Healthcare Assistant in Lydney

Clinical Responsibilities

• Duties specific to role
• Clinical procedures (only to be performed once trained and assessed as competent)
• Venepuncture
• BP/Pulse
• Temperatures
• Simple dressings
• Urinalysis
• Ear syringing
• Collect and prepare swabs and samples
• Blood glucose monitoring
• Record ECGs
• Process blood samples for INR test analysis
• Act as chaperone
• Assist GPs and practice nurses with procedures
• NHS health checks
• Diabetic foot checks
• Immunisations (under supervision of prescriber)
• Support patients with management of long-term conditions
• Support patients with lifestyle advice and education

Other

• Stock control and management
• Supporting nursing team with infection prevention and control
• Checking, maintenance and calibration of equipment and fridges
• Preparation & maintenance of clinical rooms
• Maintain Cold Chain procedures
• Segregation and disposal of waste materials.

General Duties

• To undertake the procedures listed above
• To complete all associated documentation
• To mentor and train new members of staff (once fully trained in role)
• To be sensitive to the needs of service users whilst performing an invasive procedure.
• To maintain and ensure effective and efficient use of consumable equipment
• To undertake all duties and responsibilities, at all times in compliance with the local policies and procedures.
• To behave at all times with courtesy and consideration to colleagues and service users.

Working Conditions

• Frequent, prolonged VDU use
• Time-pressured environment
• High levels of accuracy and attention to detail essential at all times
• Exposure to distressing situations and written material
• Exposure to body fluids and needles
• Potential exposure to blood-borne viruses
• Requirement to wear uniform

Additional Responsibilities

• Awareness of and compliance with all relevant G DOC policies/guidelines for your role, e.g. prescribing, confidentiality, data protection, health and safety;
• Contributing to evaluation/audit and clinical standard setting within the organisation as applicable to your role;
• Attending training, Practice meetings and other meetings and events organised by the Practice, PCN, or other agencies such as the ICB, where appropriate;
• Contributing to audits and written returns to ensure that the Practice meets quality standards and receives the designated funding, as appropriate to your role;
• Treating colleagues with courtesy and respect;
• Complying with G DOCs values, and the values of your practice/team.
• As part of the Practice team, contributing to the delivery of QOF and enhanced services.
• Contributing to the management and development of the Primary Care Network, including the performance of work undertaken by the Practice as part of the PCN.
• Helping to ensure that the Practice remains safe and effective, including by the use of clinical audit and learning from significant events and complaints.
• Helping to ensure that the Practice provides a supportive working environment for clinicians, trainees and other employees.
• Supporting colleagues learning and professional development, as well as your own.
• Helping to ensure that the Practice complies with CQC requirements for primary care, including all fundamental standards of care.
• You will be required to be immunised in compliance with Green Book and NHS recommendations for your role (unless medically exempt).
• Ensuring that you always work within your own competencies and training.
• Observing health and safety guidelines at all times.

Confidentiality

• Comply with the Confidentiality Agreement.

Health & Safety

• Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, you have a personal responsibility to have regard to your own and others safety.
• You should familiarise yourself with fire exits at all sites where you work, and the action that you should take in the event of a fire.
• Personal alarms are available from G DOC for all GPs, wherever you are working.
• Your site induction should cover local procedures for summoning external help.
• Please ensure you familiarise yourself with these local procedures.
• You must comply with site Health and Safety procedures, including those that concern clinical waste, use of hazardous substances, and the use and disposal of sharps.
• Health and safety hazards should be reported to the Practice Manager.
• You should dress appropriately and professionally.
• To reduce the risk of sharps injuries, shoes should be closed (not open sandals).
• You must ensure that your car is insured for commuting and for any business use, if applicable (e.g. home visits if part of your role).
• GP staff in Gloucestershire have been the victims of serious & sustained stalking and violence.
• You should not give anyone outside the Practice information about when and where colleagues will be working.
• Refer any queries about rotas etc to the Practice Manager or G DOC.
• Be aware that stalkers may have knowledge of the local healthcare system and sound very plausible.

Infection Control

• Undertaking training, and following policies and processes, as appropriate to your role.
• Any other reasonable duties that may be required from time-to-time.

Safeguarding

• Safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
• Even staff who do not routinely have contact with patients may become aware of a safeguarding concern.
• You will ensure you are familiar with G DOCs safeguarding procedures.
• Report all concerns promptly, following the safeguarding procedures.
• Ensure that you maintain an appropriate level of safeguarding training for your role.
• Contribute to meetings and other safeguarding processes, as appropriate to your role.

Equality and Diversity

• You will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:
• Acting in a way that recognises the importance of people's rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with practice procedures and policies, and current legislation;
• Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers, and colleagues.

Quality and Patient Safety

• You will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will:
• Alert other team members to any concerns about clinical governance or quality and risk;
• Participate in Significant Event Analysis reviews.
• 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 other agencies to meet patients' needs;
• Effectively manage own time, workload and resources.
• Avoid working if you are impaired from doing so safely or effectively, for example due to illness.
• If relevant to your role, ensure that any necessary handover and follow up arrangements for patients have been made.

Communication

• You will recognize the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:
• Communicate effectively with other team members, including through use of email, TeamNet and other agreed communication channels;
• Check your email and TeamNet every working day;
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers;
• Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly i.e. signing and use of telephone and face-to-face translators.

Professional Development

• You will ensure that your mandatory training remains up to date.
• You will participate in any training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment, such training to include:
• Participation in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development.
• Taking responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrating skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

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.