Healthcare Assistant (HCA) in Grimsby

Main Duties To Carry Out Subject To Skills and Competencies:

• Phlebotomy
• Blood pressure checks
• Diet and lifestyle advice
• Weight management
• Over 75 health checks
• NHS and new patient health checks
• ECGs
• Smoking cessation
• B12 Injections
• Provision of flu clinics
• INR testing
• Assisting with Minor Surgery & Coil Fittings
• Hypertension annual health checks
• Spirometry
• Basic dressings
• Removal of sutures and clips
• Act as a chaperone
• CVD risk assessment checks
• Diabetic foot examinations
• Assist in clinics e.g., Microsuction, compression bandaging & dopplers according to skills and competence.

A flexible approach to duties is required as is the ability to work unsupervised within skills and competencies.

About us:

Pelham Medical Group is a welcoming practice in the centre of Grimsby aiming to provide high quality care in a supportive environment. We are a busy practice serving a large and varied population and can therefore be challenging. Applicants should be approachable, friendly and able to demonstrate excellent communication skills. We require an individual who is an excellent team player, has a proactive attitude, is hardworking and motivated with a personality to complement the current team. We strive to provide a family friendly workplace and aim to be flexible in this regard while also maintaining effective services. We recognise for our employees this is important to be able to more easily balance family and work life.

Appointment to any position is conditional on satisfactory registration, licence and qualification checks, and that any information disclosed on the application will be checked.

This position is based at Church View Health Centre, you may however be required to work from other locations with Pelham Medical Group acquires, or other practices within any local federation for the purposes of providing joint or collaborative services.

Job responsibilities:

• Undertake, record and follow guidelines for the tasks for which you have received appropriate training: Urinalysis and preparation of specimens for investigation by the pathology laboratory, measuring and recording physiological measurements in routine presentations: blood pressure, pulse rate, temperature, height and weight - body mass index, venepuncture, ECG, glucose tolerance test, peak flow readings, inhaler technique, spirometry.
• Support and monitor patients during nebulisation therapy.
• Prepare and maintain environments and equipment before, during and after patient care interventions.
• Assist regulated professionals while patients undergoing minor surgery.
• Assist professionals with coil fittings / IUCD / contraceptive implants – as required.
• Assist in raising awareness of health and well-being, and how it can be promoted.
• Give accurate and appropriate information to patients and groups within own competence.
• Undertake simple dressing procedures following local recommendations and using aseptic techniques.
• Where appropriate, provide support and encouragement to self-manage their conditions.
• Have a basic understanding of long term conditions including diagnostic interventions, treatments, and the principles of care and self-management.
• Plan, develop and implement health promotion activities as appropriate e.g. smoking, exercise and diet.
• Assess patients' readiness to change and provide motivational support as appropriate in cases of smoking, obesity and healthy living for older people.
• Administer the influenza and pneumococcal vaccine under indirect supervision of a regulated professional.
• Administer B12 injections under the indirect supervision of a regulated professional.
• Gain the underpinning knowledge and practical skills to administer basic life support or adrenaline if necessary.

Information processes:

• Record information and activities undertaken with patients and carers in an accurate and timely fashion using manual or computer systems as appropriate.
• Input accurate Read codes about patients to ensure accurate retrieval of information for monitoring and auditing processes.
• Maintain confidentiality of information relating to patients, relatives, staff and the practice.
• Take the necessary precautions when transmitting information.

Health, safety and security:

• Use and encourage others to be familiar with the personal security systems within the workplace according to practice guidelines.
• Identify the risks involved in work activities and undertake them in a way that manages the risks.
• Use and encourage others to adopt appropriate infection control procedures and maintain work areas in each clinical room so that they are clean, safe and free from hazards.
• Report any potential risks identified, including: hand washing and universal hygiene procedures; collection and handling of laboratory specimens; segregation and disposal of waste materials including sharps; decontamination of instruments and clinical equipment; reporting and treatment of sharps injuries; dealing with blood and body fluid spillage using appropriate PPE.
• Assist patients and colleagues in adopting sound infection control measures.
• Understand and apply the principles of the cold chain.
• Ensure safe storage, rotation and disposal of vaccines and drugs within area of responsibility.
• Know the general principles of first aid and resuscitation to be able to undertake initial actions as appropriate.
• Be aware of statutory child health procedures, and statutory local guidance and referral criteria.
• Know the health and safety policies and procedures within the workplace, including fire procedures, maintaining documentation, monitoring and maintaining equipment and furniture within your area of responsibility.
• Use the computer monitor safely.
• Be able to identify the risks to health of microbiological and chemical hazards within the working environment according to the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health.

Quality:

• Alert other team members to issues of quality and risk in the care of patients.
• Ensure own actions are consistent with clinical governance systems.
• Practice in accordance with agreed standards of care.
• Enable patients to access appropriate professionals in the team.
• Ensure stock items under your control are ordered through the correct procedures and available in the treatment and consulting rooms.
• Carry out monthly stock check and checking of emergency drugs and equipment in accordance with Practice protocols.
• Know how clinical governance affects the HCA role and bring to the attention of more senior staff any specific risk situation.
• Know the practice's policies in this respect, especially the whistle-blowing policy – available in the practice staff handbook.
• Be able to manage your own time effectively.
• Give and receive feedback professionally and defuse situations using problem resolution skills to reduce potential for formal complaints.

Phlebotomy Service:

• Venepuncture including INR testing.
• Daily collection of samples.
• Entering consultations/results/data into patient records.
• Preparing blood forms for phlebotomy.

Other Duties To Carry Out Subject To Skills and Competencies:

• Blood pressure readings.
• Diet and lifestyle advice.
• Weight management.
• Over 75 Health checks.
• New Patient Health Checks.
• ECGs.
• Smoking Cessation Service.
• B12 Injections.
• Provision of Flu Clinics.
• INR testing, and tasks supporting process and procedures in the practice relating to anticoagulation management under the supervision of nurses / GPs.
• Assisting with Minor Surgery & Coil Fittings.
• Hypertension Health Checks.
• Hearing tests.
• Spirometry.
• Basic Dressings.
• Removal of sutures and clips.
• Act as a Chaperone.
• CVD Risk Assessment Checks.
• Ear Syringing.
• Diabetic foot examinations.
• Home visiting for BP monitoring, phlebotomy, INR testing.
• Assist in clinics e.g., Microsuction, Compression bandaging & dopplers according to skills and competence.

Person Specification:

• Qualifications: GCSE grade A‑C or 9‑4 in Maths and English or equivalent, Immunisation accredited training certificate, Up to date basic life support and resuscitation, Care Certificate, HCA course, Diabetes foundation, Diabetes foot checks.
• Experience: 2 years experience of working within general practice or other healthcare environment, Understanding of issues regarding accountability and delegation, Clinical skills and competencies relevant to role, Experience of working in a primary care GP practice, Knowledge of Quality and Outcomes Framework (QoF).
• 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.