Health Care Assistant - Much Birch Surgery in Hereford

Much Birch Surgery has an exciting opening for an experienced HCA to join our team of 3 GPNs and 1 HCA. We strive for excellent clinical and professional support, a healthy work-life balance and a challenging but rewarding career, whatever your area of interest. We pride ourselves on excellent patient care, fantastic teamwork and a willingness to look at new ways of working.

This role is for 20.5 hours per week.

Main duties of the job:

• Working under the direct supervision of the Lead Practice Nurse and strictly in accordance with specific Practice guidelines and protocols, the Healthcare Assistant will assist the Practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care.
• Due to existing clinical rota and availability of clinical rooms, candidate must be available to work over Tuesdays, Wednesdays, or Fridays (hours could be spread across 2 or 3 days).
• Process a NVQ Level 3 or Care Certificate & demonstrate commitment to professional development.
• Have experience of working in a general practice surgery.

About us:

We are a rapidly growing GP-led organisation with a mission to ensure that all patients have access to comprehensive, coordinated and continuous care within a sustainable primary care system. We believe there is an opportunity to reimagine how primary care is delivered, with a strong focus on data insights, technology, and clinical innovation. Our ambition is to enhance patient access, elevate the patient experience, and improve health outcomes, ultimately driving a step change in the quality of care we provide.

The Much Birch GMS contract transferred to Taurus Healthcare Limited (the GP Federation for Herefordshire) in February 2024. While the practice no longer operates under the traditional GP Partner model, it is now led by a dedicated practice-based Senior Management Team. Importantly, the practice team remains unchanged, and the surgery continues to maintain its identity and strong presence within the local community.

Much Birch is:

• A busy rural dispensing practice at the heart of the community.
• Located in the village of Much Birch, between Ross-on-Wye and Hereford city.
• Covering an area reaching from the edges of Hereford to Ross on Wye, and extending into the villages of the Golden Valley.
• List size of circa 5,000+ patients.
• A supportive clinical team of GPs, ANPs, Paramedics, Practice Nurses, HCAs, Physiotherapist, Social Prescribers.

Job responsibilities:

• Take blood samples safely, adhering to infection control procedures.
• Perform in-house tests, e.g., D-Dimer and ECGs as requested.
• Prepare patients for chronic disease reviews e.g., BP, height, weight, urinalysis.
• Conduct diabetic foot checks and make necessary referrals.
• Provide basic wound care and remove sutures/clips as per care plans.
• Administer B12, pneumococcal, and other immunisations under PSDs.
• Process urine and pathology specimens according to protocols.
• Provide lifestyle advice for chronic disease management and signpost to further support.
• Apply evidence-based care approaches aligned with QOF requirements.
• Understand role limitations in providing medical advice.
• Accurately document patient observations and escalate abnormal findings.
• Prepare clinical rooms and equipment ahead of consultations.
• Assist with contraceptive procedures (e.g., implant insertion/removal).
• Act as a chaperone during consultations when needed.
• Support clinicians during emergency management of patients and be confident in resuscitation techniques.
• Manage ordering, receiving, and monitoring of nursing and clinical stock.
• Check and maintain clinical room stock, ensuring no expired or damaged items.
• Keep accurate stock records and report shortages or discrepancies.
• Support IPC lead in auditing and maintaining infection control standards.
• Ensure room cleaning aligns with IPC protocols and report any breaches.
• Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient health records.
• Enhance own performance through continuous professional development, imparting own knowledge and behaviours to meet the needs of the service.

Person Specification:

• Skills: Excellent communication skills - written and oral. Effective time management - planning and organising. Ability to work as a team member and autonomously. Problem solving and analytical skills. Ability to follow policies and procedures.
• Qualifications: GCSE grade A-C in English and Maths or equivalent. NVQ Level 3 or Care Certificate Equivalent.
• Personal Qualities & Attributes: Polite and Professional. Problem solver with the ability to process information accurately and effectively, interpreting data as required. Sensitive and empathetic in distressing situations. Ability to work under pressure/in stressful situations. Effectively able to communicate and understand the needs of the patient. Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Experience: Experience of working with the general Public. Experience of working in a healthcare setting. Experience of performing clinical tasks. Experience of administrative duties. Experience of working in General Practice. Knowledge of Primary care clinical systems e.g. EMIS.

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.