Health Care Assistant in Woolwich

Join Valentine Health Partnership and become part of a dedicated, patient-centred team committed to delivering outstanding primary care across our diverse local community. As a Health Care Assistant, you will play a vital role in supporting patients to improve and maintain their health and wellbeing through health checks, phlebotomy, long-term condition management, vaccinations, wound care and health promotion activities. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated and compassionate individual who enjoys working as part of a multidisciplinary team while also taking initiative in a patient-facing role. We offer a supportive environment with opportunities for training, development and career progression, allowing you to expand your clinical skills and make a real difference to patients' lives. If you are passionate about high-quality care, value teamwork and want to be part of an innovative and forward-thinking GP practice, we would love to hear from you.

Why work for us?

• Be part of a supportive and experienced clinical team.
• Opportunities for ongoing training and professional development.
• Make a meaningful impact on patient health and wellbeing.
• Work across a varied and rewarding role in primary care.
• Join an organisation committed to quality, innovation and excellent patient care.

Main duties of the job

As a Health Care Assistant, you will provide direct patient care and support the delivery of high-quality primary healthcare services. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will assist patients with a range of clinical and preventative health interventions, support long-term condition management, promote health and wellbeing, and contribute to improving patient outcomes. The role offers a varied workload, combining patient-facing clinical responsibilities with collaborative working across the practice and wider community healthcare services.

About us

Valentine Health Partnership is a forward-thinking, patient-centred GP practice committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate healthcare to our diverse local community. We pride ourselves on providing excellent clinical care while fostering a supportive, inclusive and collaborative working environment for our staff. Our multidisciplinary team includes GPs, nurses, healthcare assistants, pharmacists, administrative and support staff who work closely together to achieve the best outcomes for our patients. We value teamwork, professionalism, continuous learning and innovation, ensuring that every member of staff feels supported and empowered to develop their skills and reach their full potential.

Working at Valentine Health Partnership offers the opportunity to be part of a welcoming and dedicated team, contribute to meaningful improvements in patient care, and access ongoing training and development opportunities within a dynamic primary care setting. We are committed to promoting equality, diversity and wellbeing, creating a workplace where every individual is respected, valued and encouraged to succeed.

Job responsibilities

Supported by the nursing team within the practice, the Health Care Assistant (HCA) will deliver care within the boundaries of their role and in accordance with specific practice guidelines and protocols. Responsible for the care delivered, demonstrating critical thinking and skills in clinical decision making within the parameters of their qualifications and role requirements. They will focus upon supporting patients to be healthy by assessing their needs, providing HCA care, health education advice, screening activities, implementing care at the surgery, community or other settings, maintaining clinically accurate records and running clinics. They will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of patients and support the delivery of policy and procedures, and providing HCA guidance as required.

Participate in vaccination and immunisation programmes for adults. Review patient data to work with the nursing team, to achieve focused patient healthcare. Active participation in achieving QOF and Enhanced Services targets and recall demands. Able to perform the essential functions of the role safely and effectively and will be required to undertake moving and handling procedures with patients when carrying out clinical duties. Flexibility to work at different premises when requested is required as part of this role & the post holder may need to travel to patients' homes for patients who are housebound. Full-time post holders will work a 37.5 hour week between the hours of 8.00am to 8:00pm Monday to Friday and from 09:00-17:00 Saturdays.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Clinical Practice: The post holder will make professional decisions, providing safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care.

• Health Checks
• Referrals to weight loss services, health trainers, Live Well Greenwich and other community based services
• Undertake phlebotomy clinics in accordance with practice protocols and infection prevention and control procedures.
• Record and process blood samples accurately and ensure their safe transportation to the laboratory.
• Ensure samples are correctly labelled and ready for collection at designated time.
• Undertake urinalysis and document according in patients notes if clinically indicated, raising clinical concerns if necessary following agreed practice protocols.

Health and Well-being: Assess, plan, develop, implement and evaluate programmes to promote health and well-being, and prevent adverse effects on health and well-being. Support patients to adopt health promotion strategies and encourage principles of self-care. Offer holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an ongoing plan of care/support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care.

Weight Management & Advice: Chronic Disease management. Undertake appropriate investigation, clinical observations and interventions following agreed guidelines for patients with chronic diseases CHD, Pre-Diabetes, Hypertension, asthma and COPD.

Emergency Care: Prioritise health problems and intervene appropriately to assist the patient in complex, urgent or emergency situations, including initiation of effective emergency care. Removal of stitches and clips. Meet the needs of patients presenting for wound care and use dressing formulary.

Mental health, adult and child safeguarding: Undertake annual health checks for patients on the SMI register. Recognise patients presenting with mental health needs in accordance with the National Framework (NSF) for Mental Health. Raise relevant information with the duty GP. Recognise adult and child safeguarding situations and act appropriately. Provide vaccination and immunisation programmes for Adults in accordance with agreed protocols. Review patient data to work with the nursing team, to achieve focused patient healthcare. Active participation in achieving QOF and Enhanced Services targets and recall demands.

Contribution to the implementation of Services Deliver High Quality Service: The post-holder will strive to maintain quality within the Practice, and will; Effectively manage own time, workload and resources. Reflect on own and team activities to identify risks, enhance performance and improve quality of patient care. Work within own competence. Produce accurate, specific and complete records of patient consultation. Deliver care according to the NSF and the NICE guidelines and evidence based care. Understand and apply statutory procedure and local guidance regarding the identification of vulnerable adults and children, domestic violence, substance abuse and addictive behaviour.

This list of clinical skills is not exhaustive and the post holder will be given help to develop the required clinical skills for their particular role.

Communication: The post-holder should recognise the importance of effective communication and will strive to; Communicate effectively with patients and carers to ensure they are fully informed and consent to treatment. Utilise effective communication skills to support patients. Provide support, guidance and information in a format that meets the needs of the patients. Communicate effectively with other team members and external stakeholders. Act as an advocate when representing the patients and colleagues viewpoints to others. Fully participate with team meetings, team activities and delivering the nursing agenda.

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 peoples 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, non-judgmental and respects circumstances, feelings priorities and rights. Identify patterns of discrimination, take action to overcome this and promote diversity and quality of opportunity.

The post-holder will participate in any mandatory and statutory training programme implemented by the Practice as part of this employment. Actively participating in ongoing learning and development to include; 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. Understand own responsibilities and accountability in the delivery of HCA services to patients. Disseminate learning and information to other team members in order to share good practice. Provide educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues to facilitate learning.

Team Working: The post-holder will work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working. To include; Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery. Ensure clear understanding and utilisation of referral mechanisms within the practice. Accept delegation from other clinicians, prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management. Participate in and support local projects as agreed with the practice management team.

Management of Risk: Monitor work areas and practices to ensure that they are safe, free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines. Apply infection control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines.

Utilising and applying Information: The post-holder will work effectively to accurately apply and utilise information including; Review and process data using accurate Read codes about patients in order to ensure easy and accurate retrieval for monitoring and audit processes. Understand own and others responsibility to the individual organisation regarding the Freedom of Information Act. Apply patient/clinical data searches to achieve clinical goals.

Confidentiality: The post holder will work effectively to ensure confidentiality at all. To include consideration of; In the course of 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. Reporting potential risks identified.

Person Specification

• Good General Education
• Care Certificate
• Ability to provide quality care
• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Good organisational skills
• Good team working skills
• Ability to work independently following verbal or written instructions
• Adaptable to change
• An understanding, acceptance and adherence to the need for strict confidentiality
• Able to work on own initiative
• Able to work under pressure and remain calm
• Flexible and adaptable
• Aware of own limitations
• Basic IT Skills
• Qualified to NVQ level 3 or equivalent
• Experience in GP Practice
• Knowledge in EMIS and DOCMAN clinical systems
• Skills in Wound Care, Patient Health Checks, Blood Pressure, Management of Long Term Conditions, Phlebotomy
• Basic first aid knowledge
• Health and safety awareness

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.