting their independence. Basic knowledge of long‑term conditions and the complexities involved: medical, physical, emotional and social. Ability to record accurate clinical notes. Clear, polite telephone manner. Good interpersonal skills. Ability to follow clinical policy and procedure. EMIS and SystmOne user skills.
• Qualifications: Educated to GCSE or equivalent (GCSE Maths & English C or above). NVQ level 3 or equivalent experience in a health and/or social care setting. Evidence of continual professional development; Full UK Driving Licence. Qualified in Phlebotomy.
• Personal Qualities: Ability to actively listen, empathise with people and provide personalised support in a non‑judgemental way. Ability to provide a culturally sensitive service supporting people from all backgrounds and communities, respecting lifestyles and diversity. Commitment to reducing health inequalities and proactively working to reach people from diverse communities. Ability to support people in a way that inspires trust and confidence, motivating others to reach their potential. Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with people, their families, carers, partner agencies and stakeholders. Ability to identify risk and assess/manage risk when working with individuals. Have a strong awareness and understanding of when it is appropriate or necessary to refer people back to other health professionals/agencies, when what the person needs is beyond the scope of the care co‑ordinator role. Ability to maintain effective working relationships and to promote collaborative practice with all colleagues. Ability to demonstrate personal accountability, emotional resilience and work well under pressure. Ability to organise, plan and prioritise on own initiative, including when under pressure and meeting deadlines. Ability to work flexibly and enthusiastically within a team or on own initiative. Knowledge of, and ability to work to policies and procedures, including confidentiality, safeguarding, lone working, information governance, and health and safety. Demonstrable commitment to professional and personal development. Completed a two day PCI accredited care co‑ordination training course or be willing to complete one. Proficient in MS Office and web‑based services. Ability to provide motivational coaching to support behaviour change.
• Experience: Experience of working directly in a healthcare assistant or care co‑ordinator role, or within adult health and social care, learning support or public health / health improvement. Experience of working in health, social care and other support roles in direct contact with people, families or carers (in a paid or voluntary capacity). Experience of working within multi‑professional team environments. Experience of supporting people, their families and carers in a related role. Experience of working with elderly or vulnerable people, complying with best practice and relevant legislation. Experience or training in personalised care and support planning. Experience of data collection and using tools to measure the impact of services.

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.