Healthcare Assistant (HCA)

JOB DESCRIPTION

• Sussex Primary Cares Values

• Be patient-focussed in everything we do
• Support staff to be the best they can be
• Innovate, learn and evaluate

  Sussex Primary Care run a number of GP Practices across Sussex providing excellent primary care in the heart of the community. We are a learning organisation that listens to our team of staff, patients and partners to guide our future. At the heart of our vision are our patients and their needs.

  The current position is to join the team at our Chapel Street Surgery in Newhaven, East Sussex.

• Job Summary

  Working under the direct supervision of the senior practice nurse / practice nurse and in accordance with practice guidelines and protocols and within the scope of their practice, the healthcare assistant will assist the practice clinical team in the provision and delivery of prescribed programmes of patient care, including preventative care, health promotion and patient education.

  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.

  The post holder will be a compassionate and committed professional who will work collaboratively with the general practice team to meet the needs of the patients.

• Key Responsibilities

• Main Responsibilities

• Undertake Venepuncture
• Carry out ECGs
• Undertake new patient health checks
• Support the practice nurse with health promotion programmes
• Carry out baseline observations such as pulse oximetry, blood pressure, temperature, pulse rate, recording findings accurately
• Facilitate routine and 24-hour BP monitoring, advising patients accordingly
• Undertake wound care, dressings and other clinical tasks as required
• Support the practice nurse with the management of chronic disease clinics
• Carry out BMI checks as directed
• Act as a chaperone as required
• When trained, administer flu vaccinations via a PGD
• Ensure specimens are recorded and ready for onward transportation
• Provide support during minor operations as required
• Ensure all clinical rooms are adequately stocked and prepared for each session
• Ensure fridges are cleaned and monitored routinely in accordance with guidance
• Ensure clinical waste is removed from clinical areas and sharps bins replaced in accordance with the Sussex Primary Care IPC policy
• Deliver opportunistic health promotion where appropriate

• Secondary Responsibilities

• Participate in practice audit as needed
• Participate in local initiatives to enhance service delivery and patient care
• Support and participate in shared learning within the practice

  This list is not exhaustive and additional responsibilities may be added with the appropriate training and support

• Communication

• Utilise and demonstrate sensitive communication styles, to ensure patients are fully informed and consent to treatment.
• With support from the lead nurse, communicate with and support patients who are receiving bad news.
• Communicate effectively with patients and carers, recognising the need for alternative methods of communication to overcome different levels of understanding, cultural background and preferred ways of communicating
• Anticipate barriers to communication and take action to improve communication.
• Maintain effective communication within the practice environment, SPC central team and with external stakeholders.
• Act as an advocate for patients and colleagues.
• Ensure awareness of sources of support and guidance (eg PALS) and provide information in an acceptable format to all patients, recognising any difficulties and referring where appropriate.

• Delivering a quality service

• Recognise and work within own competence and raise concerns with lead nurse.
• Produce accurate, contemporaneous and complete records of patient consultation, consistent with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Prioritise, organise and manage own workload in a manner that maintains and promotes quality.
• Deliver care as an individual and team according to NSF, NICE guidelines and evidence-based care.
• Assess effectiveness of care delivery through self and peer review, benchmarking and formal evaluation.
• Initiate and participate in the maintenance of quality governance systems and processes across the organisation and its activities.
• Utilise the audit cycle as a means of evaluating the quality of the work of self and the team, implementing improvements where required.
• Evaluate patients response to health care provision and the effectiveness of care.
• Support and participate in shared learning across the practice and wider organisation.
• Understand and apply legal issues that support the identification of vulnerable children and adults, and work to the statutory safeguarding procedures and local guidance.

• Team Working

• Understand own role and scope and identify how this may develop over time.
• Work as an effective and responsible team member, supporting others and exploring the mechanisms to develop new ways of working.
• Contribute nursing team view to practice management
• Create clear referral mechanisms to meet patient need.
• Prioritise own workload and ensure effective time-management strategies are embedded within the culture of the team.
• Work effectively with others to clearly define values, direction and policies impacting upon care delivery.
• Discuss, highlight and work with the team to create opportunities to improve patient care.
• Manage and lead on the delivery of specifically identified services or projects as agreed with the practice management team.
• Agree plans and outcomes by which to measure success.
• Participate in research programs and audit as directed by the management team.

• Management of Risk

• Manage and assess risk within the areas of responsibility, ensuring adequate measures are in place to protect staff and patients.
• Monitor work areas and practices to ensure they are safe and free from hazards and conform to health, safety and security legislation, policies, procedures and guidelines.
• Support the implementation of infection-control measures within the practice according to local and national guidelines

• Management of Information

• Use technology and appropriate software as an aid to management in planning, implementation and monitoring of care, presenting and communicating information.
• Review and process data using accurate Read codes in order to ensure easy and accurate information retrieval for monitoring and audit processes.
• Manage information searches using the internet and local library databases.
• Understand responsibility of self and others to the practice regarding requirements such as the Freedom and Information Act and confidentiality.
• Collate, analyse and present clinical data and information as required.

• Learning and Development

• With support of lead nurse assess own learning needs and undertake learning as appropriate.
• Actively engage in supervision and appraisal process to support development and learning
• Provide an educational role to patients, carers, families and colleagues in an environment that facilitates learning.

• Equality and Diversity

• Identify patterns of discrimination and take action to overcome this and promote diversity and equality of opportunity.
• Enable others to promote equality and diversity in a non-discriminatory culture.
• Support people who need assistance in exercising their rights.
• Monitor and evaluate adherence to local chaperoning policies.
• Act as a role model in the observance of equality and diversity good practice.
• Accept the rights of individuals to choose their care providers, participate in care and refuse care.
• Assist patients from marginalised groups to access quality care.
• Undertake any training required in order to meet the needs of the practice.

• Flexibility

  a) This job description is intended to provide a broad outline of the role. The post holder may be required to carry out other duties commensurate with their banding and competence.

• Policies and Procedures

  a) The post holder is required to familiarise themselves with all organisation policies and procedures and to comply at all times.

• Confidentiality and Data Protection

  a) The post holder must maintain the confidentiality of information about patients, staff and other health service business and always meet the requirements of the Data Protection Act (1998).

  b) The post holder must always comply with all organisation information and data protection policies. The work of Sussex Primary Care is of a confidential nature and any information gained by the post holder in their role must not be communicated to other persons except where required in the recognised course of duty.

• Health and Safety

  a) Employees must be aware of the responsibilities placed on them under the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) and must follow these in full at all times, including ensuring that they act in line with all agreed procedures at all times in order to maintain a safe environment for patients, visitors and colleagues.

• Equality and Diversity

  a) Sussex Primary Care is working towards equality and has policies relating to the equality of opportunity in employment and service delivery. All staff are expected to comply with these policies.

• Use of Technology

  a) The organisation is making increased use of computer technology. The majority of employees (both clinical and non-clinical) should expect to use automated information systems in their work in order to improve quality and co-ordination of services, and to enable faster and more certain communication within the Organisation. Necessary training will be provided.

• No Smoking Policy

  a) Sussex Primary Care operates a no-smoking policy, in line with Government legislation. This applies to all staff, visitors and patients. It is a condition of employment for staff that they do not smoke whilst on duty or in uniform or anywhere on Organisation premises. This includes electronic cigarettes.

  b) Whilst we do not discriminate against employing smokers, they are expected to adhere to this policy and all prospective employees should be aware of this.

• Professional Registration

  a) All employees who are required to be a member of a professional body are required to hold relevant registration and must comply with the standards and guidelines of their professional practice, education and conduct and must act within the boundary of the code of conduct at all times.

• Infection Prevention and Control

  a) Infection Prevention and Control is everybody's responsibility. All staff, both clinical and non-clinical are required to adhere to the organisations Infection Prevention and Control policy and make every effort to maintain high standards of infection prevention and control at all times thereby reducing the burden of Health Care Associated Infections.

• Safeguarding Children, Young People and Vulnerable Adults

  a) Sussex Primary Care is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Rigorous recruitment checks are carried out and successful applicants may be required to undertake an Enhanced Disclosure via the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

• Quality

a) Excellent care at the heart of the community is our organisation vision. To make sure our care meets this high standard all staff must ensure that the three themes of quality care are provided in every encounter they have with our patients. The three themes are safe care, effective care and patient-centred care.