HCA - Part time in City of London

The Gardens Surgery is seeking an experienced Health Care Assistant (HCA) with a background in primary care. As a small practice, we value team players who are compassionate, motivated, and dedicated to making a positive impact on our patients' lives. We are offering a part-time HCA position for two days a week — Mondays and Thursdays. The role involves conducting NHS health checks and visiting frail and elderly patients to provide them with essential health support. Unlike typical HCA roles, this position requires home visits to selected patients. You will collaborate closely with a supportive multidisciplinary team and work alongside the clinical GP lead. Training will be provided as necessary.

Main duties of the job

• Conducting physical health checks for frailty patients
• Supporting health promotion and onward referrals
• Engaging with patients from diverse backgrounds
• Working collaboratively with the nurse lead to deliver adult immunisations
• Venepuncture, 24hr BP monitoring, BP, pulse rate and rhythm
• Stock control and ordering as necessary

About us

We are a well-established, reputable PMS GP practice conveniently located next to Peckham Rye Park and within walking distance of East Dulwich. Serving about 6,300 patients who are predominantly working-age individuals and young families, we strive to maintain the best qualities of traditional family medicine while also embracing innovation and ongoing improvement. We are searching for a team player who wants to be part of the team and helping each other out. We are looking for someone who is enthusiastic about contributing to the practice's continued development and growth.

Job responsibilities

• To work as part of a highly skilled clinical team to provide patient care
• To undertake and record NHS Health Checks and SMI physical health checks for patients on the SMI register
• Blood pressure
• Pulse rate and rhythm
• Temperature
• Height and weight - body mass index
• Venepuncture
• 24hr BP Monitoring
• Co-create a patient Care Plan when visiting our frail patients (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, 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 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 which 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 of the Practice clinical system for patient searches for clinics and patient recall full training provided
• Administrative Responsibilities
• Stock control and ordering as necessary
• Re-stocking of clinical rooms
• 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 employer's 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.

Person Specification

• Qualifications
• General education (eg GCSEs) to grade C or above.
• Maths and English at Grade C are essential.
• Care Certificate
• Open University Diploma or equivalent.

• Experience
• Experience of working in Primary Care
• At least 2 years experience of independent clinical practice as a health care assistant.
• 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.