Health Care Assistant

Job description

Job responsibilities

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Clinical duties

The Healthcare Assistant may undertake the following activities, subject to appropriate training, competency assessment, delegation and local protocols:

Undertake phlebotomy and the safe collection, handling and processing of blood samples.

Undertake routine health checks and NHS Health Checks, where appropriately trained.

Undertake blood pressure, pulse, respiratory rate, oxygen saturation, height, weight and BMI measurements.

Undertake blood glucose and HbA1c testing where appropriate and within competency.

Support the monitoring and review of patients with long-term conditions as delegated by the clinical team.

Undertake pre-diabetes and diabetes-related checks, including foot assessments, where appropriately trained.

Undertake basic wound care and dressing changes within competence and according to agreed clinical protocols.

Undertake ear irrigation/microsuction-related procedures where appropriately trained and assessed as competent.

Administer B12 injections where appropriately trained, competent and working under appropriate clinical delegation.

Support the delivery of vaccination programmes, including flu vaccinations, where appropriately trained, authorised and assessed as competent.

Support other vaccination activity as required and within the scope of training and competence.

Process and manage laboratory samples requested by GPs, nurses and other authorised clinicians, ensuring correct identification, labelling, storage and transportation.

Undertake clinical observations and other delegated investigations as requested by registered healthcare professionals.

Undertake chaperoning duties in accordance with practice policy.

Undertake specific clinical activities for named patients where these have been appropriately delegated, taught and assessed as competent.

Recognise and appropriately escalate abnormal clinical findings, changes in a patient's condition or concerns regarding their health and wellbeing.

Support clinicians in the monitoring and surveillance of patients' health where appropriate.

Patient care and health promotion

Provide patients with appropriate information and health promotion advice within the scope of the role.

Encourage patients to engage with preventative healthcare, screening, vaccination and healthy lifestyle interventions.

Support patients to understand the purpose of investigations and routine health checks, escalating questions outside the HCA's scope to an appropriate clinician.

Recognise barriers to accessing healthcare and raise these with the wider clinical team where appropriate.

Promote a positive, respectful and inclusive experience for all patients.

Infection prevention and control

Work in accordance with practice infection prevention and control policies and procedures.

Maintain high standards of hand hygiene and use appropriate personal protective equipment.

Clean and maintain clinical equipment in accordance with manufacturer guidance and local policy.

Ensure clinical environments and equipment are appropriately prepared before, during and after patient care.

Dispose of clinical waste and sharps safely and in accordance with practice policy.

Report infection prevention and control concerns promptly to the appropriate person.

Equipment, stock and clinical environment

Prepare and maintain clinical rooms and equipment to ensure they are safe, clean and appropriately stocked.

Clear, clean and restock consulting and treatment rooms following patient contact.

Monitor clinical consumables and report stock requirements.

Support stock control and ordering of medical consumables as required.

Check clinical equipment is maintained, calibrated and fit for purpose, reporting any concerns promptly.

Support the safe storage and maintenance of clinical equipment and supplies.

Safeguarding and patient safety

Recognise and appropriately escalate safeguarding concerns relating to adults and children.

Follow practice safeguarding policies and procedures and participate in safeguarding training appropriate to the role.

Recognise and report patient safety concerns, incidents, near misses and risks through the appropriate reporting processes.

Maintain awareness of professional boundaries and understand the limitations of the HCA role.

Seek advice and support from a registered healthcare professional whenever a situation falls outside the post holder's competence or delegated responsibilities.

Documentation, confidentiality and information governance

Maintain accurate, contemporaneous and appropriate patient records in accordance with practice procedures.

Record clinical observations, investigations and interventions accurately within the appropriate clinical system.

Maintain patient confidentiality at all times and comply with information governance, GDPR and data protection requirements.

Handle patient information securely and only access information required to undertake the role.

Ensure relevant results, concerns or abnormal findings are communicated to the appropriate clinician in a timely manner.

Home visits and community working

Undertake home visits where required and where the activity is appropriate to the role, training and level of competence.

Follow appropriate lone-working, health and safety and risk assessment procedures when working away from the practice.

Escalate concerns identified during home visits to the appropriate registered healthcare professional.

Team working and professional development

Work effectively as part of the wider multidisciplinary primary care team.

Communicate effectively with patients, carers, colleagues and other healthcare professionals.

Attend team meetings, training sessions and supervision as required.

Maintain mandatory and role-specific training requirements.

Participate in competency assessments and maintain competence within the scope of the role.

Identify personal learning and development needs and participate in relevant education and training.

Contribute to service improvement and quality initiatives within the practice.

Support colleagues and contribute to a positive, respectful and inclusive team culture.

General

The post holder will:

Work within the limits of competence and only undertake clinical activities for which appropriate training, assessment and delegation have been provided.

Follow all relevant practice policies, procedures, clinical guidelines and standard operating procedures.

Comply with health and safety, infection prevention and control, safeguarding, information governance and confidentiality requirements.

Report any concerns regarding patient care, clinical practice, equipment, staffing or the working environment to the appropriate manager or clinician.

Maintain professional standards of behaviour and treat patients, carers and colleagues with dignity and respect.

Support equality, diversity and inclusion and provide care that recognises and respects individual needs, preferences and circumstances.

Participate in practice audits, quality improvement and service development activity where appropriate.

Be flexible in supporting the needs of the practice and wider primary care service.

Person Specification

Knowledge & Skills

Essential

• Ability to work unsupervised
• Ability to use initiative and work independently
• Competent to undertake HCA
• Administration tasks

Desirable

• Wound Care, Suture removal /Clips
• Urinalysis
• Health Promotion
• Ear Irrigation

Skills and Competencies

Essential

• Good interpersonal skills
• Committed to providing patient centred care
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team
• Self-motivated
• Willingness to develop and learn new skills

Qualifications

Essential

• NVQ Ill or relevant equivalent training, knowledge and experience in a Health Care Assistant profession.
• Phlebotomy training
• Experience in undertaking Nursing observations

Desirable

• Wound Management
• Vaccination training

Experience

Essential

• Working with people including those from different cultures and backgrounds

Desirable

• Experience of working in Primary care

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.

Employer details

Employer name

Primary Care Sheffield

Address

2 Harold Street

Sheffield

South Yorkshire

S6 3QW

United Kingdom

Employer's website

http://www.primarycaresheffield.org.uk/

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