Health Care Assistant in Bristol

We are looking to expand our Health Care Assistant team and require cover of 10.5 hours split over 2 mornings per week. We have a lovely nursing team and are looking for someone to work on a Monday and Wednesday morning from 8am to 1.15pm, a total of 10.5 hours per week. Due to room availability and operational cover, we are unable to offer any alternative days at this time.

We offer inclusion in the NHS pension scheme, a cycle to work scheme, free parking and a kind and caring team to work with within a community surgery. The pay is between £12.98 and £13.63 per hour (dependent on experience) and there will be a training and probationary period. The closing date is Friday 5th June with interviews planned for the afternoon of Wednesday 17th June. However, if we receive enough suitable applications, we may close the advert early and offer an earlier interview date. If you are interested, we would therefore encourage you to submit your application as early as possible. If you would like to discuss the role, please contact Jennifer Lumsden, our Assistant Practice Manager on 0117 9321320 or e-mail jenniferlumsden@nhs.net.

Main duties of the job:

• Duties will include, but are not limited to, phlebotomy, ECGs, administration of some routine adult vaccinations, NHS health checks, BP monitoring, diabetic foot checks, chaperone duties, basic wound care and ear irrigation under the direction of the nursing team, providing support during minor surgery and family planning clinics, processing of samples and teledermatology.

About us:

We are a small 3 partner, 4 salaried doctors, semi-rural practice with a growing population of 7,400 registered patients. Our boundary area mainly covers the villages of North Common, Oldland Common, Cadbury Heath, Warmley, Longwell Green, Willsbridge, and up to Bitton. We have a team of clinical GPs, an ANP, nursing/HCA staff as well as a Clinical Pharmacist and Physiotherapist, a Practice Manager, Assistant Practice Manager and admin/reception support staff. We also have care co-ordinators attached to the practice via our local PCN. Our practice ethos is very much based around continuity of care, support and good team working. We are proud to say that 2 years ago we were rated second in Bristol, North Somerset & South Gloucestershire in the National Patient Satisfaction Survey and we continue to score highly in this area and in our monthly friends and family responses. This is down to the hard work of the entire practice team. We have a team of fantastic and dedicated staff who complement each other in their knowledge, skills, and experience. We operate from a converted farmhouse in the village of North Common which has plenty of free parking for staff. We are fortunate to have a lovely garden at the front of the practice so in the summer we often have lunch outside. All consulting rooms are situated on the ground floor and there is a small dispensary next to reception. Upstairs houses admin rooms, the staff room and kitchen, plus a room for meetings and training.

Job responsibilities:

• Working under the supervision of the nursing team and strictly in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols and within the scope of their practice, the HCA will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care including preventative care, health promotion and patient education.
• Undertake venepuncture ensuring all samples are correctly labelled and sent to the laboratory according to current timeframes.
• Undertake ECGs ensuring the results are shown to the duty doctor before the patient leaves the premises.
• Assist with the practices NHS health checks programme checks undertaken in line with the requirements of the LES.
• Administer some adult vaccinations in line with the practices protocols ensuring PSDs are completed if appropriate.
• Support the practices adult influenza and Covid campaigns.
• Carry out baseline observations such as height, weight, BMI, pulse oximetry, blood pressures, temperatures, pulse rates and record findings accurately on the clinical system.
• Undertake diabetic foot checks in line with agreed protocols.
• Undertake basic wound care and simple dressings as triaged by the nursing team.
• Undertake ear irrigation under the direction of a practice nurse.
• Provide support during minor surgery and family planning clinics as directed by the lead GP.
• Undertake teledermatology clinics taking photographs of skin lesions when requested by the GP team.
• Act as a chaperone when required.
• Process laboratory samples and ensure the practices UTI protocol is followed.
• Undertake weekly cleaning and re-stocking of consulting rooms in line with the practices infection control policy and ensuring the appropriate paperwork is completed.
• Support and participate in shared learning within the practice including attendance at regular nurse meetings, clinical meetings and staff training afternoons.
• Attend training as required to ensure your skills are maintained.
• Complete the care certificate course if not already undertaken.
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate to include smoking cessation.
• Undertake any additional duties as directed by the nursing team and within the scope of their practice.

Confidentiality:

While seeking treatment, patients entrust us with, or allow us to gather, sensitive information in relation to their health and other matters. They do so in confidence and have the right to expect that staff will respect their privacy and act appropriately. In the performance of the duties outlined in this job description, the post-holder may have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers, practice staff and other healthcare workers. They may also have access to information relating to the practice as a business organisation. All such information from any source is to be regarded as strictly confidential. 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:

The post-holder will assist in promoting and maintaining their own and others health, safety and security as defined in the practice Health & Safety Policy, to include:

• Using personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
• Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks.
• Making effective use of training to update knowledge and skills.
• Using appropriate infection control procedures, maintaining work areas in a tidy and safe way and free from hazards.

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder 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.
• Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their circumstances, feelings priorities and rights.

Personal/Professional Development:

The post-holder 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.
• Complete on-line training provided by the practice on all appropriate topics.

Quality:

The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the practice, and will:

• Alert 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:

The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication within the team and will strive to:

• Communicate effectively with colleagues and other practice team members.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers.
• Recognise people's needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly.

Contribution to the Implementation of Services:

The post-holder will:

• Apply practice policies, standards and guidance.
• Discuss with other members of the team how the policies, standards and guidelines will affect own work.
• Participate in audits where appropriate.

Person Specification:

• GCSEs (or equivalent) in English and Maths.
• Experience working in a healthcare setting.
• Experience providing direct patient care.
• Experience and ability to perform basic observations (BP, pulse, temperature, weight).
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to communicate sensitively with patients.
• Good interpersonal and teamwork skills.
• Compassionate, caring and professional manner.
• Reliable and organised.
• Flexibility to work extra hours to cover holidays and sickness from time to time.
• Awareness of patient centred care.
• Understanding of infection prevention and control.
• Understanding of safeguarding principles.
• Understanding of confidentiality and data protection.
• Knowledge of health and safety requirements.
• Clear enhanced DBS check.
• Previous experience in a GP practice/primary care.
• ECG recording.
• Wound care and dressings.
• Vaccinations and immunisations support.
• Aware of CQC standards.

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.