PCN Health Care Assistant x2

Do you have experience of working as a Health Care Assistant in primary care? Are you compassionate and motivated and looking to make a real difference in primary care? We are recruiting two HCAs to lead on physical health checks for patients living with Severe Mental Illness (SMI) across four diverse Primary Care Networks in City & Hackney. This is not a standard HCA role. You will be part of a supportive multidisciplinary team, working closely with GP practices to deliver holistic care, tackle health inequalities, and engage with harder-to-reach patients including through home visits. Training will be provided where needed.

Main duties of the job:

• Conducting physical health checks for patients on the SMI register
• Supporting health promotion and onward referrals
• Engaging with patients from diverse backgrounds
• Working collaboratively across PCNs and within nursing teams

We welcome applications from candidates with strong communication skills, a commitment to equality and inclusion, and a passion for improving outcomes for patients with SMI.

Job responsibilities:

• To work alongside members of the GP Practices to provide patient care
• To undertake and record SMI physical health checks for patients on the SMI register
• Blood pressure, Pulse rate and rhythm, Temperature, Height and weight - body mass index, Venepuncture, ECG
• Co-create a patient Care Plan (in liaison with GP and patient)
• To provide necessary support to people who use primary care services to help them maintain their physical and mental health and wellbeing
• To provide health promotion to patients and offer/refer patients to services such as: smoking cessation, social prescribing, health and wellbeing coaching, referral to Core Sport, promote participation in health screening programmes
• To seek assistance when unsure or needs advice concerning a patient's care
• Be able to explain, administer and document vaccinations e.g. the annual influenza vaccine. Relevant training will be provided where needed.
• To test and record results of clinical specimens e.g. urinalysis
• To assist with the provision of health checks for both newly registered patients and NHS health checks
• To complete a physical health check (including bloods, ECGs, lifestyle advice and onward referral where needed) for patients identified as having a Severe Mental Illness (SMI)
• Adhere to infection control protocols in line with Practice Policy and national guidance
• Perform basic wound care following training, supervision and completion of competencies
• Responsibility for Care plans (including Patients Know Best) will remain with registered staff in the practice
• To undertake home visits for patients who have failed to attend the practice and who are therefore hard to reach. We anticipate that home visits will be undertaken in pairs, with job-share partner

Administration:

• To record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers, in an accurate and timely fashion, using computer systems as appropriate
• To use the Practice clinical system for patient searches for clinics and patient recall – full training provided

Administrative Responsibilities:

• Stock control and ordering as necessary
• Sharps and clinical waste management

Health & Safety:

• Use of personal security systems as operated within the practice
• Understanding microbiological and chemical hazards (COSHH)
• Adhere to cold chain principles
• Adhere to safe storage, rotation, and disposal of vaccines and drugs
• Understand and adhere to basic first aid and resuscitation principles
• Adhere to and understand statutory child health procedures and referral criteria
• The post holder must be aware of the responsibility placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to maintain a healthy and safe working environment for both staff and visitors.
• The post holder also has a duty to observe obligations under the employers Health and Safety policies and to maintain awareness of safe practices and assessment of risk in accordance with the Risk Management Strategy.

Communication & Development:

• Recognising alternative communication needs
• Demonstrating skills to others undertaking similar work

Quality & Governance:

• Alerting team to quality and risk issues
• Assessing own performance and accountability
• Working with other agencies to meet patient needs

Equality & Diversity:

• Acting in line with legislation and practice policies
• Respecting privacy, dignity, and beliefs of patients and colleagues

General:

• Any other reasonable duties commensurate with the role which may be requested from time-to-time
• Be able to work independently or as a member of a team
• Be flexible and organised
• Be willing to work extended hours where required

Expected to assist Doctors and Nurses in medical emergencies and have a certificate in Basic Life Support. HCAs have a duty of care and therefore a legal responsibility with regards to the patients they see. Although they are not registered with a professional body, HCAs are accountable to their employer to follow their contract of employment. In turn, employers have a responsibility to ensure the HCAs they employ are trained and supervised until they can demonstrate competence.

Training:

• Attend all allocated study days
• Complete all mandatory and statutory training as required by the employer (IPC)
• Participate in an annual individual performance review, including taking responsibility for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development
• Take responsibility for own development, learning and performance and demonstrate skills and activities to others who are undertaking similar work.

Communication:

• Maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice
• Comply with Information governance and practice policy
• Adhere to the Data Protection Act 2018
• To maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, clients, staff and other users of the services in accordance with the Caldicott Guardian and the Data Protection Act 1998 including outside of the work environment. Any breach of confidentiality may render an individual liable for dismissal and/or prosecution.

Safeguarding:

• The post holder has a responsibility to ensure they have read and understood the local safeguarding procedures
• The post holder has a responsibility to ensure that they keep up to date in safeguarding by completing your mandatory safeguarding training

Risk Management and Clinical Governance:

• To work within the Clinical Governance Framework of the PCN, incorporating Risk Management and all other quality initiatives.

This job description is intended to provide an outline of the duties and responsibilities; it will be subject to review and amendment as necessary in consultation with the post holder.

Please note we may close the advert early if we receive a high volume of applications.

Person Specification:

• Physical effort/ skills
• Fitness to do the job with or without reasonable adaptations
• Ability to work within manual-handling policy
• Ability to handle simple medical equipment and undertake phlebotomy (dexterity and manipulation skills)
• Must either be Hepatitis B immune or be willing to undergo an immunisation course.

Qualifications:

• General education (e.g. GCSEs) to grade C or above.
• Maths and English at Grade C are essential.
• Open University HCA Diploma or equivalent.

Experience:

• Experience of working in Primary Care
• At least 2 years experience of independent clinical practice as an HCA
• Experience in the following clinical skills: Phlebotomy, Blood Pressure measurement, Pulse measurement, Height, Weight and BMI measurement
• Experience of using EMIS clinical system

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.

£29,000 to £33,000 a year Equivalent: £14,500 to £16,500 per annum