Healthcare Asssistant

Job responsibilities

Offer chronic disease management in line with local and national policy

Undertake opportunistic screening when clinically required

Perform venepuncture and electrocardiography

Carry out ear examination and irrigation

Administer adult and where applicable paediatric injections/immunisations/vaccines under an individualised prescription (PSD)

Provide advice on lifestyle issues; encouraging, assisting and supporting patients in changing their unhealthy behaviours and referring on appropriately

Being aware and recognising the signs of child abuse, family violence, vulnerable adults, substance abuse, addictive behaviours, and suicidal tendencies; proactively utilising local referral procedures where necessary

Manage work load effectively and answer any direct tasks, emails or communications in a timely manner

When required be available to carry out home visits (staff must ensure relevant car insurance level is in place to support this)

Apply infection control measures when collecting and handling of laboratory specimens, disposing of waste materials, dealing with blood and body fluids spillages and report and treat sharps injuries; promoting best practice within the Practice

Assist and support the medical/nursing colleagues in the management of clinical emergencies as required

Undertake annual training and demonstrates competency in anaphylaxis and resuscitation techniques

• Provide safe, evidence-based, cost-effective, individualised patient care
• Offer a holistic service to patients and their families, developing where appropriate an on-going plan of care/support, with an emphasis on prevention and self-care
• Promote health and well-being through the use of health promotion, health education, screening and therapeutic communication skills

Flexibility of Working Hours

You will be expected when appropriate, as part of your role, to cover sickness and annual leave, which is integral to the effective running of the Practice. Also you will be expected to be available if required to assist in extended surgeries to cater for the practice need.

Confidentiality:

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 all circumstances

In the performance of the duties outlined in this Job Description, the post-holder will have access to confidential information relating to patients and their carers; practice staff and other healthcare workers and also to information relating to the Practice as a business organisation.Information from these sources 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, the practice Health & Safety Manual, and the practice Infection Control policy and published procedures. This will include:

Utilising security systems appropriate to the workplace according to Practice guidelines

Identifying the risks involved in work activities and undertaking such activities in a way that manages those risks

Undertaking and 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

Active reporting of health and safety hazards and infection hazards immediately

Keeping own work areas and general / patient areas generally clean, assisting in the maintenance of general standards of cleanliness consistent with the scope of the job holders role

Equality and Diversity:

The post-holder will support the equality, diversity and rights of patients, carers and colleagues, to include:

Respecting the privacy, dignity, needs and beliefs of patients, carers and colleagues

Acting in a way that recognizes the importance of peoples rights, interpreting them in a way that is consistent with Practice procedures and policies, and current legislation

Behaving in a manner which is welcoming to and of the individual, is non-judgmental and respects their differing beliefs, 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 regular performance reviews

Taking responsibility for identifying own development and learning needs and for maintaining a record of own personal and/or professional development

Undertaking training to upskill should the practice have a need for the post holder to do so

Utilising acquired skills and activities to assist others who are undertaking similar work

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 teams performance

Work effectively with individuals in other agencies to meet patients needs

Effectively manage own time, workload and resources

Communication:

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

Communicate effectively with other team members

Communicate effectively with patients and carers

Recognise peoples needs for alternative methods of communication and respond accordingly

Person Specification

Qualifications

Essential

• General education to Grade C or above
• NVQ Level 3 or working towards
• Phlebotomy

Desirable

• Evidence of further academic achievement/practice relevant to ...